Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
ACI WorldwideACIW -0.79%82 Operating Margin % is 10.37% as of Jun. 2026, which is 23% below its 10-year median of 13.41. GuruFocus rates ACIW with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $51.28 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,825 Software companies, ACI Worldwide ranks better than 86.55% on this metric.
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
ACI Worldwide Operating Margin % Related Terms
ACI Worldwide Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for ACI Worldwide's Operating 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.
ACIW vs PATH, DOX, WEX: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Software - Infrastructure subindustry, ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating 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.
ACI Worldwide Operating Margin % vs Software Industry
For the Software industry and Technology sector, ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* 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.
ACI Worldwide (ACIW) has a Operating Margin % of 10.37% as of Jun. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on ACI Worldwide and its competitors. This is 23% below median its historical median of 13.41. Over the past decade, ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % has ranged from 6.93 to 19.33. According to the industry distribution chart, ACI Worldwide ranks #380 out of 2825 companies in the Software industry, placing it in the top 13.5%.
Is ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % too high?
ACI Worldwide's current Operating Margin % of 10.37% is 23% below median its 10-year median of 13.41. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 6.93 to a high of 19.33. The Software industry median Operating Margin % is 3.95. ACI Worldwide's value of 10.37% is 162.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, ACI Worldwide ranks #380 out of 2825 companies in the Software industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, ACI Worldwide has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does ACI Worldwide's Operating Margin % compare to PATH and DOX?
According to the Software industry distribution chart, ACI Worldwide ranks #380 out of 2825 companies for Operating Margin %. This places ACI Worldwide in the top 14% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.95. ACI Worldwide's value of 10.37% is 162.5% above this benchmark. Historically, ACI Worldwide's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 6.93 to 19.33 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 13.41 vs. the industry median of 3.95, ACI Worldwide 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 Operating Margin % for a Software company?
The median Operating Margin % among Software companies is 3.95, based on 2,825 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. ACI Worldwide's current Operating Margin % of 10.37% is 162.5% 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 Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on ACI Worldwide and its competitors. For the Software industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.95 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. ACI Worldwide's current Operating Margin % is 10.37%, which is 23% below median its own 10-year median of 13.41. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is ACI Worldwide stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ACI Worldwide (ACIW) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $51.28, compared to a current price of $51.58 — trading 0.6% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 10.37%, which is 23% below median its 10-year median of 13.41 and 162.5% above the Software industry median of 3.95. ACI Worldwide's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For ACI Worldwide (ACIW), the current Operating Margin % is 10.37% 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 ACI Worldwide (ACIW) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, ACI Worldwide stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $51.58 is trading 0.6% above its estimated GF Value™ of $51.28.
GuruFocus considers ACI Worldwide to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for ACIW:
Operating Margin %: 10.37% (23% below median its 10-year median of 13.41)
GF Value™: $51.28 vs. price of $51.58 (0.6% above fair value)
Industry Position: 162.5% above the Software median (#380 of 2825)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ACIW stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
ACI Worldwide Inc develops, markets, and installs a portfolio of software products focused on facilitating electronic payments. The firm's products are sold and supported directly and through distribution networks covering three geographic regions - the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. ACI software products process payment transactions for retail banking clients, billers such as utilities and healthcare providers, and community banks and credit unions. ACI's customers are financial institutions all over the world, but the majority of the revenue is generated in the United States and EMEA regions. The company's operating segment includes Payment Software and Biller. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Payment Software segment.
82GF Score
Get the complete analysis for ACIW
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
ACIW has been successfully added to your 
