Zhuhai Zhongfu Enterprise Co.,Ltd's (SZSE:000659) 32% Price Boost Is Out Of Tune With Revenues

Zhuhai Zhongfu Enterprise Co.,Ltd (SZSE:000659) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 32% in the last month, although it is still struggling to make up recently lost ground. Unfortunately, the gains of the last month did little to right the losses of the last year with the stock still down 38% over that time.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd's P/S ratio of 2x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Packaging industry in China is also close to 1.8x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

See our latest analysis for Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd

What Does Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd over the last year, which is not ideal at all. 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.

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd's 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.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 4.2% decrease to the company's top line. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 2.3% overall. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 21% 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 Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd 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.

The Bottom Line On Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd's P/S

Its shares have lifted substantially and now Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd's P/S is back within range of the industry median. 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.

We find it unexpected that Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd trades at a P/S ratio that is comparable to the rest of the industry, despite experiencing declining revenues during the medium-term, while the industry as a whole is expected to grow. Even though it matches the industry, we're uncomfortable with the current P/S ratio, as this dismal revenue performance is unlikely to support a more positive sentiment for long. 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.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for Zhuhai Zhongfu EnterpriseLtd you should be aware of.

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.