Associated British FoodsLSE:ABF +0.21%83 Net Margin % is 4.70% as of Feb. 2026, which is 13% below its 10-year median of 5.42. GuruFocus rates LSE:ABF with a GF Score™ of 83/100 and a GF Value™ of £22.57 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,952 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Associated British Foods ranks better than 58.97% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Associated British Foods's Net Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
LSE:ABF'
s Net Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.26 Med: 5.42 Max: 7.8
Current: 4.89
LSE:ABF's Net Margin % is ranked better than 58.97% of 1952
companies
in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry
Industry Median: 3.51
vs LSE:ABF: 4.89
Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) Net Margin % Explanation
Although Net Income and Earnings-per-Share (EPS) are the most widely used parameter in measuring a company's profitability and valuation, it is the least reliable. The reason is that reported earnings can be manipulated easily by adjusting any numbers such as Depreciation, Depletion and Amotorization and non-recurring items.
But the long term trend of the net margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
Associated British Foods Net Margin % Related Terms
Associated British Foods Net 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 Packaged Foods subindustry, Associated British Foods's Net Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Net 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.
Associated British Foods Net Margin % vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry
For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Associated British Foods's Net Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Associated British Foods's Net 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.
Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) has a Net Margin % of 4.70% as of Feb. 2026. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on Associated British Foods and its competitors. This is 13% below median its historical median of 5.42. Over the past decade, Associated British Foods' Net Margin % has ranged from 3.26 to 7.80. According to the industry distribution chart, Associated British Foods ranks #801 out of 1952 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 41%.
Is Associated British Foods' Net Margin % too high?
Associated British Foods' current Net Margin % of 4.70% is 13% below median its 10-year median of 5.42. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.26 to a high of 7.80. The Consumer Packaged Goods industry median Net Margin % is 3.51. Associated British Foods' value of 4.70% is 33.9% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Associated British Foods ranks #801 out of 1952 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Associated British Foods has a GF Score™ of 83/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Associated British Foods' Net Margin % compare to KHC and GIS?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Associated British Foods ranks #801 out of 1952 companies for Net Margin %. This puts Associated British Foods in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Net Margin % is 3.51. Associated British Foods' value of 4.70% is 33.9% above this benchmark. Historically, Associated British Foods' own Net Margin % has ranged from 3.26 to 7.80 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 5.42 vs. the industry median of 3.51, Associated British Foods 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 Net Margin % for a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
The median Net Margin % among Consumer Packaged Goods companies is 3.51, based on 1,952 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Net Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Net Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Associated British Foods's current Net Margin % of 4.70% is 33.9% 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 Net Margin % mean?
A high Net Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on Associated British Foods and its competitors. For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, the median Net Margin % is 3.51 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Associated British Foods's current Net Margin % is 4.70%, which is 13% below median its own 10-year median of 5.42. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Associated British Foods stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £22.57, compared to a current price of £18.85 — trading 16.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Net Margin % is 4.70%, which is 13% below median its 10-year median of 5.42 and 33.9% above the Consumer Packaged Goods industry median of 3.51. Associated British Foods' overall GF Score™ is 83/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Net Margin % calculated?
Net Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF), the current Net Margin % is 4.70% 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 Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Associated British Foods stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of £18.85 is trading 16.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of £22.57.
GuruFocus considers Associated British Foods to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for LSE:ABF:
Net Margin %: 4.70% (13% below median its 10-year median of 5.42)
GF Value™: £22.57 vs. price of £18.85 (16.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 33.9% above the Consumer Packaged Goods median (#801 of 1952)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LSE:ABF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Associated British Foods is a diversified international food, ingredients, and retail group with 138,000 employees and operations in 56 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. The group sells branded groceries, grows and processes sugar, supplies farmers with crop input and animal feed, and runs the multinational Primark clothing retail chain. It also supplies ingredients like bakers' yeast, enzymes, lipids, and cereal specialties. In fiscal 2025, approximately 36% of sales came from the UK, and Primark accounted for around 60% of operating profit.On April 21, 2026, ABF announced it plans to separate Primark and the food businesses. Subject to approvals, the demerger is expected to become effective at the end of 2027.
83GF Score
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