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.
Elme Communities Operating Margin % Related Terms
Elme Communities Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Elme Communities'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.
ELME vs FREVS, BRT, MRTI: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the REIT - Residential subindustry, Elme Communities'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.
Elme Communities Operating Margin % vs REITs Industry
For the REITs industry and Real Estate sector, Elme Communities's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Elme Communities'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.
Elme Communities'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.
Elme Communities (ELME) has a Operating Margin % of 0.00% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Elme Communities and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Elme Communities ranks #689 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, placing it in the top 91.9%.
Is Elme Communities' Operating Margin % too high?
Elme Communities' current Operating Margin % is 0.00%. Based on the distribution chart, Elme Communities ranks #689 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Elme Communities has a GF Score™ of 36/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Elme Communities' Operating Margin % compare to FREVS and BRT?
According to the REITs industry distribution chart, Elme Communities ranks #689 out of 750 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Elme Communities in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 52.67. 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. 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 Elme Communities 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. Elme Communities's current Operating Margin % is 0.00%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Elme Communities stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Elme Communities (ELME) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $8.33, compared to a current price of $1.35 — trading 83.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 0.00%. Elme Communities' overall GF Score™ is 36/100 with 7 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 Elme Communities (ELME), the current Operating Margin % is 0.00% 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 Elme Communities (ELME) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Elme Communities stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $1.35 is trading 83.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $8.33.
GuruFocus considers Elme Communities to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for ELME:
Operating Margin %: 0.00%
GF Value™: $8.33 vs. price of $1.35 (83.8% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ELME stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Elme Communities is a real estate investment trust engaged in owning and operating properties in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area. The company's real estate portfolio is comprised of office, retail, and multifamily properties located near transportation nodes. It derives nearly all of its income in the form of rental revenue from tenants organized into long-term leases. The company's office assets contribute the majority of this income, while the rest is split fairly evenly between its retail and multifamily locations. Elme Communities' tenants are banking, consulting, law, and financial services firms. The company operates in a single reportable segment which includes the ownership, development, redevelopment and acquisition of apartment communities.
36GF Score
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