McGrath RentCorp's (NASDAQ:MGRC) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 22.6x might make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 16x and even P/E's below 9x 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 as high as it is.  

McGrath RentCorp certainly has been doing a good job lately as its earnings growth has been positive while most other companies have been seeing their earnings go backwards.   The P/E is probably high because investors think the company will continue to navigate the broader market headwinds better than most.  You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.    

Check out our latest analysis for McGrath RentCorp

NasdaqGS:MGRC Price to Earnings Ratio vs Industry December 19th 2023

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on McGrath RentCorp will help you uncover what's on the horizon.  

How Is McGrath RentCorp's Growth Trending?  

McGrath RentCorp's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the market.  

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 30% gain to the company's bottom line.   EPS has also lifted 29% in aggregate from three years ago, mostly thanks to the last 12 months of growth.  Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.  

Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 6.7%  as estimated by the dual analysts watching the company.  That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 10% growth forecast for the broader market.

In light of this, it's alarming that McGrath RentCorp's P/E sits above the majority of other companies.  Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price.  There's a good chance these shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/E falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.  

The Bottom Line On McGrath RentCorp's P/E

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.

Our examination of McGrath RentCorp's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook isn't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted.  When we see a weak earnings outlook with slower than market growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower.  This places shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.    

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 3 warning signs for McGrath RentCorp that you need to be mindful of.  

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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