Arctech Solar Holding Co., Ltd. (SHSE:688408) shareholders would be excited to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 31% gain and recovering from prior weakness. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 22% in the last twelve months.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Arctech Solar Holding's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.3x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Electrical industry in China, where the median P/S ratio is around 2.2x. 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.

View our latest analysis for Arctech Solar Holding

What Does Arctech Solar Holding's Recent Performance Look Like?

Recent times have been advantageous for Arctech Solar Holding as its revenues have been rising faster than most other companies. One possibility is that the P/S ratio is moderate because investors think this strong revenue performance might be about to tail off. If the company manages to stay the course, then investors should be rewarded with a share price that matches its revenue figures.

How Is Arctech Solar Holding's Revenue Growth Trending?

Arctech Solar Holding's P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the industry.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 64% last year. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 71% 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.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the three analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 38% per year over the next three years. With the industry only predicted to deliver 19% per annum, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

With this information, we find it interesting that Arctech Solar Holding 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 Key Takeaway

Arctech Solar Holding appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump bringing its P/S back in line with other companies in the industry It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

Despite enticing revenue growth figures that outpace the industry, Arctech Solar Holding's P/S isn't quite what we'd expect. There could be some risks that the market is pricing in, which is preventing the P/S ratio from matching the positive outlook. This uncertainty seems to be reflected in the share price which, while stable, could be higher given the revenue forecasts.

Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Arctech Solar Holding that you should be aware of.

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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.