Revance Therapeutics, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:RVNC) P/S Is On The Mark

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With a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 19x Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:RVNC) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all the Pharmaceuticals companies in the United States have P/S ratios under 3.1x and even P/S lower than 0.9x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/S.

Check out our latest analysis for Revance Therapeutics

ps-multiple-vs-industry
ps-multiple-vs-industry

What Does Revance Therapeutics' Recent Performance Look Like?

With revenue growth that's superior to most other companies of late, Revance Therapeutics has been doing relatively well. It seems that many are expecting the strong revenue performance to persist, which has raised the P/S. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

Want the full picture on analyst estimates for the company? Then our free report on Revance Therapeutics will help you uncover what's on the horizon.

Is There Enough Revenue Growth Forecasted For Revance Therapeutics?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as steep as Revance Therapeutics' is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the industry decidedly.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 70% last year. Spectacularly, three year revenue growth has ballooned by several orders of magnitude, thanks in part to the last 12 months of revenue growth. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a tremendous job of growing revenue over that time.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 64% per annum during the coming three years according to the twelve analysts following the company. With the industry only predicted to deliver 31% each year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

With this information, we can see why Revance Therapeutics is trading at such a high P/S compared to the industry. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

What We Can Learn From Revance Therapeutics' P/S?

Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

We've established that Revance Therapeutics maintains its high P/S on the strength of its forecasted revenue growth being higher than the the rest of the Pharmaceuticals industry, as expected. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/S as they are quite confident future revenues aren't under threat. Unless these conditions change, they will continue to provide strong support to the share price.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 3 warning signs for Revance Therapeutics that you should be aware of.

If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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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.

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