Sprocomm Intelligence Limited's (HKG:1401) 26% Share Price Plunge Could Signal Some Risk

To the annoyance of some shareholders, Sprocomm Intelligence Limited (HKG:1401) shares are down a considerable 26% in the last month, which continues a horrid run for the company. The good news is that in the last year, the stock has shone bright like a diamond, gaining 274%.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, given close to half the companies operating in Hong Kong's Tech industry have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 0.6x, you may still consider Sprocomm Intelligence as a stock to potentially avoid with its 1.6x P/S ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

Check out our latest analysis for Sprocomm Intelligence

What Does Sprocomm Intelligence's Recent Performance Look Like?

For example, consider that Sprocomm Intelligence's financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. 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. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

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

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

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

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 33%. The last three years don't look nice either as the company has shrunk revenue by 53% in aggregate. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 13% 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 find it worrying that Sprocomm Intelligence's P/S exceeds that of its industry peers. 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. There's a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

What Does Sprocomm Intelligence's P/S Mean For Investors?

Despite the recent share price weakness, Sprocomm Intelligence's P/S remains higher than most other companies in the industry. It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

We've established that Sprocomm Intelligence currently trades on a much higher than expected P/S since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term. Right now we aren't comfortable with the high P/S as this revenue performance is highly unlikely to support such positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Sprocomm Intelligence (at least 2 which don't sit too well with us), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you're unsure about the strength of Sprocomm Intelligence's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.