Those holding Vishnusurya Projects and Infra Limited (NSE:VISHNUINFR) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 34% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. Longer-term shareholders would be thankful for the recovery in the share price since it’s now virtually flat for the year after the recent bounce.

Even after such a large jump in price, given about half the companies in India have price-to-earnings ratios (or “P/E’s”) above 35x, you may still consider Vishnusurya Projects and Infra as an attractive investment with its 20.9x P/E ratio. Nonetheless, we’d need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/E.

It looks like earnings growth has deserted Vishnusurya Projects and Infra recently, which is not something to boast about. It might be that many expect the uninspiring earnings performance to worsen, which has repressed the P/E. If not, then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Vishnusurya Projects and Infra

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Vishnusurya Projects and Infra, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Does Growth Match The Low P/E?

The only time you’d be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as low as Vishnusurya Projects and Infra’s is when the company’s growth is on track to lag the market.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered virtually the same number to the company’s bottom line as the year before. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 69% overall rise in EPS, in spite of its uninspiring short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably welcomed those medium-term rates of earnings growth.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market’s one-year forecast for expansion of 25% shows it’s noticeably less attractive on an annualised basis.

In light of this, it’s understandable that Vishnusurya Projects and Infra’s P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

What We Can Learn From Vishnusurya Projects and Infra’s P/E?

Despite Vishnusurya Projects and Infra’s shares building up a head of steam, its P/E still lags most other companies. Using the price-to-earnings ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn’t sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company’s future prospects.

We’ve established that Vishnusurya Projects and Infra maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider market forecast, as expected. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in earnings isn’t great enough to justify a higher P/E ratio. If recent medium-term earnings trends continue, it’s hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

We don’t want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 4 warning signs for Vishnusurya Projects and Infra (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you need to be mindful of.

It’s important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com