New Concepts Holdings Limited (HKG:2221) shares have had a horrible month, losing 28% after a relatively good period beforehand. The recent drop completes a disastrous twelve months for shareholders, who are sitting on a 88% loss during that time.
In spite of the heavy fall in price, there still wouldn't be many who think New Concepts Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.2x is worth a mention when the median P/S in Hong Kong's Construction industry is similar at about 0.3x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.
Check out our latest analysis for New Concepts Holdings
How New Concepts Holdings Has Been Performing
New Concepts Holdings has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue at a solid pace. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think this respectable revenue growth might not be enough to outperform the broader industry in the near future. Those who are bullish on New Concepts Holdings will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.
Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on New Concepts Holdings will help you shine a light on its historical performance.What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?
The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like New Concepts Holdings' is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 15% last year. Revenue has also lifted 6.2% in aggregate from three years ago, mostly thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have probably been satisfied with the medium-term rates of revenue growth.
This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 9.4% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.
In light of this, it's curious that New Concepts Holdings' P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently many investors in the company are less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. They may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.
The Key Takeaway
With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for New Concepts Holdings looks to be in line with the rest of the Construction 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.
Our examination of New Concepts Holdings revealed its poor three-year revenue trends aren't resulting in a lower P/S as per our expectations, given they look worse than current industry outlook. When we see weak revenue with slower than industry growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, bringing the P/S back in line with expectations. Unless there is a significant improvement in the company's medium-term performance, it will be difficult to prevent the P/S ratio from declining to a more reasonable level.
It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with New Concepts Holdings (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.
It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).
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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.