Unpleasant Surprises Could Be In Store For Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics Technology Co.,Ltd.'s (SHSE:688011) Shares

Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics Technology Co.,Ltd.'s (SHSE:688011) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 7.8x may look like a poor investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Electronic industry in China have P/S ratios below 3.4x. However, the P/S might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

View our latest analysis for Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd

How Has Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd Performed Recently?

It looks like revenue growth has deserted Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd recently, which is not something to boast about. One possibility is that the P/S is high because investors think the benign revenue growth will improve to outperform the broader industry in the near future. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as steep as Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry decidedly.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered virtually the same number to the company's top line as the year before. Fortunately, a few good years before that means that it was still able to grow revenue by 21% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders probably wouldn't have been overly satisfied with the unstable medium-term growth rates.

This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 25% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

With this information, we find it concerning that Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd 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. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.

The Final Word

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.

The fact that Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd currently trades on a higher P/S relative to the industry is an oddity, since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider industry forecast. When we observe slower-than-industry revenue growth alongside a high P/S ratio, we assume there to be a significant risk of the share price decreasing, which would result in a lower P/S ratio. 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.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Harbin Xinguang Optic-Electronics TechnologyLtd (1 is concerning!) that you need to be mindful 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.

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