Sino Golf Holdings Limited (HKG:361) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 29% in the last month, although it is still struggling to make up recently lost ground. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 35% in the last twelve months.
Although its price has surged higher, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Sino Golf Holdings' P/S ratio of 0.9x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Leisure industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.7x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.
View our latest analysis for Sino Golf Holdings
For example, consider that Sino Golf Holdings' financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. Perhaps investors believe the recent revenue performance is enough to keep in line with the industry, which is keeping the P/S from dropping off. 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 Sino Golf Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow.There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like Sino Golf Holdings' to be considered reasonable.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 27% decrease to the company's top line. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk revenue by 26% in aggregate. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 10% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.
With this in mind, we find it worrying that Sino Golf Holdings' P/S exceeds that of its industry peers. 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. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent revenue trends is likely to weigh on the share price eventually.
Its shares have lifted substantially and now Sino Golf Holdings' P/S is back within range of the industry median. Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-sales ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.
We find it unexpected that Sino Golf Holdings trades at a P/S ratio that is comparable to the rest of the industry, despite experiencing declining revenues during the medium-term, while the industry as a whole is expected to grow. When we see revenue heading backwards in the context of growing industry forecasts, it'd make sense to expect a possible share price decline on the horizon, sending the moderate P/S lower. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.
You always need to take note of risks, for example - Sino Golf Holdings has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.
If companies with solid past earnings growth is up your alley, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.
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