Those holding Kunshan Kersen Science & Technology Co.,Ltd. (SHSE:603626) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 32% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. The bad news is that even after the stocks recovery in the last 30 days, shareholders are still underwater by about 5.5% over the last year.
Although its price has surged higher, Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd may still look like a strong buying opportunity at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.5x, considering almost half of all companies in the Electronic industry in China have P/S ratios greater than 3.9x and even P/S higher than 8x aren't out of the ordinary. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so limited.
What Does Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd's Recent Performance Look Like?
For example, consider that Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd's financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. Perhaps the market believes the recent revenue performance isn't good enough to keep up the industry, causing the P/S ratio to suffer. Those who are bullish on Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd will be hoping that this isn't the case so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.
Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd will help you shine a light on its historical performance.
How Is Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd's Revenue Growth Trending?
Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very poor growth or even falling revenue, and importantly, perform much worse than the industry.
In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 28%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 12% 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 25% shows it's an unpleasant look.
With this information, we are not surprised that Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/S has reached a floor yet with revenue going in reverse. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as recent revenue trends are already weighing down the shares.
What We Can Learn From Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd's P/S?
Shares in Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd have risen appreciably however, its P/S is still subdued. We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.
Our examination of Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd confirms that the company's shrinking revenue over the past medium-term is a key factor in its low price-to-sales ratio, given the industry is projected to grow. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises either. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price moving strongly in either direction in the near future under these circumstances.
There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 1 warning sign for Kunshan Kersen Science & TechnologyLtd that you should be aware of.
If companies with solid past earnings growth is up your alley, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content?Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. 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.