Global Ship LeaseGSL -1.99%79 Gross Margin % is 52.14% as of Mar. 2026, which is 7% above its 10-year median of 48.91. GuruFocus rates GSL with a GF Score™ of 79/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.53 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 10 warning signs investors should review. Among 985 Transportation companies, Global Ship Lease ranks better than 88.43% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Global Ship Lease's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
GSL'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 42.98 Med: 48.91 Max: 55.82
Current: 52.31
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of Global Ship Lease was 55.82%. The lowest was 42.98%. And the median was 48.91%.
GSL's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 88.43% of 985
companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: 20.42
vs GSL: 52.31
Global Ship Lease had a gross margin of 52.14% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for Global Ship Lease was 4.10% per year.
Global Ship Lease (NYSE:GSL) 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
Global Ship Lease had a gross margin of 52.14% 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.
Global Ship Lease Gross Margin % Related Terms
Global Ship Lease Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Global Ship Lease'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 Marine Shipping subindustry, Global Ship Lease'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.
Global Ship Lease Gross Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Global Ship Lease's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Global Ship Lease'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.
Global Ship Lease (GSL) has a Gross Margin % of 52.14% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Global Ship Lease and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 48.91. Over the past decade, Global Ship Lease's Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.98 to 55.82. According to the industry distribution chart, Global Ship Lease ranks #114 out of 985 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 11.6%.
Is Global Ship Lease's Gross Margin % too high?
Global Ship Lease's current Gross Margin % of 52.14% is near median its 10-year median of 48.91. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 42.98 to a high of 55.82. The Transportation industry median Gross Margin % is 20.42. Global Ship Lease's value of 52.14% is 155.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Global Ship Lease ranks #114 out of 985 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Global Ship Lease has a GF Score™ of 79/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Global Ship Lease's Gross Margin % compare to CCEC and SFL?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, Global Ship Lease ranks #114 out of 985 companies for Gross Margin %. This places Global Ship Lease in the top 12% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Gross Margin % is 20.42. Global Ship Lease's value of 52.14% is 155.3% above this benchmark. Historically, Global Ship Lease's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.98 to 55.82 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 48.91 vs. the industry median of 20.42, Global Ship Lease 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 Transportation company?
The median Gross Margin % among Transportation companies is 20.42, based on 985 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. Global Ship Lease's current Gross Margin % of 52.14% is 155.3% 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 Global Ship Lease and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Gross Margin % is 20.42 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Global Ship Lease's current Gross Margin % is 52.14%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 48.91. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Global Ship Lease stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Global Ship Lease (GSL) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $25.53, compared to a current price of $37.92 — trading 48.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 52.14%, which is near median its 10-year median of 48.91 and 155.3% above the Transportation industry median of 20.42. Global Ship Lease's overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 10 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 Global Ship Lease (GSL), the current Gross Margin % is 52.14% 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 Global Ship Lease (GSL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Global Ship Lease stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $37.92 is trading 48.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $25.53.
GuruFocus considers Global Ship Lease to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for GSL:
Gross Margin %: 52.14% (near median its 10-year median of 48.91)
GF Value™: $25.53 vs. price of $37.92 (48.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 155.3% above the Transportation median (#114 of 985)
No single metric tells the full story. See the GSL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Global Ship Lease Inc is a containership owner, leasing ships to container shipping companies under industry-standard, fixed-rate time charters. Its fleet comprises mid-size Post-Panamax, Cypress, and smaller containerships, which tend to serve the faster-growing non-Mainlane and intra-regional trades, collectively representing the majority of the containerized trade volume globally. The company generates revenue from chartering its vessels to liner companies.
79GF Score
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