National Presto IndustriesNPK -0.70%76 Gross Margin % is 14.73% as of Mar. 2026, which is 32% below its 10-year median of 21.78. GuruFocus rates NPK with a GF Score™ of 76/100 and a GF Value™ of $121.65 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 342 Aerospace & Defense companies, National Presto Industries ranks worse than 76.9% on this metric.
National Presto Industries (NYSE:NPK) 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
National Presto Industries had a gross margin of 14.73% 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.
National Presto Industries Gross Margin % Related Terms
National Presto Industries Gross Margin % Historical Data
* 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 Aerospace & Defense subindustry, National Presto Industries'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.
National Presto Industries Gross Margin % vs Aerospace & Defense Industry
For the Aerospace & Defense industry and Industrials sector, National Presto Industries's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where National Presto Industries'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.
National Presto Industries (NPK) has a Gross Margin % of 14.73% as of Mar. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on National Presto Industries and its competitors. This is 32% below median its historical median of 21.78. Over the past decade, National Presto Industries' Gross Margin % has ranged from 15.37 to 26.15. According to the industry distribution chart, National Presto Industries ranks #263 out of 342 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry, placing it in the top 76.9%.
Is National Presto Industries' Gross Margin % too high?
National Presto Industries' current Gross Margin % of 14.73% is 32% below median its 10-year median of 21.78. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 15.37 to a high of 26.15. The Aerospace & Defense industry median Gross Margin % is 26.65. National Presto Industries' value of 14.73% is 44.7% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, National Presto Industries ranks #263 out of 342 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, National Presto Industries has a GF Score™ of 76/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does National Presto Industries' Gross Margin % compare to MRLN and EH?
According to the Aerospace & Defense industry distribution chart, National Presto Industries ranks #263 out of 342 companies for Gross Margin %. This places National Presto Industries in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 26.65. National Presto Industries' value of 14.73% is 44.7% below this benchmark. Historically, National Presto Industries' own Gross Margin % has ranged from 15.37 to 26.15 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 21.78 vs. the industry median of 26.65, National Presto Industries 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 an Aerospace & Defense company?
The median Gross Margin % among Aerospace & Defense companies is 26.65, based on 342 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. National Presto Industries's current Gross Margin % of 14.73% is 44.7% 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 National Presto Industries and its competitors. For the Aerospace & Defense industry, the median Gross Margin % is 26.65 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. National Presto Industries's current Gross Margin % is 14.73%, which is 32% below median its own 10-year median of 21.78. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is National Presto Industries stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, National Presto Industries (NPK) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $121.65, compared to a current price of $125.99 — trading 3.6% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 14.73%, which is 32% below median its 10-year median of 21.78 and 44.7% below the Aerospace & Defense industry median of 26.65. National Presto Industries' overall GF Score™ is 76/100 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 National Presto Industries (NPK), the current Gross Margin % is 14.73% 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 National Presto Industries (NPK) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, National Presto Industries stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $125.99 is trading 3.6% above its estimated GF Value™ of $121.65.
GuruFocus considers National Presto Industries to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for NPK:
Gross Margin %: 14.73% (32% below median its 10-year median of 21.78)
GF Value™: $121.65 vs. price of $125.99 (3.6% above fair value)
Industry Position: 44.7% below the Aerospace & Defense median (#263 of 342)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NPK stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
National Presto Industries Inc has an electric product portfolio consisting of household appliances, ammunition, and diapers. The company operates in three segments, namely Defense, Housewares/Small Appliance, and Safety. The defense segment, which is engaged in manufacturing 40mm ammunition, precision mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies, and medium caliber cartridge cases, performs Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) operations on ordnance-related products for the U.S. Government and prime contractor. While the Housewares/Small Appliance segment designs, markets, and distributes housewares and small electrical appliances, the safety segment provides safety technology empowering organizations and individuals to protect what is more important.
76GF Score
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