Despite an already strong run, Super Group (SGHC) Limited (NYSE:SGHC) shares have been powering on, with a gain of 30% in the last thirty days. The last month tops off a massive increase of 133% in the last year.
In spite of the firm bounce in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Super Group (SGHC)'s price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.1x is worth a mention when the median P/S in the United States' Hospitality industry is similar at about 1.7x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.
What Does Super Group (SGHC)'s Recent Performance Look Like?
Recent times haven't been great for Super Group (SGHC) as its revenue has been rising slower than most other companies. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to lift, which has kept the P/S from declining. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a relatively elevated price for a company with this sort of growth profile.
Keen to find out how analysts think Super Group (SGHC)'s future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?
There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like Super Group (SGHC)'s to be considered reasonable.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow revenues by a handy 11% last year. The solid recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 26% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has actually done a good job of growing revenue over that time.
Turning to the outlook, the next three years should generate growth of 7.3% per annum as estimated by the four analysts watching the company. With the industry predicted to deliver 12% growth per year, the company is positioned for a weaker revenue result.
With this in mind, we find it intriguing that Super Group (SGHC)'s P/S is closely matching its industry peers. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited growth expectations and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. Maintaining these prices will be difficult to achieve as this level of revenue growth is likely to weigh down the shares eventually.
What Does Super Group (SGHC)'s P/S Mean For Investors?
Super Group (SGHC)'s stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with the rest of the industry. Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.
When you consider that Super Group (SGHC)'s revenue growth estimates are fairly muted compared to the broader industry, it's easy to see why we consider it unexpected to be trading at its current P/S ratio. At present, we aren't confident in the P/S as the predicted future revenues aren't likely to support a more positive sentiment for long. Circumstances like this present a risk to current and prospective investors who may see share prices fall if the low revenue growth impacts the sentiment.
And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Super Group (SGHC) you should know about.
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.