Those holding Hamaton Automotive Technology Co., Ltd (SZSE:300643) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 25% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. Longer-term shareholders would be thankful for the recovery in the share price since it’s now virtually flat for the year after the recent bounce.

Even after such a large jump in price, given about half the companies in China have price-to-earnings ratios (or “P/E’s”) above 30x, you may still consider Hamaton Automotive Technology as an attractive investment with its 25.2x P/E ratio. Nonetheless, we’d need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/E.

For instance, Hamaton Automotive Technology’s receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think the company won’t do enough to avoid underperforming the broader market in the near future. However, if this doesn’t eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Hamaton Automotive Technology

We don’t have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Hamaton Automotive Technology’s earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Any Growth For Hamaton Automotive Technology?

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

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 5.5% decrease to the company’s bottom line. However, a few very strong years before that means that it was still able to grow EPS by an impressive 37% in total over the last three years. 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.

Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to deliver 36% growth in the next 12 months, the company’s momentum is weaker based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.

With this information, we can see why Hamaton Automotive Technology is trading at a P/E lower than the market. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

The Bottom Line On Hamaton Automotive Technology’s P/E

The latest share price surge wasn’t enough to lift Hamaton Automotive Technology’s P/E close to the market median. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Hamaton Automotive Technology revealed its three-year earnings trends are contributing to its low P/E, given they look worse than current market expectations. 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.

Plus, you should also learn about these 2 warning signs we’ve spotted with Hamaton Automotive Technology.

If P/E ratios interest you, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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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.