If a stock has a high price-earnings ratio, this means that:

• A. The stock's price is high considering the value of its earnings per share
• B. The stock's earnings per share are rising quickly
• C. The company has a low market capitalization
• D. The stock's dividends are growing rapidly

Answer: (A)

A price-earnings ratio shows how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of a company’s earnings. When this ratio is high, the stock’s price is high relative to its earnings per share. That means the market is valuing the company at a higher price compared to what it currently earns per share. In practical terms, the stock is seen as expensive relative to its earnings, or as having strong expectations for future growth reflected in the price.

This interpretation fits best because the P/E ratio directly compares price and earnings. It does not by itself indicate that earnings per share are rising quickly, nor does it imply anything specific about the company’s market capitalization or its dividend growth.