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 V2는 NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX에 상장된 적격 보통주와 ADR을 업종 내 상대 평가를 위한 다섯 가지 축으로 평가해 0~100점을 부여합니다. ETF, OTC 종목, 미국 외 거래소 상장 종목은 대상이 아닙니다. V2 점수가 없어도 기존 V1으로 대체하지 않습니다. 투자 조사 지표이며 매매 권고가 아닙니다.”
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.