Donaldson CoDCI +1.69%94 Operating Margin % is 15.61% as of Apr. 2026, which is 14% above its 10-year median of 13.65. GuruFocus rates DCI with a GF Score™ of 94/100 and a GF Value™ of $81.11 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 3,038 Industrial Products companies, Donaldson Co ranks better than 82.29% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Donaldson Co's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Apr. 2026 was $155 Mil. Donaldson Co's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Apr. 2026 was $995 Mil. Therefore, Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 15.61%.
Good Sign:
Donaldson Co Inc operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
DCI'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 12.35 Med: 13.65 Max: 15.17
Current: 14.89
DCI's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 82.29% of 3038
companies
in the Industrial Products industry
Industry Median: 6.53
vs DCI: 14.89
Donaldson Co's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 3.10% per year.
Donaldson Co's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Apr. 2026 was $155 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Apr. 2026 was $567 Mil.
Donaldson Co (NYSE:DCI) 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.
Donaldson Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Donaldson Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Donaldson Co'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.
DCI vs FLS, GTLS, WTS: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Industrial Machinery subindustry, Donaldson Co'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.
Donaldson Co Operating Margin % vs Industrial Products Industry
For the Industrial Products industry and Industrials sector, Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Donaldson Co'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.
Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jul. 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.
Donaldson Co (DCI) has a Operating Margin % of 15.61% as of Apr. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Donaldson Co and its competitors. This is 14% above median its historical median of 13.65. Over the past decade, Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 12.35 to 15.17. According to the industry distribution chart, Donaldson Co ranks #538 out of 3038 companies in the Industrial Products industry, placing it in the top 17.7%.
Is Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Donaldson Co's current Operating Margin % of 15.61% is 14% above median its 10-year median of 13.65. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 12.35 to a high of 15.17. The Industrial Products industry median Operating Margin % is 6.53. Donaldson Co's value of 15.61% is 139.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Donaldson Co ranks #538 out of 3038 companies in the Industrial Products industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Donaldson Co has a GF Score™ of 94/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Donaldson Co's Operating Margin % compare to FLS and GTLS?
According to the Industrial Products industry distribution chart, Donaldson Co ranks #538 out of 3038 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Donaldson Co in the top 18% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.53. Donaldson Co's value of 15.61% is 139.1% above this benchmark. Historically, Donaldson Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 12.35 to 15.17 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 13.65 vs. the industry median of 6.53, Donaldson Co 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 Industrial Products company?
The median Operating Margin % among Industrial Products companies is 6.53, based on 3,038 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. Donaldson Co's current Operating Margin % of 15.61% is 139.1% 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 Donaldson Co and its competitors. For the Industrial Products industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.53 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Donaldson Co's current Operating Margin % is 15.61%, which is 14% above median its own 10-year median of 13.65. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Donaldson Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Donaldson Co (DCI) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $81.11, compared to a current price of $86.07 — trading 6.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 15.61%, which is 14% above median its 10-year median of 13.65 and 139.1% above the Industrial Products industry median of 6.53. Donaldson Co's overall GF Score™ is 94/100 with 1 warning sign 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 Donaldson Co (DCI), the current Operating Margin % is 15.61% as of Apr. 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 Donaldson Co (DCI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Donaldson Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $86.07 is trading 6.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $81.11.
GuruFocus considers Donaldson Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for DCI:
Operating Margin %: 15.61% (14% above median its 10-year median of 13.65)
GF Value™: $81.11 vs. price of $86.07 (6.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 139.1% above the Industrial Products median (#538 of 3038)
No single metric tells the full story. See the DCI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Donaldson is a leading manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts, including air filtration systems, liquid filtration systems, and dust, fume, and mist collectors. The company serves a diverse range of end markets, including construction, mining, agriculture, truck, and industrial. Its business is organized into three segments: mobile solutions, industrial solutions, and life sciences. Donaldson generated approximately $3.7 billion in revenue in its fiscal 2025.
94GF Score
Get the complete analysis for DCI
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
DCI has been successfully added to your 
