There's Reason For Concern Over Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:300462) Massive 35% Price Jump

Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300462) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 35% gain and recovering from prior weakness. The bad news is that even after the stocks recovery in the last 30 days, shareholders are still underwater by about 4.6% over the last year.

Since its price has surged higher, you could be forgiven for thinking Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment is a stock not worth researching with a price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") of 3.4x, considering almost half the companies in China's Machinery industry have P/S ratios below 2.6x. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

See our latest analysis for Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment

What Does Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment over the last year, which is not ideal at all. One possibility is that the P/S is high because investors think the company will still do enough to outperform the broader industry in the near future. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Is There Enough Revenue Growth Forecasted For Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should outperform the industry for P/S ratios like Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment's to be considered reasonable.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 19%. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk revenue by 48% in aggregate. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 23% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

With this information, we find it concerning that Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment is trading at a P/S higher than the industry. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent revenue trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

The Key Takeaway

Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment's P/S is on the rise since its shares have risen strongly. 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.

We've established that Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment currently trades on a much higher than expected P/S since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term. When we see revenue heading backwards and underperforming the industry forecasts, we feel the possibility of the share price declining is very real, bringing the P/S back into the realm of reasonability. 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.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Shanghai Huaming Intelligent Terminal Equipment, and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com