About PEG Ratio (TTM)

Currently, American Public Education, Inc. has a PEG ratio of 1.81 compared to the Schools industry's PEG ratio of 0.95.

The company's trailing twelve month (TTM) PEG ratio is the P/E ratio divided by its long-term growth rate consensus. This ratio essentially compares the P/E to its growth rate, thus, for many, telling a more complete story than just the P/E ratio alone. Conventional wisdom says that a PEG ratio of 1 or less is considered good (at par or undervalued to its growth rate). A value greater than 1, in general, is not as good (overvalued to its growth rate). For example, a company with a P/E ratio of 25 and a growth rate of 20% would have a PEG ratio of 1.25 (25 / 20 = 1.25). A company with a P/E ratio of 40 and a growth rate of 50% would have a PEG ratio of 0.80 (40 / 50 = 0.80). Traditionally, investors would look at the stock with the lower P/E and deem it a bargain. But when compared to its growth rate, it doesn't have the earnings growth to justify its P/E. In this example, the one with the P/E of 40 is the better bargain because it is selling at a discount to its growth rate. So the PEG ratio tells you what you're paying for each unit of earnings growth.