Investor Optimism Abounds China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group Limited (HKG:542) But Growth Is Lacking

Simply Wall St · 4d ago

China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group Limited's (HKG:542) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 5.5x may look like a poor investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Hospitality industry in Hong Kong have P/S ratios below 0.7x. However, the P/S might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Check out our latest analysis for China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group

ps-multiple-vs-industry
SEHK:542 Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry January 2nd 2026

What Does China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group's Recent Performance Look Like?

For instance, China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/S is high because investors think the company will still do enough to outperform the broader industry in the near future. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The High P/S?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group would need to produce outstanding growth that's well in excess of the industry.

Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 17%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 42% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 13% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

In light of this, it's alarming that China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. There's a very 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.

What Does China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group's P/S Mean For Investors?

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.

Our examination of China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group revealed its shrinking revenue over the medium-term isn't resulting in a P/S as low as we expected, given the industry is set to grow. When we see revenue heading backwards and underperforming the industry forecasts, we feel the possibility of the share price declining is very real, bringing the P/S back into the realm of reasonability. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.

Having said that, be aware China Cultural Tourism and Agriculture Group is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is a bit concerning.

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).