Sharetronic Data Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300857) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 34% gain and recovering from prior weakness. The last month tops off a massive increase of 165% in the last year.

Even after such a large jump in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Sharetronic Data Technology's price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 31.8x is worth a mention when the median P/E in China is similar at about 30x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/E.

With earnings growth that's exceedingly strong of late, Sharetronic Data Technology has been doing very well. The P/E is probably moderate because investors think this strong earnings growth might not be enough to outperform the broader market in the near future. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Is There Some Growth For Sharetronic Data Technology?

Sharetronic Data Technology's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the market.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 175% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow EPS by 309% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 36% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's curious that Sharetronic Data Technology's P/E sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.

What We Can Learn From Sharetronic Data Technology's P/E?

Sharetronic Data Technology appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump getting its P/E back in line with most other companies. Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

We've established that Sharetronic Data Technology currently trades on a lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year growth is higher than the wider market forecast. When we see strong earnings with faster-than-market growth, we assume potential risks are what might be placing pressure on the P/E ratio. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term earnings trends continue, but investors seem to think future earnings could see some volatility.

Plus, you should also learn about these 2 warning signs we've spotted with Sharetronic Data Technology.

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.