HCI Group, Inc.'s (NYSE:HCI) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.7x may not look like an appealing investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Insurance industry in the United States have P/S ratios below 1.1x.   Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/S.  

NYSE:HCI Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry May 10th 2024

What Does HCI Group's Recent Performance Look Like?

Recent times have been advantageous for HCI Group as its revenues have been rising faster than most other companies.   The P/S is probably high because investors think this strong revenue performance will continue.  You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.    

Keen to find out how analysts think HCI Group's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

How Is HCI Group's Revenue Growth Trending?  

In order to justify its P/S ratio, HCI Group would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the industry.  

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 28% last year.    The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 104% overall rise in revenue, aided by its short-term performance.  Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.  

Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 25%  as estimated by the four analysts watching the company.  That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 6.2% growth forecast for the broader industry.

With this in mind, it's not hard to understand why HCI Group's P/S is high relative to its industry peers.  Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.  

The Final Word

It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

As we suspected, our examination of HCI Group's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior revenue outlook is contributing to its high P/S.  Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/S as they are quite confident future revenues aren't under threat.  It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.    

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for HCI Group that you need to be mindful of.  

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).

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.