CETC Cyberspace Security Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:002268) Stock Rockets 32% As Investors Are Less Pessimistic Than Expected

CETC Cyberspace Security Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:002268) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 32% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 35% in the last twelve months.

Even after such a large jump in price, there still wouldn't be many who think CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 5.1x is worth a mention when the median P/S in China's Software industry is similar at about 4.9x. 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.

See our latest analysis for CETC Cyberspace Security Technology

What Does CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at CETC Cyberspace Security Technology over the last year, which is not ideal at all. It might be that many expect the company to put the disappointing revenue performance behind them over the coming period, which has kept the P/S from falling. If you like the company, you'd at least be hoping this is the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on CETC Cyberspace Security Technology will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For CETC Cyberspace Security Technology?

CETC Cyberspace Security Technology'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.

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 20%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 8.0% overall. 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 26% 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 CETC Cyberspace Security Technology 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 CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's P/S

CETC Cyberspace Security Technology's stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with 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 CETC Cyberspace Security Technology 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. 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. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for CETC Cyberspace Security Technology that 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.