Peter Lynch, a renowned investor and former manager of the Fidelity Magellan Fund, popularized the Price/Earnings-to-Growth (PEG) ratio as a valuation metric to assess whether a stock's price is justified relative to its expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio is calculated by dividing a company's Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio by its anticipated earnings growth rate (typically expressed as a percentage). For instance, if a company has a P/E ratio of 20 and an expected annual earnings growth rate of 15%, its PEG ratio would be approximately 1.33 (20 / 15).
The interpretation of the PEG ratio is as follows: a value below 1 generally indicates that the stock may be undervalued, suggesting that its growth potential outpaces its current valuation. A PEG ratio around 1 implies fair valuation, while a ratio above 1 may signal overvaluation, where the stock's price has outrun its growth prospects. Lynch emphasized this metric as a tool to identify "growth at a reasonable price," particularly useful for high-growth companies where traditional P/E ratios alone might be misleading. Variations, such as the PEGY ratio, incorporate dividend yield for a more comprehensive assessment, but the standard PEG focuses on growth.
A recent analysis applies Lynch's PEG test to prominent technology companies, highlighting disparities in their valuations as of July 2025. According to the evaluation, Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) demonstrates a favorable PEG ratio, supported by robust forward earnings growth estimates exceeding 50%. In contrast, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) exhibit higher PEG ratios, indicating potential overvaluation relative to their slower projected growth.
The following table summarizes the key PEG ratios and contextual details from the analysis:
Company | PEG Ratio | Key Insights |
---|---|---|
Tesla (TSLA) | Above 2.5 | Reflects a high P/E ratio amid moderated growth expectations, suggesting the stock may be priced ahead of its earnings potential. |
Apple (AAPL) | Above 3 | Indicates overvaluation, with earnings growth estimates for the current year at approximately 6.41% and next year at 9.14%, which do not sufficiently support the current pricing. |
Nvidia (NVDA) | Near 1.1 | Positions the company as reasonably valued, bolstered by strong momentum and a 60% year-to-date stock gain in 2025, outperforming peers like Microsoft (+18%) and Amazon (+22%). |
This assessment underscores the PEG ratio's utility in distinguishing between market enthusiasm and fundamental value, particularly in volatile sectors like technology. Investors are advised to consider additional factors, such as market conditions and company-specific risks, when applying this metric.