Bet on 5 Top-Ranked Stocks With Rising P/E

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Rising P/Es Spotlight Growth Plays, But SA Investors Should Be Cautious

Global stocks with rising price-to-earnings ratios signal growth, yet local investors should focus on rand moves and domestic sectors.

Watching stocks with rising price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios combined with accelerating earnings growth is tempting. It usually means investors expect sustained growth. But for South African investors, these global names—CuriosityStream, Inovio, and the like—don’t map neatly onto the JSE. Instead, the key local barometer is the USD/ZAR rate. A weaker rand tends to support companies exposed to offshore earnings, such as Naspers and Prosus, though their valuations are already elevated. Banking shares like Standard Bank and FirstRand often provide steadier, more tangible growth in uncertain times. Meanwhile, global tech hype sometimes drives the rand weaker, adding currency risk to local portfolios. If you chase these momentum-driven US stocks through rand exposure, remember this strategy depends heavily on the currency holding steady or weakening, which inflation or US rate changes could disrupt. Right now, a watchful wait and focus on select South African sectors like financials or gold miners like AngloGold Ashanti offer a better balance. this is just our opinion and not financial advice