Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTZ) shareholders have had their patience rewarded with a 51% share price jump in the last month. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 11% in the last twelve months.

Although its price has surged higher, Hertz Global Holdings may still be sending buy signals at present with its price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.2x, considering almost half of all companies in the Transportation industry in the United States have P/S ratios greater than 1x and even P/S higher than 4x aren't out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the reduced P/S.

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What Does Hertz Global Holdings' Recent Performance Look Like?

Hertz Global Holdings could be doing better as its revenue has been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive revenue growth. Perhaps the P/S remains low as investors think the prospects of strong revenue growth aren't on the horizon. So while you could say the stock is cheap, investors will be looking for improvement before they see it as good value.

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

How Is Hertz Global Holdings' Revenue Growth Trending?

The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/S as low as Hertz Global Holdings' is when the company's growth is on track to lag the industry.

Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 3.4%. 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 23% in total. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the revenue growth recently has been mostly respectable for the company.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the nine analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 1.9% per year over the next three years. With the industry predicted to deliver 8.3% growth per year, the company is positioned for a weaker revenue result.

With this information, we can see why Hertz Global Holdings is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. It seems most investors are expecting to see limited future growth and are only willing to pay a reduced amount for the stock.

What We Can Learn From Hertz Global Holdings' P/S?

Despite Hertz Global Holdings' share price climbing recently, its P/S still lags most other companies. 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.

As we suspected, our examination of Hertz Global Holdings' analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior revenue outlook is contributing to its low P/S. Shareholders' pessimism on the revenue prospects for the company seems to be the main contributor to the depressed P/S. The company will need a change of fortune to justify the P/S rising higher in the future.

You should always think about risks.

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

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.