Connexion

Inscription

Avancé (C) 0%

Le PER Avancé : TTM, Forward et Comparaison Sectorielle

مكرر الأرباح المتقدم: TTM، forward والمقارنة القطاعية

Advanced P/E: TTM, forward and sector comparison

The price-earnings ratio (P/E) is useful only when tied to a real company, real earnings and a comparable sector. On the Casablanca Stock Exchange, the same P/E tells a different story for a bank, a telecom operator or a cement producer.

BVC practical case

The figures below use a Casabourse snapshot (June 2026). They illustrate the method: before any real decision, update the latest price, the latest published results and the most recent financial releases on the ATW, BCP, IAM, LHM and CMA company pages.

1. TTM P/E with a real stock: Attijariwafa Bank

TTM P/E looks at earnings already delivered. Example with Attijariwafa Bank (ATW) in the Casabourse database:

ATW data Snapshot Investor read
Latest price 680 MAD Price paid for one ATW share on that date
Market capitalisation 146.3 bn MAD Total value the market assigns to equity
Published P/E 13.8x The market pays 13.8 years of current earnings
Implied net income around 10.6 bn MAD 146.3 / 13.8 = earnings used by the multiple

The formula is simple: P/E = Market capitalisation / Net income. In reverse, implied net income is Capitalisation / P/E. For ATW, 146.3 bn MAD divided by 13.8 gives roughly 10.6 bn MAD.

Why use market capitalisation?

For a bank, P/E should be calculated on the value of listed equity, not enterprise value. Bank debt is part of the business, so EV/EBITDA is less relevant than P/E, P/B and ROE.

2. TTM vs forward: the same ATW under three scenarios

Forward P/E replaces known earnings with estimated earnings. It is more useful for anticipating the future, but more fragile because it depends on an assumption.

ATW N+1 scenario Estimated net income Estimated forward P/E What it means
Prudent: earnings −10 % around 9.5 bn MAD 15.4x The stock looks more expensive if earnings fall
Base: stable earnings around 10.6 bn MAD 13.8x Forward P/E stays close to TTM P/E
Optimistic: earnings +10 % around 11.7 bn MAD 12.5x The stock looks cheaper if growth materialises

The practical lesson: a low forward P/E is not proof. You must explain why earnings will rise: NII growth, controlled cost of risk, better operating efficiency, or a non-recurring item that disappears.

3. Sector comparison: ATW vs BCP, then outside the sector

A P/E should not be judged in isolation. Compare it first to a company in the same sector, and only then to the market as a whole.

BVC stock Sector Price Market cap P/E Dividend yield
ATW Bank 680 MAD 146.3 bn MAD 13.8x 3.24 %
BCP Bank 241 MAD 49.0 bn MAD 10.89x 4.36 %
IAM Telecom 91.4 MAD 80.3 bn MAD 11.53x 4.38 %
LHM Cement 1,779 MAD 41.7 bn MAD 19.24x 5.40 %
CMA Cement ~18–20x ~5 %

ATW trades at roughly 27 % more than BCP on P/E (13.8 / 10.89 − 1). That premium can be acceptable if ATW shows better earnings quality, more visible growth, higher profitability or lower perceived risk. It is not acceptable simply because the name is well known.

Common mistake

Saying BCP is automatically cheaper than ATW because its P/E is lower is incomplete. The real question is: does the lower P/E compensate for differences in growth, risk, liquidity, cost of risk and yield?

4. Do not compare a bank with a cement producer

LafargeHolcim Maroc (LHM) shows a P/E of 19.24x here, above ATW and BCP. That does not automatically mean LHM is overvalued. A cement producer is read through other variables: cement volumes, selling prices, energy, margins, capex, the property cycle and dividend policy. For an intra-sector comparison, open Ciments du Maroc (CMA) — the two BVC cement producers compare with each other, not with ATW.

Maroc Telecom (IAM), with a P/E of 11.53x and a yield of 4.38 %, must also be analysed differently: cash-flow stability, competitive pressure, network investment, Africa growth, regulation and ability to maintain the dividend.

5. Mini-checklist before using P/E on Moroccan stocks

  • Check the earnings used: annual result, TTM, annualised H1 or analyst estimate?
  • Strip exceptional items: capital gains, one-off provisions, tax effects or scope changes.
  • Compare within the same sector: ATW with BCP or BOA, not with a cement producer.
  • Look at the dividend: a middling P/E can still be attractive if the yield is sustainable.
  • Test a forward scenario: what happens to P/E if earnings fall 10 %?
  • Factor in liquidity: a small market cap can show an attractive P/E but be hard to buy or sell efficiently.

6. Practical decision

P/E is a starting point, not a decision. On ATW, the investor must explain why paying 13.8x earnings is reasonable versus BCP at 10.89x. On IAM, they must judge dividend stability. On LHM and CMA, they must understand the cement cycle. The right reflex is therefore: P/E + earnings quality + sector + scenario + margin of safety.

BVC practical case

Open the Casabourse comparator and select ATW, BCP, LHM and CMA. Confirm you are comparing the same fiscal year (2024), the same currency (MAD) and EPS adjusted for exceptional items. Calculate ATW’s implied earnings (market cap / P/E). Then estimate ATW forward P/E if earnings fall 10 %. Finally, cement duel: LHM vs CMA — which offers the lower P/E for comparable margin quality? Add IAM as a defensive anchor: is its P/E lower than ATW’s with a higher yield? Write your conclusion in five lines — P/E alone is not enough, but sector comparison structures your decision.

Self-check

  1. Calculate ATW’s implied earnings using market cap and P/E.
  2. Identify the main risk of forward P/E.
  3. Choose the right sector comparison for ATW.
  4. Why compare LHM with CMA and not with ATW?
  5. How do you validate your P/E ratios in the Casabourse comparator?
Important

Ce contenu est fourni a des fins educatives. Il ne constitue pas un conseil en investissement personnalise ni une recommandation d acheter ou vendre une valeur. Verifiez toujours vos hypotheses, votre horizon et votre tolerance au risque.