It's Down 30% But Biodesix, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDSX) Could Be Riskier Than It Looks

To the annoyance of some shareholders, Biodesix, Inc. (NASDAQ:BDSX) shares are down a considerable 30% in the last month, which continues a horrid run for the company. For any long-term shareholders, the last month ends a year to forget by locking in a 50% share price decline.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Biodesix's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.5x is worth a mention when the median P/S in the United States' Healthcare industry is similar at about 1.1x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

View our latest analysis for Biodesix

What Does Biodesix's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

With revenue growth that's superior to most other companies of late, Biodesix has been doing relatively well. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is moderate because investors think this strong revenue performance might be about to tail off. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Keen to find out how analysts think Biodesix's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

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

Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 45% gain to the company's top line. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 31% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 25% per annum during the coming three years according to the six analysts following the company. With the industry only predicted to deliver 8.3% per year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

In light of this, it's curious that Biodesix's P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

What We Can Learn From Biodesix's P/S?

Following Biodesix's share price tumble, its P/S is just clinging on to the industry median P/S. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-sales ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.

We've established that Biodesix currently trades on a lower than expected P/S since its forecasted revenue growth is higher than the wider industry. There could be some risks that the market is pricing in, which is preventing the P/S ratio from matching the positive outlook. It appears some are indeed anticipating revenue instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Biodesix you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored.

If companies with solid past earnings growth is up your alley, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies with strong earnings growth and low P/E ratios.

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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.