The QuantaSing Group Limited (NASDAQ:QSG) share price has done very well over the last month, posting an excellent gain of 33%. Notwithstanding the latest gain, the annual share price return of 2.7% isn't as impressive.
Even after such a large jump in price, considering around half the companies operating in the United States' Consumer Services industry have price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") above 1.5x, you may still consider QuantaSing Group as an solid investment opportunity with its 0.2x P/S ratio. However, the P/S might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.
What Does QuantaSing Group's Recent Performance Look Like?
With revenue growth that's superior to most other companies of late, QuantaSing Group has been doing relatively well. It might be that many expect the strong revenue performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the share price, and thus the P/S ratio. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour.
Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on QuantaSing Group will help you uncover what's on the horizon.
Do Revenue Forecasts Match The Low P/S Ratio?
The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as QuantaSing Group's is when the company's growth is on track to lag the industry.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 23% last year. Pleasingly, revenue has also lifted 116% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the last 12 months of growth. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.
Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 5.4% during the coming year according to the lone analyst following the company. Meanwhile, the rest of the industry is forecast to expand by 14%, which is noticeably more attractive.
With this in consideration, its clear as to why QuantaSing Group's P/S is falling short industry peers. Apparently many shareholders weren't comfortable holding on while the company is potentially eyeing a less prosperous future.
What Does QuantaSing Group's P/S Mean For Investors?
QuantaSing Group's stock price has surged recently, but its but its P/S still remains modest. 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.
We've established that QuantaSing Group maintains its low P/S on the weakness of its forecast growth being lower than the wider industry, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/S as they concede future revenue probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. The company will need a change of fortune to justify the P/S rising higher in the future.
It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with QuantaSing Group, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.
If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).
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