Does Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGC) Have A Good P/E Ratio?
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Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll apply a basic P/E ratio analysis to Superior Group of Companies, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SGC), to help you decide if the stock is worth further research. Based on the last twelve months, Superior Group of Companies's P/E ratio is 14.29. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 7.0%.
View our latest analysis for Superior Group of Companies
How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?
The formula for P/E is:
Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)
Or for Superior Group of Companies:
P/E of 14.29 = $16.14 ÷ $1.13 (Based on the year to March 2019.)
Is A High P/E Ratio Good?
A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each $1 of company earnings. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases.
Superior Group of Companies increased earnings per share by an impressive 21% over the last twelve months. And earnings per share have improved by 20% annually, over the last five years. With that performance, you might expect an above average P/E ratio.
Does Superior Group of Companies Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?
We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (16.3) for companies in the luxury industry is higher than Superior Group of Companies's P/E.
This suggests that market participants think Superior Group of Companies will underperform other companies in its industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued.
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. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.
While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.
So What Does Superior Group of Companies's Balance Sheet Tell Us?
Net debt is 46% of Superior Group of Companies's market cap. While it's worth keeping this in mind, it isn't a worry.
The Bottom Line On Superior Group of Companies's P/E Ratio
Superior Group of Companies has a P/E of 14.3. That's below the average in the US market, which is 17.3. The company does have a little debt, and EPS growth was good last year. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue.
Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold.
But note: Superior Group of Companies may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20).
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
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. Thank you for reading.
