Stock Valuation Metrics Guide
Master the essential financial ratios every investor needs to know for making informed investment decisions.
Key Metrics Covered
Growth Metrics
- • PEG Ratio
- • PEGY Ratio
- • Growth Rate
Value Metrics
- • P/E Ratio
- • P/B Ratio
- • P/S Ratio
Quality Metrics
- • ROE
- • Profit Margin
- • Debt Ratios
P/E Ratio: The Foundation
The Price-to-Earnings ratio is the most fundamental valuation metric, comparing a company's stock price to its earnings per share.
Formula: P/E = Stock Price ÷ Earnings Per Share
A P/E of 15 means investors pay $15 for every $1 of annual earnings.
PEG Ratio: Growth-Adjusted Value
The PEG ratio improves on P/E by factoring in expected earnings growth, providing a more complete picture of valuation.
Formula: PEG = P/E Ratio ÷ Growth Rate
A stock with P/E of 20 and 20% growth has PEG = 1.0 (fair value).
PEG < 1.0
Potentially Undervalued
PEGY Ratio: Including Dividends
PEGY enhances PEG by adding dividend yield to the growth rate, making it especially useful for dividend-paying stocks.
Formula: PEGY = P/E ÷ (Growth Rate + Dividend Yield)
Perfect for evaluating mature companies that pay dividends while still growing.
Book and Sales Ratios
Price-to-Book (P/B)
Compares market value to book value. Useful for asset-heavy businesses.
Excellent: P/B < 1
Price-to-Sales (P/S)
Compares market cap to revenue. Useful for unprofitable growth companies.
Growth: P/S < 10
Quality Indicators
Return on Equity
Measures how efficiently a company uses shareholder equity. Target: >15%
Profit Margin
Shows how much profit a company makes per dollar of revenue. Target: >10%
Debt-to-Equity
Measures financial leverage and risk. Lower is generally better: <0.5
Putting It All Together
No single metric tells the complete story. Use multiple ratios together for comprehensive analysis.
Best Practice
Start with PEG for growth stocks, P/B for value plays, and always verify with quality metrics like ROE and profit margins.
Apply These Metrics Today
Use our calculators and screener to analyze stocks using all these valuation metrics.