Basf SEFRA:BASA +0.84%71 Operating Margin % is 7.68% as of Mar. 2026, which is 2% below its 10-year median of 7.85. GuruFocus rates FRA:BASA with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of €10.54 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,584 Chemicals companies, Basf SE ranks worse than 57.45% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Basf SE's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was €1,230 Mil. Basf SE's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was €16,020 Mil. Therefore, Basf SE's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 7.68%.
Warning Sign:
Basf SE operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -10.8%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Basf SE's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FRA:BASA'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 4.55 Med: 7.85 Max: 12.43
Current: 4.55
FRA:BASA's Operating Margin % is ranked worse than 57.45% of 1584
companies
in the Chemicals industry
Industry Median: 6.025
vs FRA:BASA: 4.55
Basf SE's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -10.80% per year.
Basf SE's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was €1,230 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was €2,734 Mil.
Basf SE (FRA:BASA) 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.
Basf SE Operating Margin % Related Terms
Basf SE Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Basf SE'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.
For the Chemicals subindustry, Basf SE'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.
Basf SE Operating Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Basf SE's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Basf SE'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.
Basf SE'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.
Basf SE (FRA:BASA) has a Operating Margin % of 7.68% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Basf SE and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 7.85. Over the past decade, Basf SE's Operating Margin % has ranged from 4.55 to 12.43. According to the industry distribution chart, Basf SE ranks #910 out of 1584 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 57.4%.
Is Basf SE's Operating Margin % too high?
Basf SE's current Operating Margin % of 7.68% is near median its 10-year median of 7.85. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 4.55 to a high of 12.43. The Chemicals industry median Operating Margin % is 6.03. Basf SE's value of 7.68% is 27.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Basf SE ranks #910 out of 1584 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Basf SE has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Basf SE's Operating Margin % compare to DOW?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Basf SE ranks #910 out of 1584 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Basf SE in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.03. Basf SE's value of 7.68% is 27.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Basf SE's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 4.55 to 12.43 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 7.85 vs. the industry median of 6.03, Basf SE 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 Chemicals company?
The median Operating Margin % among Chemicals companies is 6.03, based on 1,584 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. Basf SE's current Operating Margin % of 7.68% is 27.5% 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 Basf SE and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.03 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Basf SE's current Operating Margin % is 7.68%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 7.85. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Basf SE stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Basf SE (FRA:BASA) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €10.54, compared to a current price of €12.00 — trading 13.9% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 7.68%, which is near median its 10-year median of 7.85 and 27.5% above the Chemicals industry median of 6.03. Basf SE's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 5 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 Basf SE (FRA:BASA), the current Operating Margin % is 7.68% 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 Basf SE (FRA:BASA) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Basf SE stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €12.00 is trading 13.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of €10.54.
GuruFocus considers Basf SE to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:BASA:
Operating Margin %: 7.68% (near median its 10-year median of 7.85)
GF Value™: €10.54 vs. price of €12.00 (13.9% above fair value)
Industry Position: 27.5% above the Chemicals median (#910 of 1584)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:BASA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
BASF is one of the world's leading chemical companies. It's headquartered in Germany near the Rhine River, which helps with logistics-related savings. Founded in 1865, it produces a vast array of chemicals, plastics, resins, and agricultural solutions. While the company serves multiple industries, it most prominently serves the automotive, agricultural, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. BASF is a first mover in the energy transition and aims to rapidly expand its recycled and bio-based product portfolio.
71GF Score
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