Yahoo Finance The Quarto Group, Inc. (LON:QRT) Looks Inexpensive But Perhaps Not Attractive Enough
The Quarto Group, Inc.'s (LON:QRT) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 6.2x might make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the market in the United Kingdom, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 19x and even P/E's above 37x are quite common. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly reduced P/E.
For instance, Quarto Group's receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. It might be that many expect the disappointing earnings performance to continue or accelerate, which has repressed the P/E. However, if this doesn't eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.
View our latest analysis for Quarto Group
Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Quarto Group will help you shine a light on its historical performance.
What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E?
There's an inherent assumption that a company should far underperform the market for P/E ratios like Quarto Group's to be considered reasonable.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 31% decrease to the company's bottom line. As a result, earnings from three years ago have also fallen 40% overall. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Weighing that medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 7.4% shows it's an unpleasant look.
With this information, we are not surprised that Quarto Group is trading at a P/E lower than the market. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/E has reached a floor yet with earnings going in reverse. There's potential for the P/E to fall to even lower levels if the company doesn't improve its profitability.
The Final Word
It's argued the price-to-earnings ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.
We've established that Quarto Group maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its sliding earnings over the medium-term, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.
You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 5 warning signs for Quarto Group you should be aware of, and 3 of them shouldn't be ignored.
It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20x).
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. 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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