KAISA Jiayun Technology Inc. (SZSE:300242) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 37% gain in the last month alone. The bad news is that even after the stocks recovery in the last 30 days, shareholders are still underwater by about 3.1% over the last year.
Even after such a large jump in price, there still wouldn't be many who think KAISA Jiayun Technology's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.6x is worth a mention when the median P/S in China's Media industry is similar at about 3.2x. 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.
What Does KAISA Jiayun Technology's P/S Mean For Shareholders?
Revenue has risen firmly for KAISA Jiayun Technology recently, which is pleasing to see. It might be that many expect the respectable revenue performance to wane, which has kept the P/S from rising. Those who are bullish on KAISA Jiayun Technology will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.
Although there are no analyst estimates available for KAISA Jiayun Technology, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.
What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?
In order to justify its P/S ratio, KAISA Jiayun Technology would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered a decent 11% gain to the company's revenues. However, this wasn't enough as the latest three year period has seen an unpleasant 83% overall drop in revenue. Therefore, it's fair to say the revenue growth recently has been undesirable for the company.
Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 15% growth in the next 12 months, the company's downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.
With this information, we find it concerning that KAISA Jiayun Technology is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. Apparently many investors in the company are way less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as a continuation of recent revenue trends is likely to weigh on the share price eventually.
The Final Word
Its shares have lifted substantially and now KAISA Jiayun Technology's P/S is back within range of the industry median. 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.
Our look at KAISA Jiayun Technology revealed its shrinking revenues over the medium-term haven't impacted the P/S as much as we anticipated, given the industry is set to grow. Even though it matches the industry, we're uncomfortable with the current P/S ratio, as this dismal revenue performance is unlikely to support a more positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.
It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with KAISA Jiayun Technology, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.
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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