Hing Yip Holdings Limited (HKG:132) shares have retraced a considerable 33% in the last month, reversing a fair amount of their solid recent performance. Looking at the bigger picture, even after this poor month the stock is up 82% in the last year.
Although its price has dipped substantially, there still wouldn't be many who think Hing Yip Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.5x is worth a mention when the median P/S in Hong Kong's Hospitality industry is similar at about 0.7x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.
Check out our latest analysis for Hing Yip Holdings
The revenue growth achieved at Hing Yip Holdings over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. It might be that many expect the respectable revenue performance to wane, which has kept the P/S from rising. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.
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 Hing Yip Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow.Hing Yip Holdings' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the industry.
If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 24%. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 115% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.
This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 16% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.
In light of this, it's curious that Hing Yip Holdings' P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.
With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for Hing Yip Holdings looks to be in line with the rest of the Hospitality industry. While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations.
We didn't quite envision Hing Yip Holdings' P/S sitting in line with the wider industry, considering the revenue growth over the last three-year is higher than the current industry outlook. It'd be fair to assume that potential risks the company faces could be the contributing factor to the lower than expected P/S. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term revenue trends continue, but investors seem to think future revenue could see some volatility.
You need to take note of risks, for example - Hing Yip Holdings has 4 warning signs (and 2 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about.
It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).
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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.