Sentiment Still Eluding Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE:TALO)

It's not a stretch to say that Talos Energy Inc.'s (NYSE:TALO) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.2x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" for companies in the Oil and Gas industry in the United States, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.7x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

See our latest analysis for Talos Energy

How Talos Energy Has Been Performing

Talos Energy has been struggling lately as its revenue has declined faster than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think the company's revenue trend will eventually fall in line with most others in the industry. So while you could say the stock is cheap, investors will be looking for improvement before they see it as good value. Or at the very least, you'd be hoping it doesn't keep underperforming if your plan is to pick up some stock while it's not in favour.

Keen to find out how analysts think Talos Energy'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 P/S?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Talos Energy's is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.

Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 16%. However, a few very strong years before that means that it was still able to grow revenue by an impressive 124% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a very good job of growing revenue over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the six analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 14% over the next year. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to only expand by 3.3%, which is noticeably less attractive.

With this in consideration, we find it intriguing that Talos Energy's P/S is closely matching its industry peers. It may be that most investors aren't convinced the company can achieve future growth expectations.

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.

We've established that Talos Energy currently trades on a lower than expected P/S since its forecasted revenue growth is higher than the wider industry. Perhaps uncertainty in the revenue forecasts are what's keeping the P/S ratio consistent with the rest of the industry. This uncertainty seems to be reflected in the share price which, while stable, could be higher given the revenue forecasts.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 5 warning signs for Talos Energy you should be aware of, and 3 of them can't be ignored.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Talos Energy, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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.