With a median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of close to 0.8x in the IT industry in Norway, you could be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Arribatec Group ASA's (OB:ARR) P/S ratio of 0.5x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.
See our latest analysis for Arribatec Group
What Does Arribatec Group's P/S Mean For Shareholders?
Recent times have been advantageous for Arribatec Group as its revenues have been rising faster than most other companies. It might be that many expect the strong revenue performance to wane, which has kept the P/S ratio from rising. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Arribatec Group will help you uncover what's on the horizon.What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?
The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Arribatec Group's is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 19% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 270% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company.
Turning to the outlook, the next year should generate growth of 18% as estimated by the lone analyst watching the company. With the industry only predicted to deliver 7.1%, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.
With this information, we find it interesting that Arribatec Group is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It may be that most investors aren't convinced the company can achieve future growth expectations.
The Key Takeaway
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.
Despite enticing revenue growth figures that outpace the industry, Arribatec Group's P/S isn't quite what we'd expect. When we see a strong revenue outlook, with growth outpacing the industry, we can only assume potential uncertainty around these figures are what might be placing slight pressure on the P/S ratio. It appears some are indeed anticipating revenue instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.
Before you take the next step, you should know about the 2 warning signs for Arribatec Group that we have uncovered.
If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Arribatec Group, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.
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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.
About OB:ARR
Arribatec Group
A software and consulting company, provides digital business solutions in Norway, Europe, the Americas, and internationally.
Adequate balance sheet and fair value.