WH SmithWHTPF -8.03%55 Gross Margin % is 54.55% as of Feb. 2026, which is 8% below its 10-year median of 59.50. GuruFocus rates WHTPF with a GF Score™ of 55/100 and a GF Value™ of $22.29. The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,117 Retail - Cyclical companies, WH Smith ranks better than 82.54% on this metric.
Gross Margin % is calculated as gross profit divided by its revenue. WH Smith's Gross Profit for the
six
months ended in Feb. 2026 was $554 Mil. WH Smith's Revenue for the
six
months ended in Feb. 2026 was $1,016 Mil. Therefore, WH Smith's Gross Margin % for the quarter that ended in Feb. 2026 was 54.55%.
The historical rank and industry rank for WH Smith's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
WHTPF'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 56.78 Med: 59.5 Max: 61.96
Current: 56.78
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of WH Smith was 61.96%. The lowest was 56.78%. And the median was 59.50%.
WHTPF's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 82.54% of 1117
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 36.23
vs WHTPF: 56.78
WH Smith had a gross margin of 54.55% for the quarter that ended in Feb. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for WH Smith was -0.10% per year.
WH Smith (OTCPK:WHTPF) 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
WH Smith had a gross margin of 54.55% for the quarter that ended in Feb. 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.
WH Smith Gross Margin % Related Terms
WH Smith Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for WH Smith'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.
WHTPF vs CASY, WSM, ULTA: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Retail subindustry, WH Smith'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.
WH Smith Gross Margin % vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, WH Smith's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where WH Smith'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.
WH Smith (WHTPF) has a Gross Margin % of 54.55% as of Feb. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on WH Smith and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 59.50. Over the past decade, WH Smith's Gross Margin % has ranged from 56.78 to 61.96. According to the industry distribution chart, WH Smith ranks #195 out of 1117 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 17.5%.
Is WH Smith's Gross Margin % too high?
WH Smith's current Gross Margin % of 54.55% is near median its 10-year median of 59.50. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 56.78 to a high of 61.96. The Retail - Cyclical industry median Gross Margin % is 36.23. WH Smith's value of 54.55% is 50.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, WH Smith ranks #195 out of 1117 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, WH Smith has a GF Score™ of 55/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does WH Smith's Gross Margin % compare to CASY and WSM?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, WH Smith ranks #195 out of 1117 companies for Gross Margin %. This places WH Smith in the top 18% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Gross Margin % is 36.23. WH Smith's value of 54.55% is 50.6% above this benchmark. Historically, WH Smith's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 56.78 to 61.96 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 59.50 vs. the industry median of 36.23, WH Smith 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 Retail - Cyclical company?
The median Gross Margin % among Retail - Cyclical companies is 36.23, based on 1,117 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. WH Smith's current Gross Margin % of 54.55% is 50.6% 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 WH Smith and its competitors. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median Gross Margin % is 36.23 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. WH Smith's current Gross Margin % is 54.55%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 59.50. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is WH Smith stock overvalued right now?
WH Smith (WHTPF) has a current Gross Margin % of 54.55%. The stock's GF Value™ is $22.29, compared to a current price of $7.44 — trading 66.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 54.55%, which is near median its 10-year median of 59.50 and 50.6% above the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 36.23. WH Smith's overall GF Score™ is 55/100 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 WH Smith (WHTPF), the current Gross Margin % is 54.55% as of Feb. 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 WH Smith (WHTPF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, WH Smith stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $7.44 is trading 66.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of $22.29.
Key valuation signals for WHTPF:
Gross Margin %: 54.55% (near median its 10-year median of 59.50)
GF Value™: $22.29 vs. price of $7.44 (66.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 50.6% above the Retail - Cyclical median (#195 of 1117)
No single metric tells the full story. See the WHTPF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
WH Smith PLC is a travel retailer providing travel essentials through stores in high-footfall transport hubs, operating as a pure-play travel retail business following the sale of its High Street operations. The Company offers a broad portfolio of products and services, including books and magazines, food-to-go, beverages, health and beauty items, travel and technology accessories, and selected partner services. Its operations are organised into three segments: the UK, which generates the majority of revenue and operates stores across airports, hospitals, railway stations, and service areas; North America, with stores mainly in airports and a Resorts business in Las Vegas; and the Rest of the World.
55GF Score
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