Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) Not Lagging Industry On Growth Or Pricing

There wouldn't be many who think Oceaneering International, Inc.'s (NYSE:OII) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1x is worth a mention when the median P/S for the Energy Services industry in the United States is similar at about 0.9x. 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 Oceaneering International

How Oceaneering International Has Been Performing

With revenue growth that's inferior to most other companies of late, Oceaneering International has been relatively sluggish. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to lift, which has kept the P/S from declining. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Oceaneering International will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

How Is Oceaneering International's Revenue Growth Trending?

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

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 16%. The latest three year period has also seen a 17% overall rise in revenue, aided extensively by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably been satisfied with the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the five analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 9.5% per annum over the next three years. With the industry predicted to deliver 9.5% growth per annum, the company is positioned for a comparable revenue result.

With this in mind, it makes sense that Oceaneering International's P/S is closely matching its industry peers. It seems most investors are expecting to see average future growth and are only willing to pay a moderate amount for the stock.

The Final Word

It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

Our look at Oceaneering International's revenue growth estimates show that its P/S is about what we expect, as both metrics follow closely with the industry averages. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement or deterioration in revenue isn't great enough to push P/S in a higher or lower direction. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to support the share price at these levels.

Plus, you should also learn about this 1 warning sign we've spotted with Oceaneering International.

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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.