When you see that almost half of the companies in the Oil and Gas industry in the United States have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 1.9x, Sitio Royalties Corp. (NYSE:STR) looks to be giving off some sell signals with its 3.2x 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 as high as it is.
See our latest analysis for Sitio Royalties
What Does Sitio Royalties' Recent Performance Look Like?
With its revenue growth in positive territory compared to the declining revenue of most other companies, Sitio Royalties has been doing quite well of late. It seems that many are expecting the company to continue defying the broader industry adversity, which has increased investors’ willingness to pay up for the stock. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.
Keen to find out how analysts think Sitio Royalties' 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?
In order to justify its P/S ratio, Sitio Royalties would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the industry.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 61% gain to the company's top line. This great performance means it was also able to deliver immense revenue growth over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 5.8% per annum during the coming three years according to the four analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to only expand by 3.1% per annum, which is noticeably less attractive.
With this information, we can see why Sitio Royalties is trading at such a high P/S compared to the industry. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.
The Final Word
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.
As we suspected, our examination of Sitio Royalties' analyst forecasts revealed that its superior revenue outlook is contributing to its high P/S. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in revenues is quite remote, justifying the elevated P/S ratio. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.
Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Sitio Royalties that you should be aware of.
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.
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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.
About NYSE:STR
Sitio Royalties
Acquires, owns, and manages mineral and royalty interests across premium basins in the United States.
Good value with moderate growth potential.