BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:BKSY) shareholders won't be pleased to see that the share price has had a very rough month, dropping 44% and undoing the prior period's positive performance. The drop over the last 30 days has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 20% in that time.

In spite of the heavy fall in price, you could still be forgiven for thinking BlackSky Technology is a stock not worth researching with a price-to-sales ratios (or "P/S") of 2.8x, considering almost half the companies in the United States' Professional Services industry have P/S ratios below 1.3x. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/S at face value as there may be an explanation why it's as high as it is.

Check out our latest analysis for BlackSky Technology

How Has BlackSky Technology Performed Recently?

Recent revenue growth for BlackSky Technology has been in line with the industry. Perhaps the market is expecting future revenue performance to improve, justifying the currently elevated P/S. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

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

How Is BlackSky Technology's Revenue Growth Trending?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, BlackSky Technology would need to produce impressive growth in excess of the industry.

If we review the last year of revenue growth, the company posted a worthy increase of 8.0%. The latest three year period has also seen an excellent 200% overall rise in revenue, aided somewhat by its short-term performance. Accordingly, shareholders would have definitely welcomed those medium-term rates of revenue growth.

Shifting to the future, estimates from the nine analysts covering the company suggest revenue should grow by 30% per year over the next three years. With the industry only predicted to deliver 6.9% per year, the company is positioned for a stronger revenue result.

In light of this, it's understandable that BlackSky Technology's P/S sits above the majority of other companies. Apparently shareholders aren't keen to offload something that is potentially eyeing a more prosperous future.

What We Can Learn From BlackSky Technology's P/S?

BlackSky Technology's P/S remain high even after its stock plunged. We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

As we suspected, our examination of BlackSky Technology's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior revenue outlook is contributing to its high P/S. At this stage investors feel the potential for a deterioration in revenues is quite remote, justifying the elevated P/S ratio. Unless the analysts have really missed the mark, these strong revenue forecasts should keep the share price buoyant.

Having said that, be aware BlackSky Technology is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, you should know about.

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).

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.