The North West CoTSX:NWC +0.12%80 Net Margin % is 4.33% as of Apr. 2026, which is 17% below its 10-year median of 5.21. GuruFocus rates TSX:NWC with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of C$47.35 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 310 Retail - Defensive companies, The North West Co ranks better than 80.32% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for The North West Co's Net Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
TSX:NWC'
s Net Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.38 Med: 5.21 Max: 6.88
Current: 5.45
TSX:NWC's Net Margin % is ranked better than 80.32% of 310
companies
in the Retail - Defensive industry
Industry Median: 2.155
vs TSX:NWC: 5.45
The North West Co (TSX:NWC) 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.
The North West Co Net Margin % Related Terms
The North West Co Net Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for The North West Co's Net 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.
For the Grocery Stores subindustry, The North West Co'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.
The North West Co Net Margin % vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, The North West Co's Net Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where The North West Co'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.
The North West Co (TSX:NWC) has a Net Margin % of 4.33% as of Apr. 2026. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on The North West Co and its competitors. This is 17% below median its historical median of 5.21. Over the past decade, The North West Co's Net Margin % has ranged from 3.38 to 6.88. According to the industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #61 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 19.7%.
Is The North West Co's Net Margin % too high?
The North West Co's current Net Margin % of 4.33% is 17% below median its 10-year median of 5.21. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.38 to a high of 6.88. The Retail - Defensive industry median Net Margin % is 2.16. The North West Co's value of 4.33% is 100.9% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #61 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, The North West Co has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does The North West Co's Net Margin % compare to KR and SFM?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #61 out of 310 companies for Net Margin %. This places The North West Co in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Net Margin % is 2.16. The North West Co's value of 4.33% is 100.9% above this benchmark. Historically, The North West Co's own Net Margin % has ranged from 3.38 to 6.88 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 5.21 vs. the industry median of 2.16, The North West Co 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 Retail - Defensive company?
The median Net Margin % among Retail - Defensive companies is 2.16, based on 310 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. The North West Co's current Net Margin % of 4.33% is 100.9% 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 The North West Co and its competitors. For the Retail - Defensive industry, the median Net Margin % is 2.16 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. The North West Co's current Net Margin % is 4.33%, which is 17% below median its own 10-year median of 5.21. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is The North West Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co (TSX:NWC) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is C$47.35, compared to a current price of C$50.08 — trading 5.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Net Margin % is 4.33%, which is 17% below median its 10-year median of 5.21 and 100.9% above the Retail - Defensive industry median of 2.16. The North West Co's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 3 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 The North West Co (TSX:NWC), the current Net Margin % is 4.33% as of Apr. 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 The North West Co (TSX:NWC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of C$50.08 is trading 5.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of C$47.35.
GuruFocus considers The North West Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for TSX:NWC:
Net Margin %: 4.33% (17% below median its 10-year median of 5.21)
GF Value™: C$47.35 vs. price of C$50.08 (5.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 100.9% above the Retail - Defensive median (#61 of 310)
No single metric tells the full story. See the TSX:NWC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
The North West Co Inc is a retailer to rural and remote communities and underserved urban neighbourhood markets in Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. The Company offers a broad Multiple products and services with an emphasis on food, focusing on everyday household and local lifestyle needs. It operates as a retailer of food and everyday products and services through two geographical segments: Canadian and International. The Canadian segment generates maximum revenue and consists of subsidiaries operating retail stores and complementary businesses serving northern Canada, while the International segment consists of subsidiaries operating in the continental United States, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific.
80GF Score
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