To the annoyance of some shareholders, Jadason Enterprises Ltd (SGX:J03) shares are down a considerable 33% 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 73% loss during that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Jadason Enterprises' P/S ratio of 0.1x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Electronic industry in Singapore is also close to 0.4x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.

What Does Jadason Enterprises' P/S Mean For Shareholders?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Jadason Enterprises over the last year, which is not ideal at all. Perhaps investors believe the recent revenue performance is enough to keep in line with the industry, which is keeping the P/S from dropping off. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?

The only time you'd be comfortable seeing a P/S like Jadason Enterprises' is when the company's growth is tracking the industry closely.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 32%. This means it has also seen a slide in revenue over the longer-term as revenue is down 47% in total over the last three years. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 21% shows it's an unpleasant look.

With this information, we find it concerning that Jadason Enterprises 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 Key Takeaway

With its share price dropping off a cliff, the P/S for Jadason Enterprises looks to be in line with the rest of the Electronic industry. 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 Jadason Enterprises 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.

You should always think about risks. Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Jadason Enterprises you should be aware of.

If you're unsure about the strength of Jadason Enterprises' business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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