The Jiangsu Feymer Technology Co., Ltd. (SHSE:688350) share price has fared very poorly over the last month, falling by a substantial 25%. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 35% in that time.

Since its price has dipped substantially, given about half the companies in China have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 28x, you may consider Jiangsu Feymer Technology as an attractive investment with its 18.2x P/E ratio. 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 example, consider that Jiangsu Feymer Technology's financial performance has been poor lately as its earnings have been in decline. 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. 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.

What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Jiangsu Feymer Technology's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 23% decrease to the company's bottom line. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk EPS by 43% 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 42% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's understandable that Jiangsu Feymer Technology's P/E would sit below the majority of other companies. 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 Key Takeaway

Jiangsu Feymer Technology's P/E has taken a tumble along with its share price. 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.

We've established that Jiangsu Feymer Technology 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. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it's hard to see the share price moving strongly in either direction in the near future under these circumstances.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Jiangsu Feymer Technology that you should be aware of.

Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Jiangsu Feymer Technology. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.