The Visionox Technology Inc. (SZSE:002387) share price has fared very poorly over the last month, falling by a substantial 27%. Still, a bad month hasn't completely ruined the past year with the stock gaining 28%, which is great even in a bull market.

Since its price has dipped substantially, Visionox Technology may be sending buy signals at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.7x, considering almost half of all companies in the Electronic industry in China have P/S ratios greater than 3.5x and even P/S higher than 7x 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 Visionox Technology

How Visionox Technology Has Been Performing

We'd have to say that with no tangible growth over the last year, Visionox Technology's revenue has been unimpressive. Perhaps the market believes the recent lacklustre revenue performance is a sign of future underperformance relative to industry peers, hurting the P/S. If not, then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For Visionox Technology?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as Visionox Technology's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the industry.

Taking a look back first, we see that there was hardly any revenue growth to speak of for the company over the past year. Although pleasingly revenue has lifted 140% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. So while the company has done a solid job in the past, it's somewhat concerning to see revenue growth decline as much as it has.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 60% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is weaker, based on recent medium-term annualised revenue results.

In light of this, it's understandable that Visionox Technology's P/S sits below the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting to see the recent limited growth rates continue into the future and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

What We Can Learn From Visionox Technology's P/S?

Visionox Technology's P/S has taken a dip along with its share price. 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.

In line with expectations, Visionox Technology maintains its low P/S on the weakness of its recent three-year growth being lower than the wider industry forecast. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in revenue isn't great enough to justify a higher P/S ratio. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it's hard to see the share price experience a reversal of fortunes anytime soon.

You need to take note of risks, for example - Visionox Technology has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is potentially serious) we think you should know about.

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.