SeAH Besteel Holdings Corporation's (KRX:001430) 26% Price Boost Is Out Of Tune With Revenues

SeAH Besteel Holdings Corporation (KRX:001430) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 26% share price jump in the last month. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 73%.

Although its price has surged higher, there still wouldn't be many who think SeAH Besteel Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.3x is worth a mention when it essentially matches the median P/S in Korea's Metals and Mining industry. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

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View our latest analysis for SeAH Besteel Holdings

What Does SeAH Besteel Holdings' Recent Performance Look Like?

While the industry has experienced revenue growth lately, SeAH Besteel Holdings' revenue has gone into reverse gear, which is not great. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is moderate because investors think this poor revenue performance will turn around. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on SeAH Besteel Holdings.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like SeAH Besteel Holdings' 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 2.0%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 15% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 8.0% each year during the coming three years according to the nine analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 11% each year growth forecast for the broader industry.

In light of this, it's curious that SeAH Besteel Holdings' P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited growth expectations and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. These shareholders may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the growth outlook.

What Does SeAH Besteel Holdings' P/S Mean For Investors?

Its shares have lifted substantially and now SeAH Besteel Holdings' P/S is back within range of the industry median. 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.

When you consider that SeAH Besteel Holdings' revenue growth estimates are fairly muted compared to the broader industry, it's easy to see why we consider it unexpected to be trading at its current P/S ratio. At present, we aren't confident in the P/S as the predicted future revenues aren't likely to support a more positive sentiment for long. This places shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

Plus, you should also learn about these 4 warning signs we've spotted with SeAH Besteel Holdings (including 2 which are significant).

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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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.