Despite an already strong run, Dragon King Group Holdings Limited (HKG:8493) shares have been powering on, with a gain of 43% in the last thirty days. The last 30 days were the cherry on top of the stock's 672% gain in the last year, which is nothing short of spectacular.

Even after such a large jump in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Dragon King Group Holdings' P/S ratio of 0.8x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Hospitality industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.9x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

How Dragon King Group Holdings Has Been Performing

For instance, Dragon King Group Holdings' receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. It might be that many expect the company to put the disappointing revenue performance behind them over the coming period, which has kept the P/S from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

How Is Dragon King Group Holdings' Revenue Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Dragon King Group Holdings would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 3.5%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 57% overall. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 40% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

With this in mind, we find it worrying that Dragon King Group 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.

The Bottom Line On Dragon King Group Holdings' P/S

Its shares have lifted substantially and now Dragon King Group Holdings' P/S is back within range of the industry median. 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 Dragon King Group 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. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 6 warning signs for Dragon King Group Holdings (3 are concerning!) that you should be aware of.

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.