Stock Analysis

Investors Still Waiting For A Pull Back In Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON)

NasdaqGS:AXON
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When you see that almost half of the companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry in the United States have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 2.1x, Axon Enterprise, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXON) looks to be giving off strong sell signals with its 15.1x P/S ratio. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/S.

Check out our latest analysis for Axon Enterprise

ps-multiple-vs-industry
NasdaqGS:AXON Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry April 1st 2024

How Has Axon Enterprise Performed Recently?

Axon Enterprise certainly has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue more than most other companies. It seems that many are expecting the strong revenue performance to persist, which has raised the P/S. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Keen to find out how analysts think Axon Enterprise'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 High P/S?

Axon Enterprise'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 an exceptional 31% gain to the company's top line. Pleasingly, revenue has also lifted 130% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 21% per annum during the coming three years according to the eleven analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 8.3% per year growth forecast for the broader industry.

In light of this, it's understandable that Axon Enterprise's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

The Bottom Line On Axon Enterprise's P/S

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.

We've established that Axon Enterprise maintains its high P/S on the strength of its forecasted revenue growth being higher than the the rest of the Aerospace & Defense industry, as expected. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/S as they are quite confident future revenues aren't under threat. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Axon Enterprise you should be aware of.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

Valuation is complex, but we're helping make it simple.

Find out whether Axon Enterprise is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

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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.