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LightPath TechnologiesLPTH +4.14%44 Gross Margin % is 36.32% as of Mar. 2026, which is 1% above its 10-year median of 36.03. GuruFocus rates LPTH with a GF Score™ of 44/100 and a GF Value™ of $2.50 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,453 Hardware companies, LightPath Technologies ranks better than 64.57% 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
LightPath Technologies had a gross margin of 36.32% for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 => Competition eroding margins
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.
LightPath Technologies Gross Margin % Related Terms
LightPath Technologies Gross Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for LightPath 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.
LPTH vs KOPN, MEI, LYTS: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Electronic Components subindustry, LightPath 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.
LightPath Technologies Gross Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, LightPath Technologies's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where LightPath 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.
LightPath Technologies (LPTH) has a Gross Margin % of 36.32% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on LightPath Technologies and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 36.03. Over the past decade, LightPath Technologies' Gross Margin % has ranged from 27.20 to 53.87. According to the industry distribution chart, LightPath Technologies ranks #869 out of 2453 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 35.4%.
Is LightPath Technologies' Gross Margin % too high?
LightPath Technologies' current Gross Margin % of 36.32% is near median its 10-year median of 36.03. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 27.20 to a high of 53.87. The Hardware industry median Gross Margin % is 24.49. LightPath Technologies' value of 36.32% is 48.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, LightPath Technologies ranks #869 out of 2453 companies in the Hardware industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, LightPath Technologies has a GF Score™ of 44/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does LightPath Technologies' Gross Margin % compare to KOPN and MEI?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, LightPath Technologies ranks #869 out of 2453 companies for Gross Margin %. This puts LightPath Technologies in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 24.49. LightPath Technologies' value of 36.32% is 48.3% above this benchmark. Historically, LightPath Technologies' own Gross Margin % has ranged from 27.20 to 53.87 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 36.03 vs. the industry median of 24.49, LightPath 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 24.49, based on 2,453 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. LightPath Technologies's current Gross Margin % of 36.32% is 48.3% 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 LightPath Technologies and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Gross Margin % is 24.49 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. LightPath Technologies's current Gross Margin % is 36.32%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 36.03. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is LightPath Technologies stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, LightPath Technologies (LPTH) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $2.50, compared to a current price of $13.09 — trading 423.6% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 36.32%, which is near median its 10-year median of 36.03 and 48.3% above the Hardware industry median of 24.49. LightPath Technologies' overall GF Score™ is 44/100 with 3 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 LightPath Technologies (LPTH), the current Gross Margin % is 36.32% 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 LightPath Technologies (LPTH) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, LightPath Technologies stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $13.09 is trading 423.6% above its estimated GF Value™ of $2.50.
GuruFocus considers LightPath Technologies to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for LPTH:
Gross Margin %: 36.32% (near median its 10-year median of 36.03)
GF Value™: $2.50 vs. price of $13.09 (423.6% above fair value)
Industry Position: 48.3% above the Hardware median (#869 of 2453)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LPTH stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
LightPath Technologies Inc manufactures, distributes, and integrates proprietary optical components and assemblies. It develops optical solutions for traditional optics and communications markets. The company's products include precision molded optics and infrared products, serving markets such as distribution, laser, industrial, instrumentation, telecommunications, and defense. Its products are categorized as infrared components, visible components, assemblies and modules, and engineering services. G5 Infrared's revenue mainly comes from infrared components and assemblies.
44GF Score
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