How Does Leggett & Platt's (NYSE:LEG) P/E Compare To Its Industry, After The Share Price Drop?
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG) share price has dived 34% in the last thirty days. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 37% in that time.
Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth.
See our latest analysis for Leggett & Platt
Does Leggett & Platt Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?
We can tell from its P/E ratio of 10.77 that there is some investor optimism about Leggett & Platt. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (7.6) for companies in the consumer durables industry is lower than Leggett & Platt's P/E.
Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that Leggett & Platt shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. Shareholders are clearly optimistic, but the future is always uncertain. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. That means unless the share price falls, the P/E will increase in a few years. Then, a higher P/E might scare off shareholders, pushing the share price down.
Leggett & Platt increased earnings per share by 8.7% last year. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 9.5% per year over the last five years. In contrast, EPS has decreased by 2.3%, annually, over 3 years.
Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits
Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).
Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof).
Is Debt Impacting Leggett & Platt's P/E?
Net debt totals 53% of Leggett & Platt's market cap. This is a reasonably significant level of debt -- all else being equal you'd expect a much lower P/E than if it had net cash.
The Bottom Line On Leggett & Platt's P/E Ratio
Leggett & Platt trades on a P/E ratio of 10.8, which is below the US market average of 13.1. The meaningful debt load is probably contributing to low expectations, even though it has improved earnings recently. What can be absolutely certain is that the market has become significantly less optimistic about Leggett & Platt over the last month, with the P/E ratio falling from 16.3 back then to 10.8 today. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for a contrarian, it may signal opportunity.
Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.
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