Universe Pharmaceuticals INC's (NASDAQ:UPC) Earnings Are Not Doing Enough For Some Investors

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC's (NASDAQ:UPC) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 2.8x might make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the market in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 17x and even P/E's above 34x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so limited.

The earnings growth achieved at Universe Pharmaceuticals over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. It might be that many expect the respectable earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

See our latest analysis for Universe Pharmaceuticals

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

How Is Universe Pharmaceuticals' Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as depressed as Universe Pharmaceuticals' is when the company's growth is on track to lag the market decidedly.

If we review the last year of earnings growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 26%. EPS has also lifted 9.5% in aggregate from three years ago, mostly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has actually done a good job of growing earnings over that time.

Weighing that recent medium-term earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for expansion of 10% shows it's noticeably less attractive on an annualised basis.

In light of this, it's understandable that Universe Pharmaceuticals' 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 Universe Pharmaceuticals' P/E?

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 Universe Pharmaceuticals 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. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Having said that, be aware Universe Pharmaceuticals is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those can't be ignored.

You might be able to find a better investment than Universe Pharmaceuticals. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.