CRCC High-Tech Equipment Corporation Limited (HKG:1786) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 26% share price jump in the last month. Notwithstanding the latest gain, the annual share price return of 6.9% isn't as impressive.

Although its price has surged higher, it's still not a stretch to say that CRCC High-Tech Equipment's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 9.1x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the market in Hong Kong, where the median P/E ratio is around 9x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

With earnings growth that's exceedingly strong of late, CRCC High-Tech Equipment has been doing very well. The P/E is probably moderate because investors think this strong earnings growth might not be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

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

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/E like CRCC High-Tech Equipment's is when the company's growth is tracking the market closely.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 64% gain to the company's bottom line. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 6,896% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 24% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's curious that CRCC High-Tech Equipment's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Key Takeaway

CRCC High-Tech Equipment's stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/E level with the market. Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

We've established that CRCC High-Tech Equipment currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. When we see strong earnings with faster-than-market growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term earnings trends continue, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for CRCC High-Tech Equipment (1 doesn't sit too well with us) you should be aware of.

You might be able to find a better investment than CRCC High-Tech Equipment. 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.