Superactive Group Company Limited (HKG:176) shares have had a horrible month, losing 30% after a relatively good period beforehand. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 36% in that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Superactive Group's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.5x is worth a mention when it essentially matches the median P/S in Hong Kong's Consumer Durables industry. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

See our latest analysis for Superactive Group

How Superactive Group Has Been Performing

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Superactive Group over the last year, which is not ideal at all. 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.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

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

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 33%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 52% in total over the last three years. 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 10% 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 Superactive Group's 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 Superactive Group's P/S

With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for Superactive Group looks to be in line with the rest of the Consumer Durables 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 Superactive Group 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 recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Superactive Group (2 are potentially serious) you should be aware of.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Superactive Group, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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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.