Questerre Energy Corporation (TSE:QEC) Stock Rockets 26% As Investors Are Less Pessimistic Than Expected
Questerre Energy Corporation (TSE:QEC) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 26% gain in the last month alone. Looking back a bit further, it's encouraging to see the stock is up 44% in the last year.
After such a large jump in price, given close to half the companies in Canada have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 10x, you may consider Questerre Energy as a stock to avoid entirely with its 31.1x P/E ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.
Earnings have risen firmly for Questerre Energy recently, which is pleasing to see. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think this respectable earnings growth will be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
Check out our latest analysis for Questerre Energy
Although there are no analyst estimates available for Questerre Energy, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.
Is There Enough Growth For Questerre Energy?
In order to justify its P/E ratio, Questerre Energy would need to produce outstanding growth well in excess of the market.
If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 22%. Still, incredibly EPS has fallen 68% in total from three years ago, which is quite disappointing. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
In contrast to the company, the rest of the market is expected to grow by 13% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term earnings decline into perspective.
With this information, we find it concerning that Questerre Energy is trading at a P/E higher than the market. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.
The Key Takeaway
Questerre Energy's P/E is flying high just like its stock has during the last month. Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.
Our examination of Questerre Energy revealed its shrinking earnings over the medium-term aren't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given the market is set to grow. When we see earnings heading backwards and underperforming the market forecasts, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.
Plus, you should also learn about these 3 warning signs we've spotted with Questerre Energy.
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 a strong growth track record, trading on a P/E below 20x.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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