Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd.'s (SHSE:600141) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 13.6x might make it look like a strong 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 67x 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 so limited.

Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group has been struggling lately as its earnings have declined faster than most other companies. The P/E is probably low because investors think this poor earnings performance isn't going to improve at all. 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.

Is There Any Growth For Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group?

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group would need to produce anemic growth that's substantially trailing the market.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 15%. As a result, earnings from three years ago have also fallen 40% overall. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 24% as estimated by the six analysts watching the company. With the market predicted to deliver 38% growth , the company is positioned for a weaker earnings result.

With this information, we can see why Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group is trading at a P/E lower than the market. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on while the company is potentially eyeing a less prosperous future.

The Final Word

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.

As we suspected, our examination of Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook is contributing to its low P/E. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. Unless these conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

It is also worth noting that we have found 2 warning signs for Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you need to take into consideration.

Of course, you might also be able to find a better stock than Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group. 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.