Investing Terminal
GlossaryP/E Ratio
Valuation

What Is P/E Ratio?

Definition and plain-English explanation of "P/E Ratio"

P/E Ratio — Valuation illustration

The Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio measures how much investors are paying for each dollar of a company's earnings. A P/E of 20 means investors pay $20 for every $1 of annual earnings. A high P/E can indicate a growth stock or an overvalued stock. A low P/E can indicate a value stock or a company with declining prospects. The average S&P 500 P/E ratio is around 15–25.

Related Terms

Browse by Category

Market Navigator Glossary — plain-English definitions of 93+ investing and crypto terms. All content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.