There wouldn't be many who think Frontier Management Inc.'s (TSE:7038) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.6x is worth a mention when the median P/S for the Professional Services industry in Japan is similar at about 1x. However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.
Check out our latest analysis for Frontier Management
Frontier Management has been doing a good job lately as it's been growing revenue at a solid pace. 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 Frontier Management 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 Frontier Management, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like Frontier Management's to be considered reasonable.
Retrospectively, the last year delivered an exceptional 19% gain to the company's top line. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 46% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing revenue over that time.
Comparing that to the industry, which is only predicted to deliver 8.1% growth in the next 12 months, the company's momentum is stronger based on recent medium-term annualised revenue results.
With this information, we find it interesting that Frontier Management is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It may be that most investors are not convinced the company can maintain its recent growth rates.
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.
We didn't quite envision Frontier Management's P/S sitting in line with the wider industry, considering the revenue growth over the last three-year is higher than the current industry outlook. There could be some unobserved threats to revenue preventing the P/S ratio from matching this positive performance. While recent revenue trends over the past medium-term suggest that the risk of a price decline is low, investors appear to see the likelihood of revenue fluctuations in the future.
It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Frontier Management (at least 1 which is potentially serious), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.
It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).
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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.