Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E)

What It Is:

A valuation method of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings.

How It Works/Example:

The market value per share is the current trading price for one share in a company, a relatively straightforward definition. However, earnings per share (EPS) may not be as intuitive for most investors. The more traditional and widely used version of the EPS calculation comes from the previous four quarters of the price-to-earnings ratio, called a trailing P/E. Another variation of the EPS can be calculated using a forward P/E, estimating the earnings for the upcoming four quarters. Both sides have their advantages, with the trailing P/E approach using actual data and the forward P/E predicting possible outcomes for the stock. Calculated as the following;

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E) = Market value per share / Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Moving on from the basics, let us do a sample calculation with company XYZ that currently trades at $100.00 and has an earnings per share (EPS) of $5.00. Using the previously mentioned formula, you can calculate that XYZ’s price-to-earnings ratio is 100 / 5 = 20.

For more explanation of how to use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other valuation ratios, please read our educational article Don't Be Misled By the P/E Ratio

Why It Matters:

The price-to-earnings ratio is a powerful, but limited tool. For investors, it allows a very quick snapshot of the company’s finances without getting bogged down in the details of an accounting report.

Let us use our previous example of XYZ, and compare it to another company, ABC. Company XYZ has a P/E of 20, while company ABC has a P/E of 10. Company XYZ has the highest P/E ratio of the two and this would lead most investors to expect higher earnings in the future than from company ABC (which possesses a lower P/E ratio).

As noted earlier, the P/E ratio is limited. It does not paint the entire picture for the potential investor; rather it is a complementary tool in your financial toolbox. Be wary of forward EPS measures, (remember, EPS is an essential aspect of calculation of the P/E ratio) as they are matters of prediction and are only estimates of projected earnings. Further, trailing P/E ratios can only tell you what happened to a company in the previous time periods.

http://www.investinganswers.com/term/price-earnings-ratio-pe-459

New Blogs For 2nd Year

Hello anyone who reads these things!

Just thought I'd let you know, I'm starting some new subject blogs for the impending school year. I'm going to be making one for
-PSYC 207 (Contemporary Topics in Darwinian Approaches to Mental Health and Psychological Disorders with Dr. Wehr)
-PSYC 314 (Health Psychology with Dr. Perrino)
-PSYC 217 (Research Methods with Dr. Brenner)

If you're taking any of these classes, I encourage you to check out my subject blogs, as they may be a useful resource for studying and learning the material (it's always good to consider the same information from someone else's perspective). If you followed along with me for Econ or Sociology (two subjects which I enjoyed, but no longer have room for), I would definitely encourage you to start up your own subject blogs, either as an individual, or as a collective. I found these, personally, to be a great learning tool, as well as a great way to take on some academic leadership...

Feeling inspired?


Other than that, I just wanted to wish everyone best-of-luck for the fall session. Have an awesome year, everyone!