The North West CoFRA:3NW +1.35%80 Operating Margin % is 6.86% as of Apr. 2026, which is 12% below its 10-year median of 7.80. GuruFocus rates FRA:3NW with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of €28.83 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 310 Retail - Defensive companies, The North West Co ranks better than 85.16% on this metric.
The North West Co (FRA:3NW) 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.
The North West Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
The North West Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for The North West 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.
FRA:3NW vs KR, SFM, ACI: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Grocery Stores subindustry, The North West 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.
The North West Co Operating Margin % vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, The North West Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where The North West 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.
The North West Co's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jan. 2026 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.
The North West Co (FRA:3NW) has a Operating Margin % of 6.86% as of Apr. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on The North West Co and its competitors. This is 12% below median its historical median of 7.80. Over the past decade, The North West Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.74 to 9.80. According to the industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #46 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 14.8%.
Is The North West Co's Operating Margin % too high?
The North West Co's current Operating Margin % of 6.86% is 12% below median its 10-year median of 7.80. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 5.74 to a high of 9.80. The Retail - Defensive industry median Operating Margin % is 3.28. The North West Co's value of 6.86% is 109.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #46 out of 310 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, The North West Co has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does The North West Co's Operating Margin % compare to KR and SFM?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #46 out of 310 companies for Operating Margin %. This places The North West Co in the top 15% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.28. The North West Co's value of 6.86% is 109.5% above this benchmark. Historically, The North West Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.74 to 9.80 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 7.80 vs. the industry median of 3.28, The North West 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 a Retail - Defensive company?
The median Operating Margin % among Retail - Defensive companies is 3.28, based on 310 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. The North West Co's current Operating Margin % of 6.86% is 109.5% 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 The North West Co and its competitors. For the Retail - Defensive industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.28 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. The North West Co's current Operating Margin % is 6.86%, which is 12% below median its own 10-year median of 7.80. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is The North West Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co (FRA:3NW) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €28.83, compared to a current price of €30.00 — trading 4.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 6.86%, which is 12% below median its 10-year median of 7.80 and 109.5% above the Retail - Defensive industry median of 3.28. The North West Co's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 3 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 The North West Co (FRA:3NW), the current Operating Margin % is 6.86% 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 The North West Co (FRA:3NW) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €30.00 is trading 4.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of €28.83.
GuruFocus considers The North West Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:3NW:
Operating Margin %: 6.86% (12% below median its 10-year median of 7.80)
GF Value™: €28.83 vs. price of €30.00 (4.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 109.5% above the Retail - Defensive median (#46 of 310)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:3NW stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
The North West Co Inc is a retailer to rural and remote communities and underserved urban neighbourhood markets in Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. The Company offers a broad Multiple products and services with an emphasis on food, focusing on everyday household and local lifestyle needs. It operates as a retailer of food and everyday products and services through two geographical segments: Canadian and International. The Canadian segment generates maximum revenue and consists of subsidiaries operating retail stores and complementary businesses serving northern Canada, while the International segment consists of subsidiaries operating in the continental United States, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific.
80GF Score
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