What does a high P/E ratio generally indicate about a company?

A high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio generally indicates that investors expect future growth from a company. The P/E ratio is calculated by dividing the current share price by the earnings per share (EPS). When investors are optimistic about a company's future profitability and growth potential, they are willing to pay more for its shares relative to its current earnings, leading to a higher P/E ratio.

This expectation for future growth may stem from anticipated expansion in market share, new product introductions, or improvements in profit margins, among other factors. As a result, a high P/E can often signal that the market has confidence in the company's business model and growth prospects, which tends to drive the share price up, thus increasing the P/E ratio.

In contrast, other interpretations such as undervaluation, high dividend yield, or declining profits do not align with the implications of a high P/E. An undervalued company would typically have a low P/E, while a high dividend yield relates more to a company's ability to generate free cash flow for distributions rather than its growth expectations. Declining profits would likely cause a lower P/E ratio, as decreased earnings would not justify a high price per share.