WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300978) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 30% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Unfortunately, the gains of the last month did little to right the losses of the last year with the stock still down 15% over that time.

After such a large jump in price, WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology may be sending bearish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or “P/E”) ratio of 36.7x, since almost half of all companies in China have P/E ratios under 28x and even P/E’s lower than 17x are not unusual. Although, it’s not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it’s as high as it is.

With earnings growth that’s exceedingly strong of late, WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology has been doing very well. It seems that many are expecting the strong earnings performance to beat most other companies over the coming period, which has increased investors’ willingness to pay up for the stock. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

See our latest analysis for WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology

Although there are no analyst estimates available for WINBO-Dongjian Automotive 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 Enough Growth For WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology?

The only time you’d be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as high as WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology’s is when the company’s growth is on track to outshine the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 38% last year. However, this wasn’t enough as the latest three year period has seen a very unpleasant 38% drop in EPS in aggregate. 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 36% shows it’s an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it’s alarming that WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology’s P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren’t willing to let go of their stock at any price. There’s a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Final Word

WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology shares have received a push in the right direction, but its P/E is elevated too. While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn’t be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it’s quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

Our examination of WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology 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.

And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we’ve spotted 3 warning signs for WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology (of which 2 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]