Optimistic Investors Push Shanghai Urban Architecture Design Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300983) Shares Up 27% But Growth Is Lacking

Shanghai Urban Architecture Design Co., Ltd. (SZSE:300983) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 27% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 18% in the last twelve months.

Following the firm bounce in price, when almost half of the companies in China's Professional Services industry have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 2.9x, you may consider Shanghai Urban Architecture Design as a stock not worth researching with its 9.5x 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Shanghai Urban Architecture Design

What Does Shanghai Urban Architecture Design's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For instance, Shanghai Urban Architecture Design's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the company can do enough to outperform the rest of the industry in the near future, which is keeping the P/S ratio high. 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 Urban Architecture Design will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

How Is Shanghai Urban Architecture Design's Revenue Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Shanghai Urban Architecture Design would need to produce outstanding growth that's well in excess of 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 18%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 65% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 32% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's alarming that Shanghai Urban Architecture Design's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. 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 Final Word

The strong share price surge has lead to Shanghai Urban Architecture Design's P/S soaring as well. Typically, we'd caution against reading too much into price-to-sales ratios when settling on investment decisions, though it can reveal plenty about what other market participants think about the company.

Our examination of Shanghai Urban Architecture Design revealed its shrinking revenue over the medium-term isn't resulting in a P/S as low as we expected, given the industry is set to grow. 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. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

You always need to take note of risks, for example - Shanghai Urban Architecture Design has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.