Advertisement
UK markets close in 7 hours 3 minutes
  • FTSE 100

    7,959.40
    +27.42 (+0.35%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,797.84
    -12.82 (-0.06%)
     
  • AIM

    741.88
    -0.23 (-0.03%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1678
    +0.0009 (+0.08%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2588
    -0.0050 (-0.40%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    56,106.77
    +637.37 (+1.15%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,248.49
    +44.91 (+0.86%)
     
  • DOW

    39,760.08
    +477.75 (+1.22%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    81.52
    +0.17 (+0.21%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,215.30
    +2.60 (+0.12%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,502.69
    +25.60 (+0.14%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,241.67
    +36.86 (+0.45%)
     

Is Aon plc's (NYSE:AON) High P/E Ratio A Problem For Investors?

The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Aon plc's (NYSE:AON) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Aon has a price to earnings ratio of 33.78, based on the last twelve months. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 3.0%.

See our latest analysis for Aon

How Do You Calculate Aon's P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Aon:

P/E of 33.78 = $189.72 ÷ $5.62 (Based on the year to June 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 isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E.

Does Aon Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (15.7) for companies in the insurance industry is lower than Aon's P/E.

NYSE:AON Price Estimation Relative to Market, October 2nd 2019
NYSE:AON Price Estimation Relative to Market, October 2nd 2019

Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that Aon shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company's P/E multiple. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aon's 69% EPS improvement over the last year was like bamboo growth after rain; rapid and impressive. Having said that, if we look back three years, EPS growth has averaged a comparatively less impressive 2.1%.

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. 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).

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

How Does Aon's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

Aon has net debt worth 15% of its market capitalization. It would probably deserve a higher P/E ratio if it was net cash, since it would have more options for growth.

The Bottom Line On Aon's P/E Ratio

Aon trades on a P/E ratio of 33.8, which is above its market average of 17.5. While the company does use modest debt, its recent earnings growth is superb. So on this analysis a high P/E ratio seems reasonable.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. 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.

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.

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.