Those holding Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300897) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 27% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. But the gains over the last month weren't enough to make shareholders whole, as the share price is still down 9.0% in the last twelve months.

Although its price has surged higher, Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology may still be sending bullish signals at the moment with its price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 21.6x, since almost half of all companies in China have P/E ratios greater than 32x and even P/E's higher than 58x are not unusual. However, the P/E might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

For instance, Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology's receding earnings in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think the company won't do enough to avoid underperforming the broader market in the near future. 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 out of favour.

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

In order to justify its P/E ratio, Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 8.1% decrease to the company's bottom line. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year EPS growth is still a noteworthy 6.5% in total. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would be roughly satisfied with the medium-term rates of earnings growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the market, which is expected to grow by 41% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's understandable that Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology's 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 Final Word

Despite Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology's shares building up a head of steam, its P/E still lags most other companies. While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

We've established that Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider market forecast, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it's hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

You always need to take note of risks, for example - Hangzhou Seck Intelligent Technology has 2 warning signs we think 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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