In a situation where one company has a higher P/E but lower EV/EBITDA than another, what could explain this discrepancy?

The presence of a higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio alongside a lower enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) can indeed be explained by differences in capital intensity and capital structure.

P/E ratio focuses on the price of the company's stock relative to its earnings, primarily reflecting how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings. A higher P/E may suggest that investors expect higher profitability or growth potential in the future. On the other hand, EV/EBITDA is a capital structure-neutral valuation metric, which compares enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, thereby accounting for the capital intensity of a business.

If one company operates in a capital-intensive industry, it may require significant investment to generate its current level of earnings, leading to a lower EV/EBITDA despite a higher P/E ratio. This occurs because the company may have high operational profits (thus a high P/E due to earnings) but has a heavier burden of capital expenditure impacting its enterprise value calculation. Differences in capital structure also play a role; for instance, if one company utilizes more debt, its cost structure and risk profile differ, influencing the ratios accordingly.

This analysis highlights that the observed ratios can