PTC Inc.'s (NASDAQ:PTC) Share Price Could Signal Some Risk

With a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 9.6x PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all the Software companies in the United States have P/S ratios under 4.4x and even P/S lower than 1.8x are not unusual. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so lofty.

See our latest analysis for PTC

How PTC Has Been Performing

With revenue growth that's inferior to most other companies of late, PTC has been relatively sluggish. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is high because investors think this lacklustre revenue performance will improve markedly. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on PTC.

Is There Enough Revenue Growth Forecasted For PTC?

PTC's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 8.5%. Pleasingly, revenue has also lifted 44% in aggregate from three years ago, partly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. 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 11% per annum during the coming three years according to the analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to expand by 17% each year, which is noticeably more attractive.

In light of this, it's alarming that PTC's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as this level of revenue growth is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.

The Final Word

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.

We've concluded that PTC currently trades on a much higher than expected P/S since its forecast growth is lower than the wider industry. The weakness in the company's revenue estimate doesn't bode well for the elevated P/S, which could take a fall if the revenue sentiment doesn't improve. This places shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.

It is also worth noting that we have found 2 warning signs for PTC that you need to take into consideration.

If you're unsure about the strength of PTC's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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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.