What does the price/earnings ratio measure?

The price/earnings (P/E) ratio measures the amount investors are willing to pay for each dollar of current earnings produced by a company. This ratio provides insight into how the market values a firm's earnings and reflects investor expectations about future profitability. A high P/E ratio may indicate that the market anticipates future growth in earnings, suggesting that investors are willing to pay a premium for each unit of current earnings. Conversely, a low P/E ratio might suggest that the market has lower expectations for future growth or that the stock is undervalued.

This specific understanding of the P/E ratio is essential for assessing whether a stock is overvalued or undervalued compared to its earnings. It directly correlates the stock price to earnings, making it a vital tool for investors when evaluating potential investments.

The other choices do not accurately represent what the P/E ratio measures. The expected growth rate of earnings pertains to projections rather than the current valuation, total earnings generated by a firm is a measure of profitability itself, and the ratio of equity to assets relates to a company's financial leverage, none of which directly connect to the current valuation of earnings as reflected in the P/E ratio.