Understanding the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio
Worked Example: These Figures Today
The companies used as examples above, with the current figures behind them. Illustrations of the metric — not a ranking, not a shortlist, and not a recommendation.
| Ticker | Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | MoonshotScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAPL | Apple Inc. | $343.91 | -1.10% | $5.0T | 89 |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | $532.60 | +1.54% | $4.0T | 85 |
| TSLA | Tesla, Inc. | $391.62 | +5.21% | $1.5T | 57 |
P/E Ratio in Context: Examples
“MoonshotScore V2は、NASDAQ、NYSE、AMEXに上場する適格な普通株とADRを、セクター内で比較する5つの柱に基づき0〜100点で評価します。ETF、OTC銘柄、米国外の取引所上場銘柄は対象外です。V2スコアがない場合でも、旧V1で代用しません。投資調査のための指標であり、売買の推奨ではありません。”
Questions worth resolving before acting on the screen
What does a high P/E ratio indicate?
A high P/E ratio may suggest that a stock is overvalued, or that investors anticipate higher earnings growth in the future. It's important to compare the P/E ratio to those of competitors and industry benchmarks.
What does a low P/E ratio indicate?
A low P/E ratio can suggest that a stock is undervalued, or that the market has low expectations for future earnings growth. However, it could also reflect underlying problems with the company.
What are the limitations of using the P/E ratio?
The P/E ratio does not provide a complete picture of a company's financial health. It should be used in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative factors. Also, negative earnings result in an undefined P/E ratio, making comparisons impossible.