Those holding Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology Co., Ltd. (SHSE:688318) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 26% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 36%.

Following the firm bounce in price, given close to half the companies in China have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 30x, you may consider Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology as a stock to avoid entirely with its 52.6x P/E ratio. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/E.

Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology certainly has been doing a good job lately as its earnings growth has been positive while most other companies have been seeing their earnings go backwards. The P/E is probably high because investors think the company will continue to navigate the broader market headwinds better than most. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

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

There's an inherent assumption that a company should far outperform the market for P/E ratios like Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology's to be considered reasonable.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 99% last year. The latest three year period has also seen a 17% overall rise in EPS, aided extensively by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the sole analyst covering the company suggest earnings should grow by 24% over the next year. With the market predicted to deliver 41% growth , the company is positioned for a weaker earnings result.

In light of this, it's alarming that Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as this level of earnings growth is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

What We Can Learn From Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology's P/E?

Shares in Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology have built up some good momentum lately, which has really inflated its P/E. 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.

Our examination of Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook isn't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted. When we see a weak earnings outlook with slower than market growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, sending the high P/E lower. This places shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

A lot of potential risks can sit within a company's balance sheet. Our free balance sheet analysis for Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Shenzhen Fortune Trend technology, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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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.