It's not a stretch to say that Mach Natural Resources LP's (NYSE:MNR) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 2.2x right now seems quite "middle-of-the-road" for companies in the Oil and Gas industry in the United States, where the median P/S ratio is around 1.8x. 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.

View our latest analysis for Mach Natural Resources

How Has Mach Natural Resources Performed Recently?

Recent times have been pleasing for Mach Natural Resources as its revenue has risen in spite of the industry's average revenue going into reverse. Perhaps the market is expecting its current strong performance to taper off in accordance to the rest of the industry, which has kept the P/S contained. If not, then existing shareholders have reason to be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

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

How Is Mach Natural Resources' Revenue Growth Trending?

Mach Natural Resources' 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.

Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew revenue by an impressive 21% last year. The strong recent performance means it was also able to grow revenue by 99% in total over the last three years. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the five analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 15% over the next year. With the industry only predicted to deliver 9.6%, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

With this in consideration, we find it intriguing that Mach Natural Resources' P/S is closely matching its industry peers. Apparently some shareholders are skeptical of the forecasts and have been accepting lower selling prices.

The Final Word

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 Mach Natural Resources currently trades on a lower than expected P/S since its forecasted revenue growth is higher than the wider industry. When we see a strong revenue outlook, with growth outpacing the industry, we can only assume potential uncertainty around these figures are what might be placing slight pressure on the P/S ratio. It appears some are indeed anticipating revenue instability, because these conditions should normally provide a boost to the share price.

You need to take note of risks, for example - Mach Natural Resources has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is significant) we think you should know about.

If you're unsure about the strength of Mach Natural Resources' business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.

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.