What is a price/earnings ratio?
If you divide a company’s stock price by its earnings per share, you’ll come up with a price/earnings ratio, or PE. This simple number reflects how well-thought-of the stock is by investors. A single-digit PE is considered to be low, while a number over 20 is considered to be high. If stocks were commodities, like bananas, a low price/earnings ratio would represent a bargain, a good value. But stocks are not commodities. A high PE simply confirms that investors believe a company will experience fast earnings growth in the future.
