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

After it crashed 25%, should I buy this former stock market darling in my Stocks and Shares ISA?

Harvey Jones has a big hole in his Stocks and Shares ISA that he is keen to fill. Should he…

Read more »

happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

How’s the dividend forecast looking for Legal & General shares in 2025 and beyond?

As a shareholder, I like to keep track of the potential dividend returns I could make from my Legal &…

Read more »

artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

Could buying this stock with a $7bn market cap be like investing in Nvidia in 2010?

Where might the next Nvidia-type stock be lurking in today's market? Our writer takes a look at one candidate with…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is GSK a bargain now the share price is near 1,333p?

Biopharma company GSK looks like a decent stock to consider for the long term, so is today's lower share price…

Read more »

Snowing on Jubilee Gardens in London at dusk
Investing Articles

Could December be a great month to buy UK shares?

Christopher Ruane sees some possible reasons to look for shares to buy in December -- but he'll be using the…

Read more »

Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Sticking to FTSE shares, I’d still aim for a £1,000 monthly passive income like this!

By investing in blue-chip FTSE shares with proven business models, our writer hopes he can build sizeable passive income streams…

Read more »

Growth Shares

BT shares? I think there are much better UK stocks for the long term

Over the long term, many UK stocks have performed much better than BT. Here’s a look at two companies that…

Read more »

British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

After a 540% rise, could this penny share keep going?

This penny share has seen mixed fortunes in recent years. Our writer looks ahead to some potentially exciting developments in…

Read more »