Fineland Living Services Group Limited's (HKG:9978) Share Price Boosted 36% But Its Business Prospects Need A Lift Too

Those holding Fineland Living Services Group Limited (HKG:9978) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 36% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 84%.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, Fineland Living Services Group may still be sending buy signals at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.1x, considering almost half of all companies in the Real Estate industry in Hong Kong have P/S ratios greater than 0.7x and even P/S higher than 3x aren't out of the ordinary. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.

This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality.

View our latest analysis for Fineland Living Services Group

How Has Fineland Living Services Group Performed Recently?

For instance, Fineland Living Services Group's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/S is low because investors think the company won't do enough to avoid underperforming the broader industry in the near future. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

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

How Is Fineland Living Services Group's Revenue Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as Fineland Living Services Group's is when the company's growth is on track to lag 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 11%. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk revenue by 40% in aggregate. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 5.4% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this in mind, we understand why Fineland Living Services Group's P/S is lower than most of its industry peers. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/S has reached a floor yet with revenue going in reverse. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as recent revenue trends are already weighing down the shares.

What Does Fineland Living Services Group's P/S Mean For Investors?

The latest share price surge wasn't enough to lift Fineland Living Services Group's P/S close to the industry median. 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 examination of Fineland Living Services Group confirms that the company's shrinking revenue over the past medium-term is a key factor in its low price-to-sales ratio, given the industry is projected to grow. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises either. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price moving strongly in either direction in the near future under these circumstances.

Having said that, be aware Fineland Living Services Group is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, you should know about.

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.

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.