When you see that almost half of the companies in the Communications industry in Korea have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") above 1x, DASAN Networks, Inc. (KOSDAQ:039560) looks to be giving off some buy signals with its 0.3x 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 limited.
See our latest analysis for DASAN Networks
What Does DASAN Networks' Recent Performance Look Like?
With revenue growth that's exceedingly strong of late, DASAN Networks has been doing very well. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to dwindle, which has kept the P/S suppressed. Those who are bullish on DASAN Networks will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.
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 DASAN Networks' earnings, revenue and cash flow.Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For DASAN Networks?
In order to justify its P/S ratio, DASAN Networks would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the industry.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered an explosive gain to the company's top line. Although, its longer-term performance hasn't been anywhere near as strong with three-year revenue growth being relatively non-existent overall. So it appears to us that the company has had a mixed result in terms of growing revenue over that time.
Comparing the recent medium-term revenue trends against the industry's one-year growth forecast of 34% shows it's noticeably less attractive.
With this in consideration, it's easy to understand why DASAN Networks' P/S falls short of the mark set by its industry peers. 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 Key Takeaway
Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-sales ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.
Our examination of DASAN Networks confirms that the company's revenue trends over the past three-year years are a key factor in its low price-to-sales ratio, as we suspected, given they fall short of 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 2 warning signs for DASAN Networks (1 can't be ignored) 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.
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if DASAN Networks might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
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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.