Investors Aren't Entirely Convinced By Stabilis Solutions, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SLNG) Revenues

With a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.2x Stabilis Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLNG) may be sending bullish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all the Oil and Gas companies in the United States have P/S ratios greater than 2x and even P/S higher than 4x are not unusual. However, the P/S might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

See our latest analysis for Stabilis Solutions

What Does Stabilis Solutions' P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For example, consider that Stabilis Solutions' financial performance has been poor lately as its revenue has been in decline. It might be that many expect the disappointing revenue performance to continue or accelerate, which has repressed the P/S. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.

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

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The Low P/S Ratio?

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

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 25%. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 35% overall rise in revenue, in spite of its unsatisfying short-term performance. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the revenue growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.

Comparing that recent medium-term revenue trajectory with the industry's one-year growth forecast of 6.4% shows it's noticeably more attractive.

In light of this, it's peculiar that Stabilis Solutions' P/S sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance has exceeded its limits and have been accepting significantly lower selling prices.

The Final Word

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.

Our examination of Stabilis Solutions revealed its three-year revenue trends aren't boosting its P/S anywhere near as much as we would have predicted, given they look better than current industry expectations. When we see robust revenue growth that outpaces the industry, we presume that there are notable underlying risks to the company's future performance, which is exerting downward pressure on the P/S ratio. While recent revenue trends over the past medium-term suggest that the risk of a price decline is low, investors appear to perceive a likelihood of revenue fluctuations in the future.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Stabilis Solutions that you need to be mindful of.

If you're unsure about the strength of Stabilis Solutions' business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.