When you see that almost half of the companies in the Software industry in Australia have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 2.8x, Life360, Inc. (ASX:360) looks to be giving off strong sell signals with its 8.7x P/S ratio. However, the P/S might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.
View our latest analysis for Life360
What Does Life360's P/S Mean For Shareholders?
Life360 certainly has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue more than most other companies. The P/S is probably high because investors think this strong revenue performance will continue. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying to much for the stock.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Life360 will help you uncover what's on the horizon.Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?
Life360's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the industry.
If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 103%. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 287% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.
Shifting to the future, estimates from the four analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 24% per annum over the next three years. With the industry only predicted to deliver 20% each year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.
With this in mind, it's not hard to understand why Life360'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 Key Takeaway
While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations.
As we suspected, our examination of Life360'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.
There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 1 warning sign for Life360 that you should be aware 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).
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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.
About ASX:360
Life360
Operates a technology platform to locate people, pets, and things in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally.
Flawless balance sheet with reasonable growth potential.