Beijing UniStrong Science&Technology Co.,Ltd. (SZSE:002383) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 29% share price jump in the last month. While recent buyers may be laughing, long-term holders might not be as pleased since the recent gain only brings the stock back to where it started a year ago.
Even after such a large jump in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd's P/S ratio of 3.9x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Communications industry in China is about the same. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.
See our latest analysis for Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd
As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd over the last year, which is not ideal at all. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think the company might still do enough to be in line with the broader industry in the near future. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.
We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd's is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.
In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 28%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 28% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 42% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.
With this information, we find it concerning that Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.
Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd's stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with the rest of the industry. We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.
The fact that Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd currently trades at a P/S on par with the rest of the industry is surprising to us since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term, all while the industry is set to grow. Even though it matches the industry, we're uncomfortable with the current P/S ratio, as this dismal revenue performance is unlikely to support a more positive sentiment for long. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.
It is also worth noting that we have found 1 warning sign for Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd that you need to take into consideration.
If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Beijing UniStrong Science&TechnologyLtd, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.