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Research Frontiers (NAS:REFR) 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
Research Frontiers had a gross margin of N/A% for the quarter that ended in Jun. 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.
Research Frontiers Gross Margin % Related Terms
Research Frontiers Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Research Frontiers'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.
REFR vs WETH, NEON, MTEK: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Electronic Components subindustry, Research Frontiers'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.
Research Frontiers Gross Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Research Frontiers's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Research Frontiers'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.
Research Frontiers (REFR) has a Gross Margin % of 0.00% as of Jun. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Research Frontiers and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Research Frontiers ranks #999999 out of 2454 companies in the Hardware industry.
Is Research Frontiers' Gross Margin % too high?
Research Frontiers' current Gross Margin % is 0.00%. Based on the distribution chart, Research Frontiers ranks #999999 out of 2454 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Research Frontiers has a GF Score™ of 28/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Research Frontiers' Gross Margin % compare to WETH and NEON?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Research Frontiers ranks #999999 out of 2454 companies for Gross Margin %. This places Research Frontiers in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 24.52. 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 24.52, based on 2,454 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. 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 Research Frontiers and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Gross Margin % is 24.52 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Research Frontiers's current Gross Margin % is 0.00%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Research Frontiers stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Research Frontiers (REFR) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $0.81, compared to a current price of $0.43 — trading 46.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 0.00%. Research Frontiers' overall GF Score™ is 28/100 with 5 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 Research Frontiers (REFR), the current Gross Margin % is 0.00% as of Jun. 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 Research Frontiers (REFR) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Research Frontiers stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $0.43 is trading 46.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of $0.81.
GuruFocus considers Research Frontiers to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for REFR:
Gross Margin %: 0.00%
GF Value™: $0.81 vs. price of $0.43 (46.6% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the REFR stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Research Frontiers Inc is engaged in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light. The company develops and licenses its patented suspended particle device light-control technology to other companies that manufacture and market the SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, the light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, the light-control panels made by laminating the film, electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, or lamination services for, and the end-products. The company's revenue source comes from the licensing of technology.
28GF Score
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