ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 30% in the last month, although it is still struggling to make up recently lost ground. Still, the 30-day jump doesn't change the fact that longer term shareholders have seen their stock decimated by the 79% share price drop in the last twelve months.

Although its price has surged higher, it's still not a stretch to say that ChargePoint Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.5x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Electrical industry in the United States, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.7x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

What Does ChargePoint Holdings' P/S Mean For Shareholders?

ChargePoint Holdings could be doing better as it's been growing revenue less than most other companies lately. It might be that many expect the uninspiring revenue performance to strengthen positively, which has kept the P/S ratio from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For ChargePoint Holdings?

ChargePoint Holdings' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 8.2%. This was backed up an excellent period prior to see revenue up by 246% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 21% per annum as estimated by the analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 47% each year growth forecast for the broader industry.

In light of this, it's curious that ChargePoint Holdings' P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are less bearish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Maintaining these prices will be difficult to achieve as this level of revenue growth is likely to weigh down the shares eventually.

The Key Takeaway

ChargePoint Holdings appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump bringing its P/S back in line with other companies in the industry 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.

Given that ChargePoint Holdings' revenue growth projections are relatively subdued in comparison to the wider industry, it comes as a surprise to see it trading at its current P/S ratio. At present, we aren't confident in the P/S as the predicted future revenues aren't likely to support a more positive sentiment for long. This places shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 4 warning signs for ChargePoint Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on ChargePoint Holdings, 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.