Ranpak Holdings Corp. (NYSE:PACK) Could Be Riskier Than It Looks

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With a median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of close to 0.8x in the Packaging industry in the United States, you could be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Ranpak Holdings Corp.'s (NYSE:PACK) P/S ratio of 1.2x. 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 Ranpak Holdings

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What Does Ranpak Holdings' Recent Performance Look Like?

Ranpak Holdings hasn't been tracking well recently as its declining revenue compares poorly to other companies, which have seen some growth in their revenues on average. It might be that many expect the dour revenue performance to strengthen positively, which has kept the P/S from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

Keen to find out how analysts think Ranpak Holdings' future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.

Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For Ranpak Holdings?

Ranpak Holdings' P/S ratio would be typical for a company that's only expected to deliver moderate growth, and importantly, perform in line with the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered a frustrating 15% decrease to the company's top line. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year revenue growth is still a noteworthy 21% in total. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a good job of growing revenue over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the three analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 10% each year over the next three years. That's shaping up to be materially higher than the 2.3% per annum growth forecast for the broader industry.

With this information, we find it interesting that Ranpak Holdings is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry. It may be that most investors aren't convinced the company can achieve future growth expectations.

The Final Word

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.

Looking at Ranpak Holdings' analyst forecasts revealed that its superior revenue outlook isn't giving the boost to its P/S that we would've expected. Perhaps uncertainty in the revenue forecasts are what's keeping the P/S ratio consistent with the rest of the industry. However, if you agree with the analysts' forecasts, you may be able to pick up the stock at an attractive price.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Ranpak Holdings that you need to be mindful of.

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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.

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