Hi-Target Navigation Tech Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300177) Stock Catapults 26% Though Its Price And Business Still Lag The Industry

Hi-Target Navigation Tech Co.,Ltd (SZSE:300177) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 26% in the last month, although it is still struggling to make up recently lost ground. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 34% in the last twelve months.

Even after such a large jump in price, Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd may still be sending buy signals at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.8x, considering almost half of all companies in the Electronic industry in China have P/S ratios greater than 3.8x and even P/S higher than 7x aren't out of the ordinary. However, the P/S might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

View our latest analysis for Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd

What Does Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's Recent Performance Look Like?

For instance, Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the recent revenue performance isn't good enough to keep up the industry, causing the P/S ratio to suffer. Those who are bullish on Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd will be hoping that this isn't the case so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.

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 Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The Low P/S Ratio?

Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver limited growth, and importantly, perform worse than the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 11%. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk revenue by 11% in aggregate. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

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.

In light of this, it's understandable that Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's P/S would sit below the majority of other companies. However, we think shrinking revenues are unlikely to lead to a stable P/S over the longer term, which could set up shareholders for future disappointment. There's potential for the P/S to fall to even lower levels if the company doesn't improve its top-line growth.

The Key Takeaway

Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd's stock price has surged recently, but its but its P/S still remains modest. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd revealed its shrinking revenue over the medium-term is contributing to its low P/S, given the industry is set to grow. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises either. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, they will continue to form a barrier for the share price around these levels.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Hi-Target Navigation TechLtd (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of.

If companies with solid past earnings growth is up your alley, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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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.