Why A Negative P/E Happens and What to Use Instead

Ever pulled up a stock and noticed the P/E is negative—then immediately wondered if the company is “cheap” or just a disaster? In this episode, Stephen and Andrew break down exactly why a P/E ratio “breaks” when earnings go negative, what that actually tells you (and what it doesn’t), and why a negative P/E should be treated as a big red flag—but not an automatic walk-away.

They cover the three most common reasons you’ll see a negative P/E (real operating losses, one-time accounting noise, and heavy reinvestment/hypergrowth), then walk through practical alternatives you can use to evaluate unprofitable companies without guessing—like price-to-sales, margins, free cash flow, and longer time horizons. The core message: don’t let a single surface-level metric make your decision for you—zoom out, understand the story, and validate it with the right numbers.

What You Will Learn

• Why a negative P/E always means negative earnings

• The difference between trailing vs. forward P/E and why forward estimates can be “squishy”

• The 3 common causes of negative P/E

• What to use instead

• How to avoid getting hypnotized by a company “story”

Timestamps

00:00 — Negative P/E confusion and the goal of the episode

01:56 — What P/E actually is and why negative P/E = negative earnings (always)

03:12 — Trailing vs. forward P/E: what changes and why estimates are “squishy”

04:11 — Why P/E is flexible (Ferrari example) and why context matters

06:04 — Cause #1: real operating losses (broken model vs. bad cycle vs. early-stage burn)

07:03 — Cause #2: one-time charges/accounting noise (Crocs/HeyDude impairment) + profit vs FCF disconnect

11:52 — Legal settlements and other “noise” that can distort earnings and risk

14:52 — Cause #3: heavy reinvestment/hypergrowth + “losses can be strategic, but risky”

21:27 — What to use instead: long horizon, price-to-sales, margins, operating profit, free cash flow

33:48 — Avoiding story traps

Resources Mentioned

The Value Spotlight Newsletter: ⁠https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter⁠/

Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!

Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time.

Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.

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