To the annoyance of some shareholders, Worldgate Global Logistics Ltd (HKG:8292) shares are down a considerable 25% in the last month, which continues a horrid run for the company. The recent drop completes a disastrous twelve months for shareholders, who are sitting on a 89% loss during that time.
Although its price has dipped substantially, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Worldgate Global Logistics' P/S ratio of 0.2x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Logistics industry in Hong Kong is about the same. 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.
How Worldgate Global Logistics Has Been Performing
As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Worldgate Global Logistics over the last year, which is not ideal at all. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think the company might still do enough to be in line with the broader industry in the near future. If you like the company, you'd at least be hoping this is the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.
We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Worldgate Global Logistics' earnings, revenue and cash flow.Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?
Worldgate Global Logistics' 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, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 11%. Even so, admirably revenue has lifted 59% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the revenue growth recently has been more than adequate for the company.
This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 4.8% over the next year, materially lower than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.
In light of this, it's curious that Worldgate Global Logistics' P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. Apparently some shareholders believe the recent performance is at its limits and have been accepting lower selling prices.
What We Can Learn From Worldgate Global Logistics' P/S?
With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for Worldgate Global Logistics looks to be in line with the rest of the Logistics industry. While the price-to-sales ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of revenue expectations.
To our surprise, Worldgate Global Logistics revealed its three-year revenue trends aren't contributing to its P/S as much as we would have predicted, given they look better than current industry expectations. It'd be fair to assume that potential risks the company faces could be the contributing factor to the lower than expected P/S. At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued if recent medium-term revenue trends continue, but investors seem to think future revenue could see some volatility.
You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Worldgate Global Logistics you should be aware of, and 2 of them are concerning.
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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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.