HG Semiconductor Limited's (HKG:6908) 82% Price Boost Is Out Of Tune With Revenues

HG Semiconductor Limited (HKG:6908) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 82% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 25% in the last twelve months.

After such a large jump in price, you could be forgiven for thinking HG Semiconductor is a stock to steer clear of with a price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") of 6.3x, considering almost half the companies in Hong Kong's Semiconductor industry have P/S ratios below 1.3x. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.

View our latest analysis for HG Semiconductor

What Does HG Semiconductor's Recent Performance Look Like?

For instance, HG Semiconductor's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the company can do enough to outperform the rest of the industry in the near future, which is keeping the P/S ratio high. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.

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 HG Semiconductor's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?

HG Semiconductor's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than 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 14%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 50% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 19% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's alarming that HG Semiconductor's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent revenue trends is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

The Bottom Line On HG Semiconductor's P/S

HG Semiconductor's P/S has grown nicely over the last month thanks to a handy boost in the share price. 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 HG Semiconductor 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. With a revenue decline on investors' minds, the likelihood of a souring sentiment is quite high which could send the P/S back in line with what we'd expect. Unless the the circumstances surrounding the recent medium-term improve, it wouldn't be wrong to expect a a difficult period ahead for the company's shareholders.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for HG Semiconductor (3 shouldn't be ignored) 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).

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