Weak Financial Prospects Seem To Be Dragging Down CPE Technology Berhad (KLSE:CPETECH) Stock
CPE Technology Berhad (KLSE:CPETECH) has had a rough three months with its share price down 26%. To decide if this trend could continue, we decided to look at its weak fundamentals as they shape the long-term market trends. Specifically, we decided to study CPE Technology Berhad’s ROE in this article.
Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder’s equity.
Check out our latest analysis for CPE Technology Berhad
ROE can be calculated by using the formula:
Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders’ Equity
So, based on the above formula, the ROE for CPE Technology Berhad is:
6.2% = RM20m ÷ RM318m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024).
The ‘return’ is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that for every MYR1 worth of shareholders’ equity, the company generated MYR0.06 in profit.
So far, we’ve learned that ROE is a measure of a company’s profitability. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or “retains” for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don’t necessarily bear these characteristics.
On the face of it, CPE Technology Berhad’s ROE is not much to talk about. Yet, a closer study shows that the company’s ROE is similar to the industry average of 6.6%. Having said that, CPE Technology Berhad’s five year net income decline rate was 4.7%. Remember, the company’s ROE is a bit low to begin with. So that’s what might be causing earnings growth to shrink.
However, when we compared CPE Technology Berhad’s growth with the industry we found that while the company’s earnings have been shrinking, the industry has seen an earnings growth of 8.6% in the same period. This is quite worrisome.
KLSE:CPETECH Past Earnings Growth March 16th 2025
Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if CPE Technology Berhad is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.
Story Continues
With a high three-year median payout ratio of 62% (implying that 38% of the profits are retained), most of CPE Technology Berhad’s profits are being paid to shareholders, which explains the company’s shrinking earnings. With only a little being reinvested into the business, earnings growth would obviously be low or non-existent. To know the 2 risks we have identified for CPE Technology Berhad visit our risks dashboard for free.
Additionally, CPE Technology Berhad started paying a dividend only recently. So it looks like the management may have perceived that shareholders favor dividends even though earnings have been in decline.
In total, we would have a hard think before deciding on any investment action concerning CPE Technology Berhad. The company has seen a lack of earnings growth as a result of retaining very little profits and whatever little it does retain, is being reinvested at a very low rate of return. Until now, we have only just grazed the surface of the company’s past performance by looking at the company’s fundamentals. So it may be worth checking this free detailed graph of CPE Technology Berhad’s past earnings, as well as revenue and cash flows to get a deeper insight into the company’s performance.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. 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.
