There wouldn't be many who think Markforged Holding Corporation's (NYSE:MKFG) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.3x is worth a mention when the median P/S for the Machinery industry in the United States is very similar. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Markforged Holding

How Has Markforged Holding Performed Recently?

Markforged Holding could be doing better as it's been growing revenue less than most other companies lately. It might be that many expect the uninspiring revenue performance to strengthen positively, which has kept the P/S ratio from falling. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

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

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Markforged Holding would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue, the company posted a result that saw barely any deviation from a year ago. Still, the latest three year period has seen an excellent 38% overall rise in revenue, in spite of its uninspiring short-term performance. So while the company has done a solid job in the past, it's somewhat concerning to see revenue growth decline as much as it has.

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to slump, contracting by 4.3% during the coming year according to the three analysts following the company. Meanwhile, the broader industry is forecast to expand by 1.7%, which paints a poor picture.

With this in consideration, we think it doesn't make sense that Markforged Holding's P/S is closely matching its industry peers. Apparently many investors in the company reject the analyst cohort's pessimism and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as these declining revenues are likely to weigh on the share price eventually.

The Bottom Line On Markforged Holding's 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.

Our check of Markforged Holding's analyst forecasts revealed that its outlook for shrinking revenue isn't bringing down its P/S as much as we would have predicted. When we see a gloomy outlook like this, our immediate thoughts are that the share price is at risk of declining, negatively impacting P/S. If we consider the revenue outlook, the P/S seems to indicate that potential investors may be paying a premium for the stock.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 3 warning signs for Markforged Holding that you need to be mindful of.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Markforged Holding, 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.