Columbia Sportswear CoFRA:CUW 82 Operating Margin % is 5.39% as of Mar. 2026, which is 50% below its 10-year median of 10.73. GuruFocus rates FRA:CUW with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of €73.13. The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,043 Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies, Columbia Sportswear Co ranks better than 64.72% on this metric.
Columbia Sportswear Co operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -2.3%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FRA:CUW'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 5.48 Med: 10.73 Max: 14.41
Current: 6.81
FRA:CUW's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 64.72% of 1043
companies
in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry
Industry Median: 4.08
vs FRA:CUW: 6.81
Columbia Sportswear Co's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -2.30% per year.
Columbia Sportswear Co (FRA:CUW) 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.
Columbia Sportswear Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Columbia Sportswear Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Columbia Sportswear 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:CUW vs ZGN, KTB, UAA: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Apparel Manufacturing subindustry, Columbia Sportswear 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.
Columbia Sportswear Co Operating Margin % vs Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories Industry
For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % falls into.
Columbia Sportswear Co Operating Margin % Calculation
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.
Columbia Sportswear Co'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.
Columbia Sportswear Co (FRA:CUW) has a Operating Margin % of 5.39% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Columbia Sportswear Co and its competitors. This is 50% below median its historical median of 10.73. Over the past decade, Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.48 to 14.41. According to the industry distribution chart, Columbia Sportswear Co ranks #368 out of 1043 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, placing it in the top 35.3%.
Is Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Columbia Sportswear Co's current Operating Margin % of 5.39% is 50% below median its 10-year median of 10.73. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 5.48 to a high of 14.41. The Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median Operating Margin % is 4.08. Columbia Sportswear Co's value of 5.39% is 32.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Columbia Sportswear Co ranks #368 out of 1043 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Columbia Sportswear Co has a GF Score™ of 82/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Columbia Sportswear Co's Operating Margin % compare to ZGN and KTB?
According to the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry distribution chart, Columbia Sportswear Co ranks #368 out of 1043 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Columbia Sportswear Co in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 4.08. Columbia Sportswear Co's value of 5.39% is 32.1% above this benchmark. Historically, Columbia Sportswear Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.48 to 14.41 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 10.73 vs. the industry median of 4.08, Columbia Sportswear 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 Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories company?
The median Operating Margin % among Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies is 4.08, based on 1,043 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. Columbia Sportswear Co's current Operating Margin % of 5.39% is 32.1% 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 Columbia Sportswear Co and its competitors. For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, the median Operating Margin % is 4.08 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Columbia Sportswear Co's current Operating Margin % is 5.39%, which is 50% below median its own 10-year median of 10.73. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Columbia Sportswear Co stock overvalued right now?
Columbia Sportswear Co (FRA:CUW) has a current Operating Margin % of 5.39%. The stock's GF Value™ is €73.13, compared to a current price of €55.50 — trading 24.1% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 5.39%, which is 50% below median its 10-year median of 10.73 and 32.1% above the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median of 4.08. Columbia Sportswear Co's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 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 Columbia Sportswear Co (FRA:CUW), the current Operating Margin % is 5.39% 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 Columbia Sportswear Co (FRA:CUW) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Columbia Sportswear Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €55.50 is trading 24.1% below its estimated GF Value™ of €73.13.
Key valuation signals for FRA:CUW:
Operating Margin %: 5.39% (50% below median its 10-year median of 10.73)
GF Value™: €73.13 vs. price of €55.50 (24.1% below fair value)
Industry Position: 32.1% above the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories median (#368 of 1043)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:CUW stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Columbia Sportswear Co makes outdoor and active-lifestyle apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories that it sells under four primary brands: Columbia, Sorel, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna. The majority of sales are in the United States, but the company also has remarkable sales in its three other geographic segments: Latin American and Asia-Pacific; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and Canada. The majority of sales are through wholesale channels, including sporting goods and department stores, but the company also operates its own branded stores in each of its geographic segments. It sources products from around the world and uses contract manufacturers outside the United States, predominantly in Asia to manufacture its various products.
82GF Score
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