Crawford & Company's (NYSE:CRD.B) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.4x may look like a pretty appealing investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Insurance industry in the United States have P/S ratios greater than 0.9x.   Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.  

Check out our latest analysis for Crawford

NYSE:CRD.B Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry August 31st 2023

What Does Crawford's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

Recent times haven't been great for Crawford as its revenue has been rising slower than most other companies.   The P/S ratio is probably low because investors think this lacklustre revenue performance isn't going to get any better.  If this is the case, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price.    

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Crawford will help you uncover what's on the horizon.  

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For Crawford?  

Crawford's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver limited growth, and importantly, perform worse than the industry.  

Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow revenues by a handy 8.4% last year.   Revenue has also lifted 28% in aggregate from three years ago, partly thanks to the last 12 months of growth.  Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been respectable for the company.  

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 8.6% during the coming year according to the three analysts following the company.  Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to only expand by 5.0%, which is noticeably less attractive.

With this in consideration, we find it intriguing that Crawford's P/S sits behind most of its industry peers.  Apparently some shareholders are doubtful of the forecasts and have been accepting significantly lower selling prices.  

What We Can Learn From Crawford's P/S?

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.

A look at Crawford's revenues reveals that, despite glowing future growth forecasts, its P/S is much lower than we'd expect.  There could be some major risk factors that are placing downward pressure on the P/S ratio.  At least price risks look to be very low, but investors seem to think future revenues could see a lot of volatility.    

Plus, you should also learn about these   2 warning signs we've spotted with Crawford.

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.

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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.