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.
America's Car-Mart Operating Margin % Related Terms
America's Car-Mart Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for America's Car-Mart'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.
CRMT vs SDA, NXB, UCAR: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Auto & Truck Dealerships subindustry, America's Car-Mart'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.
America's Car-Mart Operating Margin % vs Vehicles & Parts Industry
For the Vehicles & Parts industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, America's Car-Mart's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where America's Car-Mart'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.
America's Car-Mart's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Apr. 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.
America's Car-Mart (CRMT) has a Operating Margin % of -5.17% as of Jan. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on America's Car-Mart and its competitors. Over the past decade, America's Car-Mart's Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.31 to 15.62. According to the industry distribution chart, America's Car-Mart ranks #1004 out of 1325 companies in the Vehicles & Parts industry, placing it in the top 75.8%.
Is America's Car-Mart's Operating Margin % too high?
America's Car-Mart's current Operating Margin % is -5.17%. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.31 to a high of 15.62. Based on the distribution chart, America's Car-Mart ranks #1004 out of 1325 companies in the Vehicles & Parts industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, America's Car-Mart has a GF Score™ of 53/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does America's Car-Mart's Operating Margin % compare to SDA and NXB?
According to the Vehicles & Parts industry distribution chart, America's Car-Mart ranks #1004 out of 1325 companies for Operating Margin %. This places America's Car-Mart in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 4.86. Historically, America's Car-Mart's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.31 to 15.62 over the past decade. 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. 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 America's Car-Mart 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. America's Car-Mart's current Operating Margin % is -5.17%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is America's Car-Mart stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, America's Car-Mart (CRMT) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $43.27, compared to a current price of $3.57 — trading 91.7% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -5.17%. America's Car-Mart's overall GF Score™ is 53/100 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 America's Car-Mart (CRMT), the current Operating Margin % is -5.17% as of Jan. 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 America's Car-Mart (CRMT) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, America's Car-Mart stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $3.57 is trading 91.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of $43.27.
GuruFocus considers America's Car-Mart to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CRMT:
Operating Margin %: -5.17%
GF Value™: $43.27 vs. price of $3.57 (91.7% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CRMT stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
America's Car-Mart Inc is an automotive retailer in the U.S. focused exclusively on the Integrated Auto Sales and Finance segment of the used car market. The company's operations are principally conducted through its two operating subsidiaries, America's Car Mart Inc and Colonial Auto Finance. It predominantly sells older model used vehicles and provides financing for substantially all of its customers. It earns revenue from the sale of used vehicles and, in the majority of cases, a related service contract and an accident protection plan product, as well as interest income and late fees from the related financing.
53GF Score
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