A Piece Of The Puzzle Missing From JW (Cayman) Therapeutics Co. Ltd's (HKG:2126) 34% Share Price Climb

JW (Cayman) Therapeutics Co. Ltd (HKG:2126) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 34% share price jump in the last month. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 26% in the last twelve months.

Although its price has surged higher, JW (Cayman) Therapeutics' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 5.2x might still make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the wider Biotechs industry in Hong Kong, where around half of the companies have P/S ratios above 12.8x and even P/S above 29x are quite common. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly reduced P/S.

See our latest analysis for JW (Cayman) Therapeutics

How Has JW (Cayman) Therapeutics Performed Recently?

JW (Cayman) Therapeutics could be doing better as it's been growing revenue less than most other companies lately. It seems that many are expecting the uninspiring revenue performance to persist, which has repressed the growth of the P/S ratio. If this is the case, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price.

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on JW (Cayman) Therapeutics.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/S?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should far underperform the industry for P/S ratios like JW (Cayman) Therapeutics' to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 19%. However, the latest three year period hasn't been as great in aggregate as it didn't manage to provide any growth at all. Therefore, it's fair to say that revenue growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 55% per year as estimated by the three analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be similar to the 56% per annum growth forecast for the broader industry.

With this information, we find it odd that JW (Cayman) Therapeutics is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. It may be that most investors are not convinced the company can achieve future growth expectations.

The Key Takeaway

JW (Cayman) Therapeutics' recent share price jump still sees fails to bring its P/S alongside the industry median. 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.

Our examination of JW (Cayman) Therapeutics' revealed that its P/S remains low despite analyst forecasts of revenue growth matching the wider industry. The low P/S could be an indication that the revenue growth estimates are being questioned by the market. However, if you agree with the analysts' forecasts, you may be able to pick up the stock at an attractive price.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 1 warning sign for JW (Cayman) Therapeutics that 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).

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.