Subdued Growth No Barrier To Global Bio-chem Technology Group Company Limited's (HKG:809) Price

Global Bio-chem Technology Group Company Limited's (HKG:809) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.2x may not look like an appealing investment opportunity when you consider close to half the companies in the Food industry in Hong Kong have P/S ratios below 0.5x. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/S.

View our latest analysis for Global Bio-chem Technology Group

What Does Global Bio-chem Technology Group's Recent Performance Look Like?

Recent times have been quite advantageous for Global Bio-chem Technology Group as its revenue has been rising very briskly. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to outperform the wider market, which has seemingly got people interested in the stock. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

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 Global Bio-chem Technology Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Enough Revenue Growth Forecasted For Global Bio-chem Technology Group?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as high as Global Bio-chem Technology Group's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 62%. Despite this strong recent growth, it's still struggling to catch up as its three-year revenue frustratingly shrank by 61% 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 6.6% 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 Global Bio-chem Technology Group is trading at a P/S higher than 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. There's a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Final Word

It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

Our examination of Global Bio-chem Technology Group revealed its shrinking revenue over the medium-term isn't resulting in a P/S as low as we expected, given the industry is set to grow. Right now we aren't comfortable with the high P/S as this revenue performance is highly unlikely to support such positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Global Bio-chem Technology Group, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

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.