To the annoyance of some shareholders, Maike Tube Industry Holdings Limited (HKG:1553) shares are down a considerable 25% in the last month, which continues a horrid run for the company. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 19% in that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, given about half the companies in Hong Kong have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 9x, you may still consider Maike Tube Industry Holdings as a highly attractive investment with its 2.8x P/E ratio. However, the P/E might be quite low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

The earnings growth achieved at Maike Tube Industry Holdings over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think this respectable earnings growth might actually underperform the broader market in the near future. 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?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should far underperform the market for P/E ratios like Maike Tube Industry Holdings' to be considered reasonable.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow earnings per share by a handy 15% last year. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 34% overall rise in EPS, aided somewhat by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been superb for the company.

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

In light of this, it's understandable that Maike Tube Industry Holdings' P/E sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on to something they believe will continue to trail the bourse.

The Bottom Line On Maike Tube Industry Holdings' P/E

Maike Tube Industry Holdings' P/E looks about as weak as its stock price lately. 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 Maike Tube Industry Holdings 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. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Maike Tube Industry Holdings that you should be aware of.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with a strong growth track record, trading on 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.