The Topps Tiles Plc (LON:TPT) share price has done very well over the last month, posting an excellent gain of 27%. Taking a wider view, although not as strong as the last month, the full year gain of 11% is also fairly reasonable.
Although its price has surged higher, there still wouldn't be many who think Topps Tiles' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.3x is worth a mention when the median P/S in the United Kingdom's Specialty Retail industry is similar at about 0.4x. 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.
See our latest analysis for Topps Tiles
What Does Topps Tiles' Recent Performance Look Like?
Topps Tiles certainly has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue more than most other companies. It might be that many expect the strong revenue performance to wane, which has kept the P/S ratio from rising. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.
Keen to find out how analysts think Topps Tiles' future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For Topps Tiles?
The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Topps Tiles' is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.
If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 17%. The latest three year period has also seen a 20% overall rise in revenue, aided extensively by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been respectable for the company.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 5.5% each year during the coming three years according to the three analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to only expand by 3.5% per year, which is noticeably less attractive.
With this information, we find it interesting that Topps Tiles is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.
The Key Takeaway
Topps Tiles' stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with the rest of the industry. We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.
We've established that Topps Tiles currently trades on a lower than expected P/S since its forecasted revenue growth is higher than the wider industry. There could be some risks that the market is pricing in, which is preventing the P/S ratio from matching the positive outlook. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued, but investors seem to think future revenue could see some volatility.
Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Topps Tiles that you should be aware of.
If you're unsure about the strength of Topps Tiles' 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.