Volue ASA's (OB:VOLUE) Low P/S No Reason For Excitement

You may think that with a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.1x Volue ASA (OB:VOLUE) is a stock worth checking out, seeing as almost half of all the Software companies in Norway have P/S ratios greater than 2.9x and even P/S higher than 9x aren't out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/S.

See our latest analysis for Volue

How Volue Has Been Performing

Recent times haven't been great for Volue as its revenue has been rising slower than most other companies. It seems that many are expecting the uninspiring revenue performance to persist, which has repressed the growth of the P/S ratio. If you still like the company, you'd be hoping revenue doesn't get any worse and that you could pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

Keen to find out how analysts think Volue's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

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

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

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 19% gain to the company's top line. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 60% overall rise in revenue, aided by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the two analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 13% over the next year. With the industry predicted to deliver 19% growth, the company is positioned for a weaker revenue result.

With this information, we can see why Volue is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. It seems most investors are expecting to see limited future growth and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

The Final Word

While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations.

As expected, our analysis of Volue's analyst forecasts confirms that the company's underwhelming revenue outlook is a major contributor to its low P/S. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. The company will need a change of fortune to justify the P/S rising higher in the future.

A lot of potential risks can sit within a company's balance sheet. Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis for Volue with six simple checks on some of these key factors.

If you're unsure about the strength of Volue'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.