Subdued Growth No Barrier To Super Dragon Technology Co., Ltd (TWSE:9955) With Shares Advancing 36%

Super Dragon Technology Co., Ltd (TWSE:9955) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 36% share price jump in the last month. Looking further back, the 23% rise over the last twelve months isn't too bad notwithstanding the strength over the last 30 days.

After such a large jump in price, when almost half of the companies in Taiwan's Metals and Mining industry have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 0.9x, you may consider Super Dragon Technology as a stock not worth researching with its 2.9x 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 so lofty.

See our latest analysis for Super Dragon Technology

What Does Super Dragon Technology's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For instance, Super Dragon Technology's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the company can do enough to outperform the rest of the industry in the near future, which is keeping the P/S ratio high. If not, then existing shareholders may be quite nervous about the viability of the share price.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Super Dragon Technology will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The High P/S Ratio?

Super Dragon Technology's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 1.9% decrease to the company's top line. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 62% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 5.3% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this in mind, we find it worrying that Super Dragon Technology's P/S exceeds that of its industry peers. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. There's a very good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

What We Can Learn From Super Dragon Technology's P/S?

Shares in Super Dragon Technology have seen a strong upwards swing lately, which has really helped boost its P/S figure. We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

We've established that Super Dragon Technology currently trades on a much higher than expected P/S since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term. When we see revenue heading backwards and underperforming the industry forecasts, we feel the possibility of the share price declining is very real, bringing the P/S back into the realm of reasonability. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Super Dragon Technology, and understanding should be part of your investment process.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Super Dragon Technology, 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.