Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:688019) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 34.8x might make it look like a sell right now compared to the market in China, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 27x and even P/E's below 17x 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.

Recent times have been pleasing for Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) as its earnings have risen in spite of the market's earnings going into reverse. 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.

How Is Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai)'s Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as high as Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai)'s is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 52%. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 200% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 14% during the coming year according to the seven analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 41% growth forecast for the broader market.

In light of this, it's alarming that Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai)'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 Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai)'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 Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai)'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. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as the predicted future earnings aren't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. Unless these 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 2 warning signs for Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Anji Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai), 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.