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Here's What IMAX Corporation's (NYSE:IMAX) P/E Is Telling Us

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Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll apply a basic P/E ratio analysis to IMAX Corporation's (NYSE:IMAX), to help you decide if the stock is worth further research. IMAX has a price to earnings ratio of 56.26, based on the last twelve months. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 1.8%.

Check out our latest analysis for IMAX

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

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Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for IMAX:

P/E of 56.26 = $20.42 ÷ $0.36 (Based on the year to March 2019.)

Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?

The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't necessarily good or bad, but a high P/E implies relatively high expectations of what a company can achieve in the future.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

In the last year, IMAX grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 119% gain was both fast and well deserved. On the other hand, the longer term performance is poor, with EPS down 10% per year over 5 years.

How Does IMAX's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

The P/E ratio indicates whether the market has higher or lower expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (29.7) for companies in the entertainment industry is lower than IMAX's P/E.

NYSE:IMAX Price Estimation Relative to Market, June 20th 2019
NYSE:IMAX Price Estimation Relative to Market, June 20th 2019

Its relatively high P/E ratio indicates that IMAX shareholders think it will perform better than other companies in its industry classification. Clearly the market expects growth, but it isn't guaranteed. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting IMAX's P/E?

IMAX has net cash of US$65m. That should lead to a higher P/E than if it did have debt, because its strong balance sheets gives it more options.

The Verdict On IMAX's P/E Ratio

IMAX's P/E is 56.3 which suggests the market is more focussed on the future opportunity rather than the current level of earnings. Its net cash position is the cherry on top of its superb EPS growth. So based on this analysis we'd expect IMAX to have a high P/E ratio.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. People often underestimate remarkable growth -- so investors can make money when fast growth is not fully appreciated. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

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 modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.