Curtiss-WrightCW -0.29%82 Operating Margin % is 17.56% as of Mar. 2026, which is 9% above its 10-year median of 16.04. GuruFocus rates CW with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $392.33 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 347 Aerospace & Defense companies, Curtiss-Wright ranks better than 84.44% 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.
Curtiss-Wright Operating Margin % Related Terms
Curtiss-Wright Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Curtiss-Wright'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.
CW vs FTAI, WWD, AXON: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Aerospace & Defense subindustry, Curtiss-Wright'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.
Curtiss-Wright Operating Margin % vs Aerospace & Defense Industry
For the Aerospace & Defense industry and Industrials sector, Curtiss-Wright's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Curtiss-Wright'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.
Curtiss-Wright'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.
Curtiss-Wright (CW) has a Operating Margin % of 17.56% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Curtiss-Wright and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 16.04. Over the past decade, Curtiss-Wright's Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.06 to 18.52. According to the industry distribution chart, Curtiss-Wright ranks #54 out of 347 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry, placing it in the top 15.6%.
Is Curtiss-Wright's Operating Margin % too high?
Curtiss-Wright's current Operating Margin % of 17.56% is near median its 10-year median of 16.04. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 14.06 to a high of 18.52. The Aerospace & Defense industry median Operating Margin % is 7.75. Curtiss-Wright's value of 17.56% is 126.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Curtiss-Wright ranks #54 out of 347 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Curtiss-Wright has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Curtiss-Wright's Operating Margin % compare to FTAI and WWD?
According to the Aerospace & Defense industry distribution chart, Curtiss-Wright ranks #54 out of 347 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Curtiss-Wright in the top 16% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.75. Curtiss-Wright's value of 17.56% is 126.6% above this benchmark. Historically, Curtiss-Wright's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.06 to 18.52 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 16.04 vs. the industry median of 7.75, Curtiss-Wright 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 an Aerospace & Defense company?
The median Operating Margin % among Aerospace & Defense companies is 7.75, based on 347 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. Curtiss-Wright's current Operating Margin % of 17.56% is 126.6% 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 Curtiss-Wright and its competitors. For the Aerospace & Defense industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.75 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Curtiss-Wright's current Operating Margin % is 17.56%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 16.04. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Curtiss-Wright stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Curtiss-Wright (CW) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $392.33, compared to a current price of $762.92 — trading 94.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 17.56%, which is near median its 10-year median of 16.04 and 126.6% above the Aerospace & Defense industry median of 7.75. Curtiss-Wright's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 6 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW), the current Operating Margin % is 17.56% 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 Curtiss-Wright (CW) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Curtiss-Wright stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $762.92 is trading 94.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $392.33.
GuruFocus considers Curtiss-Wright to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for CW:
Operating Margin %: 17.56% (near median its 10-year median of 16.04)
GF Value™: $392.33 vs. price of $762.92 (94.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 126.6% above the Aerospace & Defense median (#54 of 347)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CW stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation delivers engineered products and services to commercial, defence, power generation, and other industrial markets. It offers industrial vehicle components, control systems, weapons handling systems, pumps, valves, and other solutions. The company has three reportable segments based on the markets serviced: Naval & Power, which provides coolant pumps, power-dense compact motors, generators, secondary propulsion systems, pumps, pump seals, valves, control rod drive mechanisms, and fastening systems that also generate maximum revenue for the company; its other segments are Aerospace & Industrial and Defense Electronics. Geographically, the company generates its key revenue from the United States of America, followed by the United Kingdom and other countries.
82GF Score
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