What Procore Technologies, Inc.'s (NYSE:PCOR) P/S Is Not Telling You

Procore Technologies, Inc.'s (NYSE:PCOR) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 8.6x might make it look like a strong sell right now compared to the Software industry in the United States, where around half of the companies have P/S ratios below 4.7x and even P/S below 1.8x are quite common. However, the P/S might be quite high for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

View our latest analysis for Procore Technologies

What Does Procore Technologies' P/S Mean For Shareholders?

Procore Technologies certainly has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue more than most other companies. It seems the market expects this form will continue into the future, hence the elevated P/S ratio. If not, then existing shareholders might be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

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

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

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as steep as Procore Technologies' is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry decidedly.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a terrific increase of 28%. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 137% overall rise in revenue, aided by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been superb for the company.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 16% per annum as estimated by the analysts watching the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to expand by 20% per year, which is noticeably more attractive.

In light of this, it's alarming that Procore Technologies' 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.

What Does Procore Technologies' P/S Mean For Investors?

Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

We've concluded that Procore Technologies currently trades on a much higher than expected P/S since its forecast growth is lower than the wider industry. Right now we aren't comfortable with the high P/S as the predicted future revenues aren't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. Unless these conditions improve markedly, it's very challenging to accept these prices as being reasonable.

It is also worth noting that we have found 3 warning signs for Procore Technologies that you need to take into consideration.

If you're unsure about the strength of Procore Technologies' 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.