CarGurusCARG +2.50%84 Operating Margin % is 24.34% as of Mar. 2026, which is 120% above its 10-year median of 11.07. GuruFocus rates CARG with a GF Score™ of 84/100 and a GF Value™ of $40.21 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,325 Vehicles & Parts companies, CarGurus ranks better than 98.26% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. CarGurus's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $59.3 Mil. CarGurus's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $243.6 Mil. Therefore, CarGurus's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 24.34%.
Good Sign:
CarGurus Inc operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for CarGurus's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
CARG'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 4.33 Med: 11.07 Max: 27.93
Current: 27.93
CARG's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 98.26% of 1325
companies
in the Vehicles & Parts industry
Industry Median: 4.86
vs CARG: 27.93
CarGurus's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 12.10% per year.
CarGurus's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $59.3 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $258.5 Mil.
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.
CarGurus Operating Margin % Related Terms
CarGurus Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for CarGurus'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.
CARG vs SAH, MCW, DRVN: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Auto & Truck Dealerships subindustry, CarGurus'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.
CarGurus Operating Margin % vs Vehicles & Parts Industry
For the Vehicles & Parts industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, CarGurus's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where CarGurus'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.
CarGurus'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.
CarGurus (CARG) has a Operating Margin % of 24.34% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on CarGurus and its competitors. This is 120% above median its historical median of 11.07. Over the past decade, CarGurus' Operating Margin % has ranged from 4.33 to 27.93. According to the industry distribution chart, CarGurus ranks #23 out of 1325 companies in the Vehicles & Parts industry, placing it in the top 1.7%.
Is CarGurus' Operating Margin % too high?
CarGurus' current Operating Margin % of 24.34% is 120% above median its 10-year median of 11.07. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 4.33 to a high of 27.93. The Vehicles & Parts industry median Operating Margin % is 4.86. CarGurus' value of 24.34% is 400.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, CarGurus ranks #23 out of 1325 companies in the Vehicles & Parts industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, CarGurus has a GF Score™ of 84/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does CarGurus' Operating Margin % compare to SAH and MCW?
According to the Vehicles & Parts industry distribution chart, CarGurus ranks #23 out of 1325 companies for Operating Margin %. This places CarGurus in the top 2% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 4.86. CarGurus' value of 24.34% is 400.8% above this benchmark. Historically, CarGurus' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 4.33 to 27.93 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.07 vs. the industry median of 4.86, CarGurus 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 Vehicles & Parts company?
The median Operating Margin % among Vehicles & Parts companies is 4.86, based on 1,325 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. CarGurus's current Operating Margin % of 24.34% is 400.8% 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 CarGurus and its competitors. For the Vehicles & Parts industry, the median Operating Margin % is 4.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. CarGurus's current Operating Margin % is 24.34%, which is 120% above median its own 10-year median of 11.07. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is CarGurus stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, CarGurus (CARG) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $40.21, compared to a current price of $31.20 — trading 22.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 24.34%, which is 120% above median its 10-year median of 11.07 and 400.8% above the Vehicles & Parts industry median of 4.86. CarGurus' overall GF Score™ is 84/100 with 3 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 CarGurus (CARG), the current Operating Margin % is 24.34% 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 CarGurus (CARG) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, CarGurus stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $31.20 is trading 22.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of $40.21.
GuruFocus considers CarGurus to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CARG:
Operating Margin %: 24.34% (120% above median its 10-year median of 11.07)
GF Value™: $40.21 vs. price of $31.20 (22.4% below fair value)
Industry Position: 400.8% above the Vehicles & Parts median (#23 of 1325)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CARG stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
CarGurus Inc is a company that acts as an online automotive marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new and used cars. It provides three types of marketplace Listing products, Restricted Listings, and Enhanced or Featured Listings, through which it offers real-time and historical data analyzing the connections and pricing analysis. The listing platforms offer auto manufacturers and others to buy advertising on the company's site and target consumers based on the make, model, and zip code of the cars. The company operates through two segments, namely U.S. Marketplace and Digital Wholesale. It generates maximum revenue from the U.S. Marketplace segment. Geographically, the company derives its key revenue from the United States and the rest from international markets.
84GF Score
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