Those holding Longyan Kaolin Clay Co., Ltd. (SHSE:605086) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 44% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. But the gains over the last month weren't enough to make shareholders whole, as the share price is still down 3.8% in the last twelve months.

Even after such a large jump in price, Longyan Kaolin Clay's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 24.9x might still 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 30x and even P/E's above 55x 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 limited.

Earnings have risen firmly for Longyan Kaolin Clay recently, which is pleasing to see. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

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

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Longyan Kaolin Clay's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 13%. The solid recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 16% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 41% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's understandable that Longyan Kaolin Clay's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

The Bottom Line On Longyan Kaolin Clay's P/E

Despite Longyan Kaolin Clay's shares building up a head of steam, its P/E still lags most other companies. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Longyan Kaolin Clay revealed its three-year earnings trends are contributing to its low P/E, given they look worse than current market expectations. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it's hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Longyan Kaolin Clay (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of.

Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Longyan Kaolin Clay. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.