ESCO TechnologiesESE +1.00%82 Gross Margin % is 42.45% as of Mar. 2026, which is 10% above its 10-year median of 38.67. GuruFocus rates ESE with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $186.21 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,450 Hardware companies, ESCO Technologies ranks better than 79.14% on this metric.
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
ESCO Technologies had a gross margin of 42.45% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable 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.
ESCO Technologies Gross Margin % Related Terms
ESCO Technologies Gross Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for ESCO Technologies'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.
For the Scientific & Technical Instruments subindustry, ESCO Technologies'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.
ESCO Technologies Gross Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, ESCO Technologies's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where ESCO Technologies'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.
ESCO Technologies (ESE) has a Gross Margin % of 42.45% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on ESCO Technologies and its competitors. This is 10% above median its historical median of 38.67. Over the past decade, ESCO Technologies' Gross Margin % has ranged from 36.29 to 42.28. According to the industry distribution chart, ESCO Technologies ranks #511 out of 2450 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 20.9%.
Is ESCO Technologies' Gross Margin % too high?
ESCO Technologies' current Gross Margin % of 42.45% is 10% above median its 10-year median of 38.67. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 36.29 to a high of 42.28. The Hardware industry median Gross Margin % is 24.53. ESCO Technologies' value of 42.45% is 73.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, ESCO Technologies ranks #511 out of 2450 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, ESCO Technologies has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does ESCO Technologies' Gross Margin % compare to ST and NOVT?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, ESCO Technologies ranks #511 out of 2450 companies for Gross Margin %. This places ESCO Technologies in the top 21% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Gross Margin % is 24.53. ESCO Technologies' value of 42.45% is 73.1% above this benchmark. Historically, ESCO Technologies' own Gross Margin % has ranged from 36.29 to 42.28 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 38.67 vs. the industry median of 24.53, ESCO Technologies has consistently been above 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 Hardware company?
The median Gross Margin % among Hardware companies is 24.53, based on 2,450 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. ESCO Technologies's current Gross Margin % of 42.45% is 73.1% above 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 ESCO Technologies and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Gross Margin % is 24.53 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. ESCO Technologies's current Gross Margin % is 42.45%, which is 10% above median its own 10-year median of 38.67. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is ESCO Technologies stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ESCO Technologies (ESE) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $186.21, compared to a current price of $346.51 — trading 86.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 42.45%, which is 10% above median its 10-year median of 38.67 and 73.1% above the Hardware industry median of 24.53. ESCO Technologies' overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 7 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 ESCO Technologies (ESE), the current Gross Margin % is 42.45% 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 ESCO Technologies (ESE) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ESCO Technologies stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $346.51 is trading 86.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $186.21.
GuruFocus considers ESCO Technologies to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for ESE:
Gross Margin %: 42.45% (10% above median its 10-year median of 38.67)
GF Value™: $186.21 vs. price of $346.51 (86.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 73.1% above the Hardware median (#511 of 2450)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ESE stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
ESCO Technologies Inc sells engineered products and systems for utility, industrial, aerospace, and commercial applications. The firm operates in three segments: Aerospace & Defense (A&D), Utility Solutions Group (USG), and RF Test & Measurement (Test). The Aerospace and Defense segment designs and manufactures specialty filtration and naval products. The USG segment provides diagnostic testing solutions. The Test segment provides its customers with the ability to identify, measure, and contain magnetic, electromagnetic, and acoustic energy.
82GF Score
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