Formosa Sumco Technology Corporation’s (TWSE:3532) price-to-earnings (or “P/E”) ratio of 16.3x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in Taiwan, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 22x and even P/E’s above 38x are quite common. Although, it’s not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it’s limited.

For instance, Formosa Sumco Technology’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. If you like the company, you’d be hoping this isn’t the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it’s out of favour.

Check out our latest analysis for Formosa Sumco Technology

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Formosa Sumco Technology, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Any Growth For Formosa Sumco Technology?

There’s an inherent assumption that a company should underperform the market for P/E ratios like Formosa Sumco Technology’s to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company’s profits fell to the tune of 9.3%. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 222% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a very good job of growing earnings over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market’s one-year forecast for expansion of 22% shows it’s noticeably more attractive on an annualised basis.

In light of this, it’s peculiar that Formosa Sumco Technology’s P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It looks like most investors are not convinced the company can maintain its recent growth rates.

The Bottom Line On Formosa Sumco Technology’s P/E

We’d say the price-to-earnings ratio’s power isn’t primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

Our examination of Formosa Sumco Technology revealed its three-year earnings trends aren’t contributing to its P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given they look better than current market expectations. There could be some major unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. It appears many are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because the persistence of these recent medium-term conditions would normally provide a boost to the share price.

Don’t forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we’ve identified 3 warning signs for Formosa Sumco Technology (2 are a bit concerning) you should be aware of.

If you’re unsure about the strength of Formosa Sumco Technology’s business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.