Avis Budget Group Inc has recorded a loss in operating income at least once over the past 3 years.
Avis Budget Group (NAS:CAR) Operating Margin % Explanation
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.
Avis Budget Group Operating Margin % Related Terms
Avis Budget Group Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Avis Budget Group'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.
CAR vs GATX, EQPT, WSC: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Rental & Leasing Services subindustry, Avis Budget Group'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.
Avis Budget Group Operating Margin % vs Business Services Industry
For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, Avis Budget Group's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Avis Budget Group'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.
Avis Budget Group'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.
Avis Budget Group (CAR) has a Operating Margin % of -7.24% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Avis Budget Group and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Avis Budget Group ranks #617 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 57.7%.
Is Avis Budget Group's Operating Margin % too high?
Avis Budget Group's current Operating Margin % is -7.24%. Based on the distribution chart, Avis Budget Group ranks #617 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Avis Budget Group has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Avis Budget Group's Operating Margin % compare to GATX and EQPT?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, Avis Budget Group ranks #617 out of 1070 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Avis Budget Group in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.28. 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 Business Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Business Services companies is 6.28, based on 1,070 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 Avis Budget Group and its competitors. For the Business Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.28 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Avis Budget Group's current Operating Margin % is -7.24%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Avis Budget Group stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Avis Budget Group (CAR) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $131.02, compared to a current price of $177.23 — trading 35.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -7.24%. Avis Budget Group's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 9 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 Avis Budget Group (CAR), the current Operating Margin % is -7.24% 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 Avis Budget Group (CAR) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Avis Budget Group stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $177.23 is trading 35.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $131.02.
GuruFocus considers Avis Budget Group to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for CAR:
Operating Margin %: -7.24%
GF Value™: $131.02 vs. price of $177.23 (35.3% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CAR stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Avis Budget Group Inc is a provider of mobility solutions through its three brands Avis, Budget and Zipcar, as well as several other brands, well recognized in their respective markets. Its brands offer a range of options, from car and truck rental to car sharing. The company operates in two reportable business segments: Americas - (i) vehicle rental operations in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, (ii) car sharing operations in certain of these markets, and (iii) licensees in the areas in which do not operate directly. International - consisting of (i) vehicle rental operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia, (ii) car sharing operations in certain of these markets, and (iii) licensees in the areas in which do not operate directly.
71GF Score
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