BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.'s (NYSE:BBAI) Share Price Matching Investor Opinion

When you see that almost half of the companies in the IT industry in the United States have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 1.9x, BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) looks to be giving off some sell signals with its 2.8x P/S ratio. However, the P/S might be high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Check out our latest analysis for BigBear.ai Holdings

How BigBear.ai Holdings Has Been Performing

While the industry has experienced revenue growth lately, BigBear.ai Holdings' revenue has gone into reverse gear, which is not great. It might be that many expect the dour revenue performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/S from collapsing. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on BigBear.ai Holdings will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

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

BigBear.ai Holdings' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver solid growth, and importantly, perform better than the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 9.1%. Even so, admirably revenue has lifted 35% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the revenue growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the five analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 19% per year over the next three years. With the industry only predicted to deliver 11% each year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

With this information, we can see why BigBear.ai Holdings is trading at such a high P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

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.

Our look into BigBear.ai Holdings shows that its P/S ratio remains high on the merit of its strong future revenues. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in revenues is quite remote, justifying the elevated P/S ratio. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with BigBear.ai Holdings (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com