Pinning Down Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings Limited's (HKG:601) P/S Is Difficult Right Now

It's not a stretch to say that Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings Limited's (HKG:601) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.2x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" for companies in the Metals and Mining industry in Hong Kong, where the median P/S ratio is around 0.6x. 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.

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View our latest analysis for Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings

What Does Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings' P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For instance, Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings' receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. 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.

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Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings' is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 7.9% decrease to the company's top line. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 42% overall. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 11% 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 Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. 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. There's a 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

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.

The fact that Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings currently trades at a P/S on par with the rest of the industry is surprising to us since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term, all while the industry is set 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.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 2 warning signs for Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group Holdings that you should be aware of.

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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.