Yahoo Finance Should You Be Tempted To Sell Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNKN) Because Of Its P/E Ratio?
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The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:DNKN) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Dunkin' Brands Group has a P/E ratio of 28.25. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying $28.25 for every $1 in prior year profit.
See our latest analysis for Dunkin' Brands Group
How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?
The formula for price to earnings is:
Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share ÷ Earnings per Share (EPS)
Or for Dunkin' Brands Group:
P/E of 28.25 = $79.25 ÷ $2.8 (Based on the year to March 2019.)
Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good?
A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to pay a higher price for each $1 the company has earned over the last year. 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
Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases.
Dunkin' Brands Group shrunk earnings per share by 9.3% last year. But it has grown its earnings per share by 15% per year over the last five years.
Does Dunkin' Brands Group Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?
One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. As you can see below, Dunkin' Brands Group has a higher P/E than the average company (22.5) in the hospitality industry.
Dunkin' Brands Group's P/E tells us that market participants think the company will perform better than its industry peers, going forward. 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
Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).
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 Dunkin' Brands Group's P/E?
Dunkin' Brands Group has net debt equal to 39% of its market cap. While it's worth keeping this in mind, it isn't a worry.
The Bottom Line On Dunkin' Brands Group's P/E Ratio
Dunkin' Brands Group's P/E is 28.3 which is above average (17.5) in the US market. With modest debt but no EPS growth in the last year, it's fair to say the P/E implies some optimism about future earnings, from the market.
Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.
You might be able to find a better buy than Dunkin' Brands Group. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).
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.
