Stock Analysis

The Market Lifts Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU) Shares 30% But It Can Do More

NYSE:YOU
Source: Shutterstock

Those holding Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU) shares would be relieved that the share price has rebounded 30% in the last thirty days, but it needs to keep going to repair the recent damage it has caused to investor portfolios. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 31% in the last twelve months.

Even after such a large jump in price, Clear Secure may still be sending buy signals at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 3.4x, considering almost half of all companies in the Software industry in the United States have P/S ratios greater than 4.4x and even P/S higher than 11x aren't out of the ordinary. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited.

See our latest analysis for Clear Secure

ps-multiple-vs-industry
NYSE:YOU Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry November 30th 2023

What Does Clear Secure's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

Recent times have been advantageous for Clear Secure as its revenues have been rising faster than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is low because investors think this strong revenue performance might be less impressive moving forward. If you 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.

Keen to find out how analysts think Clear Secure's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For Clear Secure?

Clear Secure's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver limited growth, and importantly, perform worse than the industry.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 46% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 147% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 17% per year as estimated by the eight analysts watching the company. That's shaping up to be similar to the 16% each year growth forecast for the broader industry.

With this information, we find it odd that Clear Secure is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. Apparently some shareholders are doubtful of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Key Takeaway

Despite Clear Secure's share price climbing recently, its P/S still lags most other companies. 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 examination of Clear Secure's revealed that its P/S remains low despite analyst forecasts of revenue growth matching the wider industry. Despite average revenue growth estimates, there could be some unobserved threats keeping the P/S low. Perhaps investors are concerned that the company could underperform against the forecasts over the near term.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Clear Secure that you need to be mindful of.

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

Valuation is complex, but we're helping make it simple.

Find out whether Clear Secure is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

View the Free Analysis

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.