Allot Ltd.'s (NASDAQ:ALLT) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.7x might make it look like a strong buy right now compared to the Software industry in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/S ratios above 4.5x and even P/S above 10x are quite common. However, the P/S might be quite low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.
Check out our latest analysis for Allot
What Does Allot's Recent Performance Look Like?
Allot hasn't been tracking well recently as its declining revenue compares poorly to other companies, which have seen some growth in their revenues on average. It seems that many are expecting the poor revenue performance to persist, which has repressed the P/S ratio. If you still like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Allot will help you uncover what's on the horizon.How Is Allot's Revenue Growth Trending?
The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as depressed as Allot's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the industry decidedly.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 23% decrease to the company's top line. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 1.8% in total over the last three years. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 2.4% during the coming year according to the three analysts following the company. That's shaping up to be materially lower than the 13% growth forecast for the broader industry.
In light of this, it's understandable that Allot's P/S sits below the majority of other companies. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on while the company is potentially eyeing a less prosperous future.
The Bottom Line On Allot's P/S
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 expected, our analysis of Allot's analyst forecasts confirms that the company's underwhelming revenue outlook is a major contributor to its low P/S. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in revenue isn't great enough to justify a higher P/S ratio. It's hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances.
You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Allot you should be aware of, and 1 of them is a bit unpleasant.
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.
About NasdaqGS:ALLT
Allot
Engages in developing, selling, and marketing security solutions and network intelligence solutions for mobile, fixed, and cloud service providers, as well as enterprises worldwide.
Good value with adequate balance sheet.