What does the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio indicate?
AThe percentage of earnings paid out as cash dividends
BThe dollar amount an investor is willing to pay for each dollar of a company's earnings
CThe ratio of total liabilities to net earnings
DThe return on invested capital
Explanation
Core Concept: P/E Ratio = Market Price per Share / Earnings per Share (EPS). It measures market expectations regarding growth prospects and current earnings multiple. Context/Distractors: Option A is the Dividend Payout Ratio; Option D is ROIC. Exam Tip/Key Fact: High P/E ratios often reflect investor anticipation of strong future earnings growth.
Exam Relevance
- Topic: Financial Statement Analysis
- Subtopic: Valuation Ratios

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