Phenix Optical Company Limited's (SHSE:600071) Low P/S No Reason For Excitement

You may think that with a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 3.5x Phenix Optical Company Limited (SHSE:600071) is a stock worth checking out, seeing as almost half of all the Electronic companies in China have P/S ratios greater than 4.7x and even P/S higher than 10x aren't out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/S.

View our latest analysis for Phenix Optical

What Does Phenix Optical's Recent Performance Look Like?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Phenix Optical over the last year, which is not ideal at all. One possibility is that the P/S is low because investors think the company won't do enough to avoid underperforming the broader industry in the near future. However, if this doesn't eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Phenix Optical, 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 Low P/S Ratio?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Phenix Optical would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 7.6% decrease to the company's top line. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year revenue growth is still a noteworthy 8.0% in total. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would be roughly satisfied with the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 26% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

With this information, we can see why Phenix Optical is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

What Does Phenix Optical's P/S Mean For Investors?

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.

In line with expectations, Phenix Optical maintains its low P/S on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider industry forecast. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price experience a reversal of fortunes anytime soon.

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

If you're unsure about the strength of Phenix Optical's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.