iRobot Corporation's (NASDAQ:IRBT) 29% Dip Still Leaving Some Shareholders Feeling Restless Over Its P/SRatio

iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ:IRBT) shareholders that were waiting for something to happen have been dealt a blow with a 29% share price drop in the last month. The recent drop completes a disastrous twelve months for shareholders, who are sitting on a 81% loss during that time.

Even after such a large drop in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about iRobot's P/S ratio of 0.3x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Consumer Durables industry in the United States is also close to 0.7x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

Check out our latest analysis for iRobot

How iRobot Has Been Performing

While the industry has experienced revenue growth lately, iRobot's revenue has gone into reverse gear, which is not great. It might be that many expect the dour revenue performance to strengthen positively, which has kept the P/S from falling. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on iRobot.

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

In order to justify its P/S ratio, iRobot would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 22% decrease to the company's top line. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 50% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next year should bring diminished returns, with revenue decreasing 1.8% as estimated by the three analysts watching the company. That's not great when the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 5.5%.

With this in consideration, we think it doesn't make sense that iRobot's P/S is closely matching its industry peers. Apparently many investors in the company reject the analyst cohort's pessimism and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. There's a good chance these shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the negative growth outlook.

What Does iRobot's P/S Mean For Investors?

Following iRobot's share price tumble, its P/S is just clinging on to the industry median P/S. 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.

It appears that iRobot currently trades on a higher than expected P/S for a company whose revenues are forecast to decline. When we see a gloomy outlook like this, our immediate thoughts are that the share price is at risk of declining, negatively impacting P/S. If the declining revenues were to materialize in the form of a declining share price, shareholders will be feeling the pinch.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with iRobot (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.