In its simplest definition, the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E ratio) represents the price an investor pays per rupee of a company's earnings.
For example, if a company has a P/E ratio of 25, investors are willing to pay INR 25 for each rupee of the company's current earnings. This indicates that investors value the stock at 25 times its current earnings, with an expectation of future earnings growth.
The P/E ratio fluctuates based on investor sentiment towards a company. Positive sentiment drives the stock price higher, resulting in a higher P/E ratio (investors pay more for each rupee of earnings). Conversely, negative sentiment lowers the P/E ratio (investors pay less for each rupee of earnings).