Tredegar Corporation's (NYSE:TG) Share Price Boosted 25% But Its Business Prospects Need A Lift Too

Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 25% gain and recovering from prior weakness. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 29%.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, Tredegar's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.5x might still make it look like a buy right now compared to the Metals and Mining industry in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/S ratios above 1.7x and even P/S above 7x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.

Our free stock report includes 2 warning signs investors should be aware of before investing in Tredegar. Read for free now.

Check out our latest analysis for Tredegar

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

Tredegar has been doing a decent job lately as it's been growing revenue at a reasonable pace. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is low because investors think this good revenue growth might actually underperform the broader industry in the near future. Those who are bullish on Tredegar will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.

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

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/S?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as Tredegar's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the industry.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow revenues by a handy 4.1% last year. Ultimately though, it couldn't turn around the poor performance of the prior period, with revenue shrinking 28% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 13% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this information, we are not surprised that Tredegar is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/S has reached a floor yet with revenue going in reverse. There's potential for the P/S to fall to even lower levels if the company doesn't improve its top-line growth.

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

Tredegar's stock price has surged recently, but its but its P/S still remains modest. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Tredegar revealed its shrinking revenue over the medium-term is contributing to its low P/S, given the industry is set to grow. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises either. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price moving strongly in either direction in the near future under these circumstances.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Tredegar (at least 1 which is concerning), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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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.