SilverSun Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SSNT) is currently trading at a trailing P/E of 6.2x, which is lower than the industry average of 42.9x. While this makes SSNT appear like a great stock to buy, you might change your mind after I explain the assumptions behind the P/E ratio. Today, I will explain what the P/E ratio is as well as what you should look out for when using it. Check out our latest analysis for SilverSun Technologies
Demystifying the P/E ratio
P/E is a popular ratio used for relative valuation. By comparing a stock’s price per share to its earnings per share, we are able to see how much investors are paying for each dollar of the company’s earnings.
P/E Calculation for SSNT
Price-Earnings Ratio = Price per share ÷ Earnings per share
SSNT Price-Earnings Ratio = 4.27 ÷ 0.694 = 6.2x
The P/E ratio itself doesn’t tell you a lot; however, it becomes very insightful when you compare it with other similar companies. We preferably want to compare the stock’s P/E ratio to the average of companies that have similar features to SSNT, such as capital structure and profitability. A common peer group is companies that exist in the same industry, which is what I use. At 6.2x, SSNT’s P/E is lower than its industry peers (42.9x). This implies that investors are undervaluing each dollar of SSNT’s earnings. Therefore, according to this analysis, SSNT is an under-priced stock.
Assumptions to watch out for
While our conclusion might prompt you to buy SSNT immediately, there are two important assumptions you should be aware of. Firstly, our peer group contains companies that are similar to SSNT. If this isn’t the case, the difference in P/E could be due to other factors. For example, if you are comparing lower risk firms with SSNT, then its P/E would naturally be lower than its peers, as investors would value those with lower risk at a higher price. The second assumption that must hold true is that the stocks we are comparing SSNT to are fairly valued by the market. If this does not hold true, SSNT’s lower P/E ratio may be because firms in our peer group are overvalued by the market.
What this means for you:
Are you a shareholder? You may have already conducted fundamental analysis on the stock as a shareholder, so its current undervaluation could signal a good buying opportunity to increase your exposure to SSNT. Now that you understand the ins and outs of the PE metric, you should know to bear in mind its limitations before you make an investment decision.
Are you a potential investor? If SSNT has been on your watch list for a while, it is best you also consider its intrinsic valuation. Looking at PE on its own will not give you the full picture of the stock as an investment, so I suggest you should also look at other relative valuation metrics like EV/EBITDA or PEG.