by David Kranzler
Investment Research Dynamics
The discussion about p/e ratios and other valuation ratios derived from Company-issued GAAP accounting financials is idiotic. The GAAP accounting allowances have been liberalized beyond a Bernie Sanders wet dream over the last 20 years. The p/e ratio at the peak of the tech bubble is completely different from the p/e ratio at the top of the 2007 stock bubble which is completely different then the p/e ratio now.
If 1999’s or 2007 GAAP standards were applied to today’s earnings, the P/E ratio on the S&P 500 would be at least as high as 65 p/e ratio registered in 2007. By several other metrics, most notably market cap/sales ratio, the current stock market is by far the most overvalued in history.
And that does analysis does not incorporate any adjustments for the fraud component of contemporary corporate accounting.