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What Is the P/E Ratio?

How much you pay for each dollar of profit

The Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio = share price ÷ earnings per share. A P/E of 25 means you're paying $25 for every $1 the company earns annually. High P/E often means investors expect strong growth. Low P/E may mean the stock is cheap — or that growth is slowing.

Quick check

A stock trades at $100 and earns $5 per share. What is its P/E ratio?