Nanjing Public Utilities Development Co., Ltd.'s (SZSE:000421) Shares Climb 28% But Its Business Is Yet to Catch Up

Nanjing Public Utilities Development Co., Ltd. (SZSE:000421) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 28% gain in the last month alone. Unfortunately, despite the strong performance over the last month, the full year gain of 9.6% isn't as attractive.

Although its price has surged higher, it's still not a stretch to say that Nanjing Public Utilities Development's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.7x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Gas Utilities industry in China, where the median P/S ratio is around 1x. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Nanjing Public Utilities Development

What Does Nanjing Public Utilities Development's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Nanjing Public Utilities Development 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.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Nanjing Public Utilities Development will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

How Is Nanjing Public Utilities Development's Revenue Growth Trending?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like Nanjing Public Utilities Development's to be considered reasonable.

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 33%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 33% in total over the last three years. 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 13% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this in mind, we find it worrying that Nanjing Public Utilities Development's P/S exceeds that of its industry peers. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. 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 Nanjing Public Utilities Development's P/S

Its shares have lifted substantially and now Nanjing Public Utilities Development'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 Nanjing Public Utilities Development 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 recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.

Before you take the next step, you should know about the 4 warning signs for Nanjing Public Utilities Development (2 are a bit concerning!) that we have uncovered.

If you're unsure about the strength of Nanjing Public Utilities Development'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.

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