There wouldn't be many who think Shenzhen Sunway Communication Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:300136) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 34.8x is worth a mention when the median P/E in China is similar at about 33x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/E ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Shenzhen Sunway Communication could be doing better as its earnings have been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive earnings growth. One possibility is that the P/E is moderate because investors think this poor earnings performance will turn around. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a relatively elevated price for a company with this sort of growth profile.

Does Growth Match The P/E?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/E like Shenzhen Sunway Communication's is when the company's growth is tracking the market closely.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 22% decrease to the company's bottom line. This means it has also seen a slide in earnings over the longer-term as EPS is down 49% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 29% per annum during the coming three years according to the three analysts following the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 26% per year, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.

In light of this, it's curious that Shenzhen Sunway Communication's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. It may be that most investors aren't convinced the company can achieve future growth expectations.

The Bottom Line On Shenzhen Sunway Communication'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.

We've established that Shenzhen Sunway Communication currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its forecast growth is higher than the wider market. There could be some unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching the positive outlook. It appears some are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 1 warning sign for Shenzhen Sunway Communication that you should be aware of.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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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.