Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 32% gain in the last month alone.    The last month tops off a massive increase of 152% in the last year.  

In spite of the firm bounce in price, it's still not a stretch to say that Oscar Health's price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.8x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" compared to the Insurance industry in the United States, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.1x.  However, investors might be overlooking a clear opportunity or potential setback if there is no rational basis for the P/S.    

NYSE:OSCR Price to Sales Ratio vs Industry May 7th 2024

How Has Oscar Health Performed Recently?

Recent times have been advantageous for Oscar Health as its revenues have been rising faster than most other companies.   One possibility is that the P/S ratio is moderate because investors think this strong revenue performance might be about to tail off.  If the company manages to stay the course, then investors should be rewarded with a share price that matches its revenue figures.    

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

Do Revenue Forecasts Match The P/S Ratio?  

Oscar Health's 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 an exceptional 47% gain to the company's top line.   This great performance means it was also able to deliver immense revenue growth over the last three years.  Accordingly, shareholders would have been over the moon with those medium-term rates of revenue growth.  

Looking ahead now, revenue is anticipated to climb by 26% per year during the coming three years according to the two analysts following the company.  With the industry only predicted to deliver 3.7% per year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

With this information, we find it interesting that Oscar Health is trading at a fairly similar P/S compared to the industry.  Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.  

What We Can Learn From Oscar Health's P/S?

Oscar Health appears to be back in favour with a solid price jump bringing its P/S back in line with other companies in the industry      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.

Despite enticing revenue growth figures that outpace the industry, Oscar Health's P/S isn't quite what we'd expect.  Perhaps uncertainty in the revenue forecasts are what's keeping the P/S ratio consistent with the rest of the industry.  At least the risk of a price drop looks to be subdued, but investors seem to think future revenue could see some volatility.    

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

Of course, profitable companies with a history of great earnings growth are generally safer bets. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have reasonable P/E ratios and have grown earnings strongly.

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.