More Unpleasant Surprises Could Be In Store For Sunray Engineering Group Limited's (HKG:8616) Shares After Tumbling 26%

Sunray Engineering Group Limited (HKG:8616) shareholders that were waiting for something to happen have been dealt a blow with a 26% share price drop in the last month. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 45% in that time.

Although its price has dipped substantially, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Sunray Engineering Group's P/S ratio of 0.2x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Construction industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.3x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

See our latest analysis for Sunray Engineering Group

What Does Sunray Engineering Group's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For example, consider that Sunray Engineering Group's financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. 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 you like the company, you'd at least be hoping this is the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

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

Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For Sunray Engineering Group?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Sunray Engineering Group would need to produce growth that's similar to 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 23%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 22% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 8.8% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

With this information, we find it concerning that Sunray Engineering Group is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. 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 Final Word

With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for Sunray Engineering Group looks to be in line with the rest of the Construction industry. Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

Our look at Sunray Engineering Group revealed its shrinking revenues over the medium-term haven't impacted the P/S as much as we anticipated, given the industry is set to grow. When we see revenue heading backwards in the context of growing industry forecasts, it'd make sense to expect a possible share price decline on the horizon, sending the moderate P/S lower. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Sunray Engineering Group you should be aware 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.