When close to half the companies in China have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 26x, you may consider Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network Corporation Limited (SHSE:600959) as a stock to avoid entirely with its 43.8x 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 so lofty.

For instance, Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network's receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/E is high because investors think the company will still do enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.

How Is Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network's Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network would need to produce outstanding growth well in excess of the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 7.6% decrease to the company's bottom line. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 52% overall rise in EPS, in spite of its unsatisfying short-term performance. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would probably welcome the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to deliver 38% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker based on recent medium-term annualised earnings results.

With this information, we find it concerning that Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network is trading at a P/E higher than the market. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited recent growth rates and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent earnings trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

The Bottom Line On Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network'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.

We've established that Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network currently trades on a much higher than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider market forecast. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as this earnings performance isn't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) you should be aware of.

You might be able to find a better investment than Jiangsu Broadcasting Cable Information Network. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.