Rykadan Capital Limited's (HKG:2288) 34% Dip Still Leaving Some Shareholders Feeling Restless Over Its P/SRatio

The Rykadan Capital Limited (HKG:2288) share price has fared very poorly over the last month, falling by a substantial 34%. The recent drop completes a disastrous twelve months for shareholders, who are sitting on a 65% loss during that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Rykadan Capital's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.4x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Real Estate industry in Hong Kong, where the median P/S ratio is around 0.6x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

Check out our latest analysis for Rykadan Capital

What Does Rykadan Capital's Recent Performance Look Like?

The revenue growth achieved at Rykadan Capital over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to only keep up with the broader industry, which has keeping the P/S in line with expectations. Those who are bullish on Rykadan Capital will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.

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 Rykadan Capital's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

How Is Rykadan Capital's Revenue Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Rykadan Capital would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 19%. Despite this strong recent growth, it's still struggling to catch up as its three-year revenue frustratingly shrank by 38% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 4.1% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this information, we find it concerning that Rykadan Capital 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.

What Does Rykadan Capital's P/S Mean For Investors?

Rykadan Capital's plummeting stock price has brought its P/S back to a similar region as 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 find it unexpected that Rykadan Capital trades at a P/S ratio that is comparable to the rest of the industry, despite experiencing declining revenues during the medium-term, while the industry as a whole is expected 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.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Rykadan Capital that you should be aware of.

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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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.

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