Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:002008) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 25.3x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in China, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 35x and even P/E's above 64x are quite common. However, the P/E might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Recent times haven't been advantageous for Han's Laser Technology Industry Group as its earnings have been falling quicker than most other companies. It seems that many are expecting the dismal earnings performance to persist, which has repressed the P/E. You'd much rather the company wasn't bleeding earnings if you still believe in the business. Or at the very least, you'd be hoping the earnings slide doesn't get any worse if your plan is to pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

See our latest analysis for Han's Laser Technology Industry Group

Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

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

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 45% decrease to the company's bottom line. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk EPS by 22% in aggregate. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing earnings over that time.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 21% per year as estimated by the analysts watching the company. With the market predicted to deliver 22% growth per year, the company is positioned for a comparable earnings result.

With this information, we find it odd that Han's Laser Technology Industry Group is trading at a P/E lower than the market. Apparently some shareholders are doubtful of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

What We Can Learn From Han's Laser Technology Industry Group's P/E?

Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

Our examination of Han's Laser Technology Industry Group's analyst forecasts revealed that its market-matching earnings outlook isn't contributing to its P/E as much as we would have predicted. When we see an average earnings outlook with market-like growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. It appears some are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because these conditions should normally provide more support to the share price.

And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Han's Laser Technology Industry Group you should know about.

If you're unsure about the strength of Han's Laser Technology Industry Group's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.