Yahoo Finance A Sliding Share Price Has Us Looking At Ameresco, Inc.'s (NYSE:AMRC) P/E Ratio
To the annoyance of some shareholders, Ameresco (NYSE:AMRC) shares are down a considerable 34% in the last month. Even longer term holders have taken a real hit with the stock declining 8.5% in the last year.
All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. While the market sentiment towards a stock is very changeable, in the long run, the share price will tend to move in the same direction as earnings per share. The implication here is that long term investors have an opportunity when expectations of a company are too low. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors' expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E ratio means that investors have a high expectation about future growth, while a low P/E ratio means they have low expectations about future growth.
See our latest analysis for Ameresco
Does Ameresco Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?
We can tell from its P/E ratio of 15.53 that there is some investor optimism about Ameresco. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (10.7) for companies in the construction industry is lower than Ameresco's P/E.
That means that the market expects Ameresco will outperform other companies in its industry. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should always consider the P/E ratio alongside other factors, such as whether company directors have been buying shares.
How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios
Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases.
It's great to see that Ameresco grew EPS by 15% in the last year. And earnings per share have improved by 34% annually, over the last five years. This could arguably justify a relatively high P/E ratio.
Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet
Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. Thus, the metric does not reflect cash or debt held by the company. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.
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.
So What Does Ameresco's Balance Sheet Tell Us?
Ameresco has net debt worth 75% of its market capitalization. If you want to compare its P/E ratio to other companies, you should absolutely keep in mind it has significant borrowings.
The Bottom Line On Ameresco's P/E Ratio
Ameresco trades on a P/E ratio of 15.5, which is above its market average of 13.0. While the meaningful level of debt does limit its options, it has achieved solid growth over the last year. It seems the market believes growth will continue, judging by the P/E ratio. Given Ameresco's P/E ratio has declined from 23.6 to 15.5 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is significantly less confident about the business today, than it was back then. For those who don't like to trade against momentum, that could be a warning sign, but a contrarian investor might want to take a closer look.
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 visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.
Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Ameresco. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.
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.
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. Thank you for reading.
