Getting In Cheap On Enerside Energy, S.A. (BME:ENRS) Is Unlikely

When close to half the companies in the Renewable Energy industry in Spain have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 2.6x, you may consider Enerside Energy, S.A. (BME:ENRS) as a stock to potentially avoid with its 4.2x P/S ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

See our latest analysis for Enerside Energy

What Does Enerside Energy's Recent Performance Look Like?

Recent times haven't been great for Enerside Energy as its revenue has been falling quicker than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is high because investors think the company will turn things around completely and accelerate past most others in the industry. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Enerside Energy will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as high as Enerside Energy's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine 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 38%. The latest three year period has seen an incredible overall rise in revenue, a stark contrast to the last 12 months. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company, but investors will want to ask why it is now in decline.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to slump, contracting by 15% each year during the coming three years according to the only analyst following the company. With the industry predicted to deliver 2.1% growth per year, that's a disappointing outcome.

With this in mind, we find it intriguing that Enerside Energy's P/S is closely matching its industry peers. Apparently many investors in the company reject the analyst cohort's pessimism and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. There's a very good chance these shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the negative growth outlook.

The Bottom Line On Enerside Energy's P/S

Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-sales ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

For a company with revenues that are set to decline in the context of a growing industry, Enerside Energy's P/S is much higher than we would've anticipated. Right now we aren't comfortable with the high P/S as the predicted future revenue decline likely to impact the positive sentiment that's propping up the P/S. At these price levels, investors should remain cautious, particularly if things don't improve.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Enerside Energy (1 is concerning) you should be aware of.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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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