Cousins PropertiesCUZ -0.59%72 Operating Margin % is 22.91% as of Mar. 2026, which is 1% above its 10-year median of 22.61. GuruFocus rates CUZ with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of $27.75 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 12 warning signs investors should review. Among 750 REITs companies, Cousins Properties ranks worse than 79.73% 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.
Cousins Properties Operating Margin % Related Terms
Cousins Properties Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Cousins Properties'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.
CUZ vs KRC, CDP, SLG: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the REIT - Office subindustry, Cousins Properties'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.
Cousins Properties Operating Margin % vs REITs Industry
For the REITs industry and Real Estate sector, Cousins Properties's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Cousins Properties'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.
Cousins Properties'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.
Cousins Properties (CUZ) has a Operating Margin % of 22.91% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Cousins Properties and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 22.61. Over the past decade, Cousins Properties' Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.95 to 23.61. According to the industry distribution chart, Cousins Properties ranks #598 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, placing it in the top 79.7%.
Is Cousins Properties' Operating Margin % too high?
Cousins Properties' current Operating Margin % of 22.91% is near median its 10-year median of 22.61. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 14.95 to a high of 23.61. The REITs industry median Operating Margin % is 52.67. Cousins Properties' value of 22.91% is 56.5% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Cousins Properties ranks #598 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Cousins Properties has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Cousins Properties' Operating Margin % compare to KRC and CDP?
According to the REITs industry distribution chart, Cousins Properties ranks #598 out of 750 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Cousins Properties in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 52.67. Cousins Properties' value of 22.91% is 56.5% below this benchmark. Historically, Cousins Properties' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.95 to 23.61 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 22.61 vs. the industry median of 52.67, Cousins Properties has consistently been below 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 REITs company?
The median Operating Margin % among REITs companies is 52.67, based on 750 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. Cousins Properties's current Operating Margin % of 22.91% is 56.5% below 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 Cousins Properties and its competitors. For the REITs industry, the median Operating Margin % is 52.67 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Cousins Properties's current Operating Margin % is 22.91%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 22.61. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Cousins Properties stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cousins Properties (CUZ) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $27.75, compared to a current price of $28.69 — trading 3.4% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 22.91%, which is near median its 10-year median of 22.61 and 56.5% below the REITs industry median of 52.67. Cousins Properties' overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 12 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 Cousins Properties (CUZ), the current Operating Margin % is 22.91% 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 Cousins Properties (CUZ) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cousins Properties stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $28.69 is trading 3.4% above its estimated GF Value™ of $27.75.
GuruFocus considers Cousins Properties to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for CUZ:
Operating Margin %: 22.91% (near median its 10-year median of 22.61)
GF Value™: $27.75 vs. price of $28.69 (3.4% above fair value)
Industry Position: 56.5% below the REITs median (#598 of 750)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CUZ stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Cousins Properties Inc is a real estate investment trust principally involved in the ownership, management, and development of properties in the Southern United States. Cousins Properties' real estate portfolio mainly comprises offices and mixed-use developments that encompass both apartment and retail space. Offices make up the vast majority of the portfolio in terms of total square footage. The segments operates in following geographical areas: Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, and other markets. The company derives nearly all of its revenue in the form of rental income from its properties, the majority of which comes from its office locations. A diverse set of tenants in the cities of Houston and Atlanta represent the company's key markets.
72GF Score
Get the complete analysis for CUZ
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
CUZ has been successfully added to your 
