Aowei Holding Limited (HKG:1370) shares have had a horrible month, losing 30% after a relatively good period beforehand. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 38% in that time.
In spite of the heavy fall in price, given close to half the companies operating in Hong Kong's Metals and Mining industry have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") below 0.5x, you may still consider Aowei Holding as a stock to potentially avoid with its 1x P/S ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.
Check out our latest analysis for Aowei Holding
How Has Aowei Holding Performed Recently?
For instance, Aowei Holding's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the company can do enough to outperform the rest of the industry in the near future, which is keeping the P/S ratio high. However, if this isn't the case, investors might get caught out paying too much for the stock.
Although there are no analyst estimates available for Aowei Holding, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.Is There Enough Revenue Growth Forecasted For Aowei Holding?
The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as high as Aowei Holding's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry.
Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 29%. Regardless, revenue has managed to lift by a handy 17% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the earlier period of growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a good job of growing revenue over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.
Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 12% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker, based on recent medium-term annualised revenue results.
With this information, we find it concerning that Aowei Holding is trading at a P/S higher than the industry. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.
What Does Aowei Holding's P/S Mean For Investors?
There's still some elevation in Aowei Holding's P/S, even if the same can't be said for its share price recently. 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.
The fact that Aowei Holding currently trades on a higher P/S relative to the industry is an oddity, since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider industry forecast. When we observe slower-than-industry revenue growth alongside a high P/S ratio, we assume there to be a significant risk of the share price decreasing, which would result in a lower P/S ratio. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.
And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Aowei Holding (of which 2 are concerning!) you should know about.
If you're unsure about the strength of Aowei Holding'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.