A P/E ratio of 0.13? Something’s going on with this cheap penny stock

Jon Smith flags up a penny stock that has seen a sharp move lower in its share price but is still on track to deliver a profitable year.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Penny stocks usually see higher volatility than large-cap alternatives. Sometimes, this high volatility is characterised by sharp falls in share prices. Yet as these are small companies with low market caps, a change in sentiment can cause a swift rally with even some relatively small buying interest. Here’s one that I think looks cheap and could come back in favour soon.

Drilling for details

I’m referring to Mincon Group (LSE:MCON). Mincon is a global engineering business specialising in the design and manufacture of rock drilling tools. Over the past year, the stock has fallen by 54%, pushing it down to 39p.

The main reason for this decline has been disappointing financials. The H1 2024 report showed revenue of €68m, down from the €80.6m from the same period last year. Naturally, this fed through to a lower profit (EBITDA) figure of €4.7m for the period. By comparison, this was at €11.8m in H1 2023.

This was put down to several factors. In different updates, the management team has spoken about higher competition, a higher cost base due to inflation, projects being put on hold due to high interest rates and more.

The latest report also spoke of “reductions in construction-related activities in North America.” Ultimately, less activity means less demand for Mincon products.

The valuation

One point that really stood out to me in terms of valuation is the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. It currently stands at 0.13. The share price of 39p, divided by the latest earnings per share (300p), equates to 0.13. Given that I usually say a fair value is 10 (that is, the share price is 10 times that of the latest earnings), a value of 0.13 is quite mind-boggling.

There are two ways that I can interpret a number this low. One is that the stock is genuinely very undervalued and due to it being a small company, this dislocation hasn’t been spotted by many investors.

The other interpretation is that investors simply don’t want to own the stock, as they’re concerned about the future prospects. After all, the earnings per share figure that’s used in the calculation is the one from the latest financial report. Yet if the business falls to a loss in the coming period, the EPS figure will have to be updated.

Demand is recovering

The reason why I don’t think investors are too worried about losses is that in the latest update, the firm spoke about how a recovery is expected H2, “with increasing order books and large project orders received.”

Mincon made a H1 profit even with low demand, so with higher H2 orders it makes sense that it’ll post a full-year profit. On this basis, I think the stock does look cheap.

A risk is that the share price takes a long time to recover. Some shares can stay undervalued for years. Another concern is that the market in North America could be sluggish for some time. Yet with inflation moving lower and interest rates starting to be cut, I think the drivers behind the share price fall should ease off.

I’m seriously considering adding the stock to my portfolio in the near future.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

With a P/E ratio of 9, is the Aviva share price a bargain?

Christopher Ruane looks at the Aviva share price and considers some strengths and weaknesses of the FTSE 100 insurance business.

Read more »

Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
US Stock

Is it too late to buy growth stock Shopify after its 25% pop?

Up more than 40% this year, Shopify is on fire at the moment. Here, Edward Sheldon explains how he’d play…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Investors should consider buying this energy AIM stock, up 50% in the past year

AIM stock Afentra has seen a stellar price rise in 12 months to November. I believe there may be room…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 ISA shares to consider for a large passive income!

Looking for dividend shares to buy in a Stocks and Shares ISA or Lifetime ISA? Royston Wild reveals two of…

Read more »

Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her
Investing Articles

A Bitcoin investment that can be held inside a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP

UK investors can’t buy Bitcoin ETFs for their investment accounts or SIPPs due to FCA regulation. This stock could be…

Read more »

Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

As the Vodafone share price slides 6% on lacklustre H1 results, what does the future hold?

After posting moderate results this morning, Vodafone saw its share price sink further, erasing this year's gains. Our writer looks…

Read more »

Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing For Beginners

If I’d invested £5k in a FTSE tracker fund after the pandemic crash, here’s what I’d have now

Jon Smith explains the extent of his potential gains if he'd invested in a FTSE tracker fund during the Covid…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 top shares I’ve bought for my Stocks and Shares ISA in November

This writer reveals a pair of fast-growing businesses that he's recently added to his Stocks and Shares ISA for the…

Read more »