Advertisement

Do You Know What Beta Systems Software AG's (FRA:BSS) P/E Ratio Means?

This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll look at Beta Systems Software AG's (FRA:BSS) P/E ratio and reflect on what it tells us about the company's share price. Beta Systems Software has a P/E ratio of 16.20, based on the last twelve months. In other words, at today's prices, investors are paying €16.20 for every €1 in prior year profit.

View our latest analysis for Beta Systems Software

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

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

Or for Beta Systems Software:

P/E of 16.20 = EUR20.40 ÷ EUR1.26 (Based on the year to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio means that investors are paying a higher price for each EUR1 of company 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.

Does Beta Systems Software 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. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (40.0) for companies in the software industry is higher than Beta Systems Software's P/E.

DB:BSS Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 29th 2020
DB:BSS Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 29th 2020

This suggests that market participants think Beta Systems Software will underperform other companies in its industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Earnings growth rates have a big influence on P/E ratios. If earnings are growing quickly, then the 'E' in the equation will increase faster than it would otherwise. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

In the last year, Beta Systems Software grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 65% gain was both fast and well deserved. Having said that, if we look back three years, EPS growth has averaged a comparatively less impressive 8.3%.

A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on 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 Beta Systems Software's P/E?

Since Beta Systems Software holds net cash of €5.9m, it can spend on growth, justifying a higher P/E ratio than otherwise.

The Bottom Line On Beta Systems Software's P/E Ratio

Beta Systems Software has a P/E of 16.2. That's below the average in the DE market, which is 19.8. Not only should the net cash position reduce risk, but the recent growth has been impressive. The relatively low P/E ratio implies the market is pessimistic.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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.

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.