The Cubic Sensor and Instrument Co., Ltd (SHSE:688665) share price has fared very poorly over the last month, falling by a substantial 26%. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 44% in that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, Cubic Sensor and Instrument's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 26.2x 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 32x and even P/E's above 57x 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.

Recent times haven't been advantageous for Cubic Sensor and Instrument as its earnings have been falling quicker 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. If not, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Cubic Sensor and Instrument

Is There Any Growth For Cubic Sensor and Instrument?

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

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 6.3% decrease to the company's bottom line. However, a few very strong years before that means that it was still able to grow EPS by an impressive 45% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a very good job of growing earnings over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 76% during the coming year according to the five analysts following the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 42%, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.

In light of this, it's peculiar that Cubic Sensor and Instrument's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It looks like most investors are not convinced at all that the company can achieve future growth expectations.

The Final Word

Cubic Sensor and Instrument's P/E has taken a tumble along with its share price. We'd say the price-to-earnings ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

Our examination of Cubic Sensor and Instrument's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook isn't contributing to its P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted. There could be some major unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching the positive outlook. It appears many are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Cubic Sensor and Instrument (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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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.