Why Investors Shouldn't Be Surprised By Capinfo Company Limited's (HKG:1075) Low P/S

When you see that almost half of the companies in the IT industry in Hong Kong have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") above 1.1x, Capinfo Company Limited (HKG:1075) looks to be giving off some buy signals with its 0.4x P/S ratio. However, the P/S might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Check out our latest analysis for Capinfo

How Capinfo Has Been Performing

The recent revenue growth at Capinfo would have to be considered satisfactory if not spectacular. It might be that many expect the respectable revenue performance to degrade, which has repressed the P/S. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders may have reason to be optimistic about the future direction 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 Capinfo's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For Capinfo?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should underperform the industry for P/S ratios like Capinfo's to be considered reasonable.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a decent 3.6% gain to the company's revenues. However, due to its less than impressive performance prior to this period, revenue growth is practically non-existent over the last three years overall. Therefore, it's fair to say that revenue growth has been inconsistent recently for the company.

Comparing the recent medium-term revenue trends against the industry's one-year growth forecast of 9.3% shows it's noticeably less attractive.

In light of this, it's understandable that Capinfo's P/S sits below the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

The Bottom Line On Capinfo's P/S

While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations.

As we suspected, our examination of Capinfo revealed its three-year revenue trends are contributing to its low P/S, given they look worse than current industry expectations. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price experience a reversal of fortunes anytime soon.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Capinfo (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) 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.

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.