Some Jinlong Machinery & Electronic Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300032) Shareholders Look For Exit As Shares Take 26% Pounding

Jinlong Machinery & Electronic Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300032) shareholders won't be pleased to see that the share price has had a very rough month, dropping 26% and undoing the prior period's positive performance. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 27% in that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.3x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Electrical industry in China, where the median P/S ratio is around 2.2x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Check out our latest analysis for Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd

What Does Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For instance, Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. 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.

We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's Revenue Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 57%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 23% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 25% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this information, we find it concerning that Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. 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.

What We Can Learn From Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's P/S?

Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd's plummeting stock price has brought its P/S back to a similar region as the rest of 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.

The fact that Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd 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 the circumstances surrounding the recent medium-term improve, it wouldn't be wrong to expect a a difficult period ahead for the company's shareholders.

Before you take the next step, you should know about the 2 warning signs for Jinlong Machinery & ElectronicLtd that we have uncovered.

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.