Optimistic Investors Push Ling Yui Holdings Limited (HKG:784) Shares Up 35% But Growth Is Lacking

Despite an already strong run, Ling Yui Holdings Limited (HKG:784) shares have been powering on, with a gain of 35% in the last thirty days. The last 30 days bring the annual gain to a very sharp 47%.

Even after such a large jump in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Ling Yui Holdings' price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.3x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Construction industry in Hong Kong, seeing as it matches the P/S ratio of the wider industry. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

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View our latest analysis for Ling Yui Holdings

What Does Ling Yui Holdings' Recent Performance Look Like?

Revenue has risen firmly for Ling Yui Holdings recently, which is pleasing to see. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think this respectable revenue growth might not be enough to outperform the broader industry in the near future. Those who are bullish on Ling Yui Holdings will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.

How Is Ling Yui Holdings' Revenue Growth Trending?

There's an inherent assumption that a company should be matching the industry for P/S ratios like Ling Yui Holdings' to be considered reasonable.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 11%. Ultimately though, it couldn't turn around the poor performance of the prior period, with revenue shrinking 38% 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.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 16% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

With this information, we find it concerning that Ling Yui Holdings is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. 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

Its shares have lifted substantially and now Ling Yui Holdings' P/S is back within range of the industry median. 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 Ling Yui Holdings 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. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve markedly, investors will have a hard time accepting the share price as fair value.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Ling Yui Holdings, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Ling Yui Holdings, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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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.