Viceroy Hotels Limited (NSE:VICEROY) Surges 31% Yet Its Low P/S Is No Reason For Excitement

Viceroy Hotels Limited (NSE:VICEROY) shares have had a really impressive month, gaining 31% after a shaky period beforehand. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 50%.

Even after such a large jump in price, Viceroy Hotels may still be sending very bullish signals at the moment with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.1x, since almost half of all companies in the Hospitality industry in India have P/S ratios greater than 4x and even P/S higher than 8x are not unusual. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so limited.

Check out our latest analysis for Viceroy Hotels

How Has Viceroy Hotels Performed Recently?

The revenue growth achieved at Viceroy Hotels over the last year would be more than acceptable for most companies. One possibility is that the P/S is low because investors think this respectable revenue growth might actually underperform 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 Viceroy Hotels will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The Low P/S Ratio?

Viceroy Hotels' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very poor growth or even falling revenue, and importantly, perform much worse than the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 23%. Revenue has also lifted 16% in aggregate from three years ago, mostly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been respectable for the company.

This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 23% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's understandable that Viceroy Hotels' P/S sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on to something they believe will continue to trail the wider industry.

The Final Word

Even after such a strong price move, Viceroy Hotels' P/S still trails the rest of the industry. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Viceroy Hotels 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 4 warning signs for Viceroy Hotels (2 are potentially serious) you should be aware of.

If you're unsure about the strength of Viceroy Hotels' 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.