With a median price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of close to 34x in China, you could be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Shannon Semiconductor Technology Co.,Ltd.'s (SZSE:300475) P/E ratio of 37x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/E ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Recent times have been pleasing for Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd as its earnings have risen in spite of the market's earnings going into reverse. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to deteriorate like the rest, which has kept the P/E from rising. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

View our latest analysis for Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd

Does Growth Match The P/E?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/E like Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd's is when the company's growth is tracking the market closely.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 49% last year. Pleasingly, EPS has also lifted 578% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been superb for the company.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to slump, contracting by 2.8% during the coming year according to the lone analyst following the company. Meanwhile, the broader market is forecast to expand by 44%, which paints a poor picture.

In light of this, it's somewhat alarming that Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company reject the analyst cohort's pessimism and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as these declining earnings are likely to weigh on the share price eventually.

What We Can Learn From Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd's P/E?

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.

We've established that Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd currently trades on a higher than expected P/E for a company whose earnings are forecast to decline. When we see a poor outlook with earnings heading backwards, we suspect share price is at risk of declining, sending the moderate P/E lower. This places shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Shannon Semiconductor TechnologyLtd (at least 2 which don't sit too well with us), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.