The FEG Holdings Corporation Limited (HKG:1413) share price has fared very poorly over the last month, falling by a substantial 26%. Instead of being rewarded, shareholders who have already held through the last twelve months are now sitting on a 43% share price drop.
Even after such a large drop in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about FEG Holdings' P/S ratio of 0.6x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Construction industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.4x. 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.
Check out our latest analysis for FEG Holdings
For example, consider that FEG Holdings' financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. 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.
Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on FEG Holdings will help you shine a light on its historical performance.The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like FEG Holdings' is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.
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 71%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 55% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 20% shows it's an unpleasant look.
In light of this, it's somewhat alarming that FEG Holdings' P/S sits in line with 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. 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.
With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for FEG Holdings looks to be in line with the rest of the Construction industry. 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.
The fact that FEG Holdings 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. 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 the circumstances surrounding the recent medium-term improve, it wouldn't be wrong to expect a a difficult period ahead for the company's shareholders.
There are also other vital risk factors to consider and we've discovered 3 warning signs for FEG Holdings (2 are concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here.
If you're unsure about the strength of FEG Holdings' 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.