K12 Inc. (NYSE:LRN) Shares Slammed 34% But Getting In Cheap Might Be Difficult Regardless

NYSE:LRN) shares have retraced a considerable 34% in the last month, reversing a fair amount of their solid recent performance. The last month has meant the stock is now only up 8.6% during the last year.” data-reactid=”28″>K12 Inc. (NYSE:LRN) shares have retraced a considerable 34% in the last month, reversing a fair amount of their solid recent performance. The last month has meant the stock is now only up 8.6% during the last year.

Even after such a large drop in price, K12’s price-to-earnings (or “P/E”) ratio of 45.6x might still make it look like a strong sell right now compared to the market in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios below 18x and even P/E’s below 9x are quite common. However, the P/E might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it’s justified.

With earnings that are retreating more than the market’s of late, K12 has been very sluggish. It might be that many expect the dismal earnings performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. You’d really hope so, otherwise you’re paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

View our latest analysis for K12 ” data-reactid=”31″> View our latest analysis for K12

free report on K12 will help you uncover what’s on the horizon.” data-reactid=”48″>Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on K12 will help you uncover what’s on the horizon.

Is There Enough Growth For K12?

The only time you’d be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as steep as K12’s is when the company’s growth is on track to outshine the market decidedly.

Taking a look back first, the company’s earnings per share growth last year wasn’t something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 35%. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 5,172% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. Although it’s been a bumpy ride, it’s still fair to say the earnings growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 72% as estimated by the four analysts watching the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the market is forecast to only expand by 5.4%, which is noticeably less attractive.

In light of this, it’s understandable that K12’s P/E sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

The Key Takeaway

K12’s shares may have retreated, but its P/E is still flying high. Typically, we’d caution against reading too much into price-to-earnings ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

As we suspected, our examination of K12’s analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook is contributing to its high P/E. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in earnings isn’t great enough to justify a lower P/E ratio. It’s hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

2 warning signs we’ve spotted with K12.” data-reactid=”57″>Plus, you should also learn about these 2 warning signs we’ve spotted with K12.

list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings).” data-reactid=”58″>You might be able to find a better investment than K12. 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).

Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected].” data-reactid=”59″>This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.

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