Daesung Industrial Co., Ltd.'s (KRX:128820) 45% Dip Still Leaving Some Shareholders Feeling Restless Over Its P/SRatio

Daesung Industrial Co., Ltd. (KRX:128820) shares have retraced a considerable 45% in the last month, reversing a fair amount of their solid recent performance. Of course, over the longer-term many would still wish they owned shares as the stock's price has soared 103% in the last twelve months.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, there still wouldn't be many who think Daesung Industrial's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.2x is worth a mention when the median P/S in Korea's Specialty Retail industry is similar at about 0.5x. 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.

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See our latest analysis for Daesung Industrial

What Does Daesung Industrial's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For example, consider that Daesung Industrial's financial performance has been pretty ordinary lately as revenue growth is non-existent. Perhaps the market believes the recent run-of-the-mill revenue performance isn't enough to outperform the industry, which has kept the P/S muted. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Daesung Industrial will help you shine a light on its historical performance.

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

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Daesung Industrial would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

Taking a look back first, we see that there was hardly any revenue growth to speak of for the company over the past year. Whilst it's an improvement, it wasn't enough to get the company out of the hole it was in, with revenue down 12% overall from three years ago. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 6.4% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's somewhat alarming that Daesung Industrial's P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. 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

Daesung Industrial's plummeting stock price has brought its P/S back to a similar region as the rest of the industry. It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

The fact that Daesung Industrial currently trades at a P/S on par with the rest of the industry is surprising to us since its recent revenues have been in decline over the medium-term, all while 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.

Having said that, be aware Daesung Industrial is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, you should know about.

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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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.