Those holding Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 27% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 49% in the last twelve months.
Following the firm bounce in price, you could be forgiven for thinking Redwire is a stock not worth researching with a price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") of 3.8x, considering almost half the companies in the United States' Aerospace & Defense industry have P/S ratios below 3.1x. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.
See our latest analysis for Redwire
Redwire hasn't been tracking well recently as its declining revenue compares poorly to other companies, which have seen some growth in their revenues on average. It might be that many expect the dour revenue performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/S from collapsing. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Redwire will help you uncover what's on the horizon.The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as high as Redwire's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered virtually the same number to the company's top line as the year before. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 100% overall rise in revenue, in spite of its uninspiring short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been great for the company, but investors will want to ask why it has slowed to such an extent.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 49% during the coming year according to the nine analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to only expand by 10%, which is noticeably less attractive.
In light of this, it's understandable that Redwire's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.
Redwire's P/S is on the rise since its shares have risen strongly. Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.
As we suspected, our examination of Redwire's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior revenue outlook is contributing to its high P/S. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in revenues is quite remote, justifying the elevated P/S ratio. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.
You need to take note of risks, for example - Redwire has 3 warning signs (and 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) we think you should know about.
If you're unsure about the strength of Redwire's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.
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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.