United Renewable Energy Co., Ltd.’s (TWSE:3576) price-to-sales (or “P/S”) ratio of 2.2x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the Semiconductor industry in Taiwan, where around half of the companies have P/S ratios above 3.7x and even P/S above 7x are quite common. However, the P/S might be low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it’s justified.

Check out our latest analysis for United Renewable Energy

How United Renewable Energy Has Been Performing

For instance, United Renewable Energy’s receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. One possibility is that the P/S is low because investors think the company won’t do enough to avoid underperforming the broader industry in the near future. However, if this doesn’t eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Although there are no analyst estimates available for United Renewable Energy, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For United Renewable Energy?

The only time you’d be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as United Renewable Energy’s is when the company’s growth is on track to lag the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company’s revenues fell to the tune of 57%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 40% overall. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Comparing that to the industry, which is predicted to deliver 26% growth in the next 12 months, the company’s downward momentum based on recent medium-term revenue results is a sobering picture.

With this information, we are not surprised that United Renewable Energy is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. Nonetheless, there’s no guarantee the P/S has reached a floor yet with revenue going in reverse. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as recent revenue trends are already weighing down the shares.

The Key Takeaway

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.

It’s no surprise that United Renewable Energy maintains its low P/S off the back of its sliding revenue over the medium-term. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in revenue isn’t great enough to justify a higher P/S ratio. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it’s hard to see the share price moving strongly in either direction in the near future under these circumstances.

A lot of potential risks can sit within a company’s balance sheet. Our free balance sheet analysis for United Renewable Energy with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.

If you’re unsure about the strength of United Renewable Energy’s 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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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.