The GCL Technology Holdings Limited (HKG:3800) share price has done very well over the last month, posting an excellent gain of 32%. Notwithstanding the latest gain, the annual share price return of 7.9% isn't as impressive.
Even after such a large jump in price, it's still not a stretch to say that GCL Technology Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.7x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Semiconductor industry in Hong Kong, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.3x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.
View our latest analysis for GCL Technology Holdings
What Does GCL Technology Holdings' Recent Performance Look Like?
Recent times haven't been great for GCL Technology Holdings as its revenue has been falling quicker than most other companies. It might be that many expect the dismal revenue performance to revert back to industry averages soon, which has kept the P/S from falling. You'd much rather the company improve its revenue if you still believe in the business. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on GCL Technology Holdings will help you uncover what's on the horizon.How Is GCL Technology Holdings' Revenue Growth Trending?
In order to justify its P/S ratio, GCL Technology Holdings would need to produce growth that's similar to 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 49%. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 33% overall rise in revenue, in spite of its unsatisfying short-term performance. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a very good job of growing revenue over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 21% each year during the coming three years according to the analysts following the company. With the industry only predicted to deliver 17% per annum, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.
With this information, we find it interesting that GCL Technology Holdings is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.
The Final Word
GCL Technology Holdings' stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with the rest of the industry. Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-sales ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.
We've established that GCL Technology Holdings currently trades on a lower than expected P/S since its forecasted revenue growth is higher than the wider industry. There could be some risks that the market is pricing in, which is preventing the P/S ratio from matching the positive outlook. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued, but investors seem to think future revenue could see some volatility.
Many other vital risk factors can be found on the company's balance sheet. Our free balance sheet analysis for GCL Technology Holdings with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.
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.
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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.