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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.
Avalon Holdings Operating Margin % Related Terms
Avalon Holdings Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Avalon Holdings'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.
AWX vs AQMS, OCLN, CDTG: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Waste Management subindustry, Avalon Holdings'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.
Avalon Holdings Operating Margin % vs Waste Management Industry
For the Waste Management industry and Industrials sector, Avalon Holdings's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Avalon Holdings'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.
Avalon Holdings'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.
Avalon Holdings (AWX) has a Operating Margin % of -4.17% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Avalon Holdings and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Avalon Holdings ranks #146 out of 237 companies in the Waste Management industry, placing it in the top 61.6%.
Is Avalon Holdings' Operating Margin % too high?
Avalon Holdings' current Operating Margin % is -4.17%. Based on the distribution chart, Avalon Holdings ranks #146 out of 237 companies in the Waste Management industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Avalon Holdings has a GF Score™ of 67/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Avalon Holdings' Operating Margin % compare to AQMS and OCLN?
According to the Waste Management industry distribution chart, Avalon Holdings ranks #146 out of 237 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Avalon Holdings in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.61. 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 Waste Management company?
The median Operating Margin % among Waste Management companies is 6.61, based on 237 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. 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 Avalon Holdings and its competitors. For the Waste Management industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.61 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Avalon Holdings's current Operating Margin % is -4.17%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Avalon Holdings stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Avalon Holdings (AWX) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $2.59, compared to a current price of $2.58 — trading 0.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -4.17%. Avalon Holdings' overall GF Score™ is 67/100 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 Avalon Holdings (AWX), the current Operating Margin % is -4.17% as of Mar. 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 Avalon Holdings (AWX) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Avalon Holdings stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $2.58 is trading 0.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of $2.59.
GuruFocus considers Avalon Holdings to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for AWX:
Operating Margin %: -4.17%
GF Value™: $2.59 vs. price of $2.58 (0.4% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the AWX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Avalon Holdings Corp is a waste management company. The company provides waste management services to industrial, commercial, municipal, and governmental customers in selected northeastern and midwestern U.S. markets. The company has two operating segments. The Waste management services segment, which is the key revenue driver, provides hazardous and non-hazardous brokerage and management services to industrial, commercial, municipal, and governmental customers, captive landfill management for an industrial customer, and saltwater injection well operations. Its Golf and related operations segment consists of four golf courses and associated clubhouses, which provide dining and banquet facilities, a hotel which provides lodging and resort-related amenities.
67GF Score
Get the complete analysis for AWX
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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