ArcBestARCB -2.57%80 Gross Margin % is 5.04% as of Mar. 2026, which is 38% below its 10-year median of 8.07. GuruFocus rates ARCB with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of $102.44 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 980 Transportation companies, ArcBest ranks worse than 87.65% on this metric.
Gross Margin % is calculated as gross profit divided by its revenue. ArcBest's Gross Profit for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $50 Mil. ArcBest's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $999 Mil. Therefore, ArcBest's Gross Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 5.04%.
Warning Sign:
ArcBest Corp gross margin has been in long-term decline. The average rate of decline per year is -4.6%.
The historical rank and industry rank for ArcBest's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
ARCB'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 6.03 Med: 8.07 Max: 11.4
Current: 6.68
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of ArcBest was 11.40%. The lowest was 6.03%. And the median was 8.07%.
ARCB's Gross Margin % is ranked worse than 87.65% of 980
companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: 20.4
vs ARCB: 6.68
ArcBest had a gross margin of 5.04% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => No sustainable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for ArcBest was -4.60% per year.
ArcBest (NAS:ARCB) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
ArcBest had a gross margin of 5.04% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => No sustainable competitive advantage
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
ArcBest Gross Margin % Related Terms
ArcBest Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for ArcBest's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
ARCB vs WERN, RXO, MRTN: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Trucking subindustry, ArcBest's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
ArcBest Gross Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, ArcBest's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where ArcBest's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
ArcBest (ARCB) has a Gross Margin % of 5.04% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on ArcBest and its competitors. This is 38% below median its historical median of 8.07. Over the past decade, ArcBest's Gross Margin % has ranged from 6.03 to 11.40. According to the industry distribution chart, ArcBest ranks #859 out of 980 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 87.7%.
Is ArcBest's Gross Margin % too high?
ArcBest's current Gross Margin % of 5.04% is 38% below median its 10-year median of 8.07. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 6.03 to a high of 11.40. The Transportation industry median Gross Margin % is 20.40. ArcBest's value of 5.04% is 75.3% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, ArcBest ranks #859 out of 980 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, ArcBest has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does ArcBest's Gross Margin % compare to WERN and RXO?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, ArcBest ranks #859 out of 980 companies for Gross Margin %. This places ArcBest in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 20.40. ArcBest's value of 5.04% is 75.3% below this benchmark. Historically, ArcBest's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 6.03 to 11.40 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 8.07 vs. the industry median of 20.40, ArcBest has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Transportation company?
The median Gross Margin % among Transportation companies is 20.40, based on 980 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. ArcBest's current Gross Margin % of 5.04% is 75.3% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on ArcBest and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Gross Margin % is 20.40 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. ArcBest's current Gross Margin % is 5.04%, which is 38% below median its own 10-year median of 8.07. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is ArcBest stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ArcBest (ARCB) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $102.44, compared to a current price of $147.25 — trading 43.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 5.04%, which is 38% below median its 10-year median of 8.07 and 75.3% below the Transportation industry median of 20.40. ArcBest's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For ArcBest (ARCB), the current Gross Margin % is 5.04% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is ArcBest (ARCB) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ArcBest stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $147.25 is trading 43.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $102.44.
GuruFocus considers ArcBest to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for ARCB:
Gross Margin %: 5.04% (38% below median its 10-year median of 8.07)
GF Value™: $102.44 vs. price of $147.25 (43.7% above fair value)
Industry Position: 75.3% below the Transportation median (#859 of 980)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ARCB stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
ArcBest Corp is an integrated logistics company that leverages technology and a full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers' supply chain needs. The company has two reportable operating segments: Asset-Based, which generates maximum revenue, and Asset-Light. The Asset-Based segment's operations include national, inter-regional, and regional transportation of general commodities through standard, expedited, and guaranteed less-than-truckload services. The Asset-Light segment represents the company's offerings in ground expedite, intermodal, household goods moving, managed transportation, warehousing and distribution, and international freight transportation for air, ocean, and ground.
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