H.B. Fuller CoFRA:HB1 -5.31%80 Operating Margin % is 12.34% as of May. 2026, which is 37% above its 10-year median of 9.00. GuruFocus rates FRA:HB1 with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of €56.51 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,585 Chemicals companies, H.B. Fuller Co ranks better than 71.17% on this metric.
H.B. Fuller Co (FRA:HB1) 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.
H.B. Fuller Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
H.B. Fuller Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for H.B. Fuller 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:HB1 vs CC, AVNT, HWKN: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, H.B. Fuller 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.
H.B. Fuller Co Operating Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, H.B. Fuller Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where H.B. Fuller 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.
H.B. Fuller Co's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Nov. 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.
H.B. Fuller Co (FRA:HB1) has a Operating Margin % of 12.34% as of May. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on H.B. Fuller Co and its competitors. This is 37% above median its historical median of 9.00. Over the past decade, H.B. Fuller Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.18 to 11.41. According to the industry distribution chart, H.B. Fuller Co ranks #457 out of 1585 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 28.8%.
Is H.B. Fuller Co's Operating Margin % too high?
H.B. Fuller Co's current Operating Margin % of 12.34% is 37% above median its 10-year median of 9.00. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 5.18 to a high of 11.41. The Chemicals industry median Operating Margin % is 6.02. H.B. Fuller Co's value of 12.34% is 105% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, H.B. Fuller Co ranks #457 out of 1585 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, H.B. Fuller 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 H.B. Fuller Co's Operating Margin % compare to CC and AVNT?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, H.B. Fuller Co ranks #457 out of 1585 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts H.B. Fuller Co in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.02. H.B. Fuller Co's value of 12.34% is 105% above this benchmark. Historically, H.B. Fuller Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 5.18 to 11.41 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 9.00 vs. the industry median of 6.02, H.B. Fuller 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 Chemicals company?
The median Operating Margin % among Chemicals companies is 6.02, based on 1,585 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. H.B. Fuller Co's current Operating Margin % of 12.34% is 105% 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 H.B. Fuller Co and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.02 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. H.B. Fuller Co's current Operating Margin % is 12.34%, which is 37% above median its own 10-year median of 9.00. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is H.B. Fuller Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, H.B. Fuller Co (FRA:HB1) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €56.51, compared to a current price of €53.50 — trading 5.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 12.34%, which is 37% above median its 10-year median of 9.00 and 105% above the Chemicals industry median of 6.02. H.B. Fuller Co's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 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 H.B. Fuller Co (FRA:HB1), the current Operating Margin % is 12.34% as of May. 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 H.B. Fuller Co (FRA:HB1) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, H.B. Fuller Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €53.50 is trading 5.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of €56.51.
GuruFocus considers H.B. Fuller Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:HB1:
Operating Margin %: 12.34% (37% above median its 10-year median of 9.00)
GF Value™: €56.51 vs. price of €53.50 (5.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 105% above the Chemicals median (#457 of 1585)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:HB1 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
H.B. Fuller Co manufactures and sells adhesives, sealants, and other chemical-based products. The company organizes itself into three segments: Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives, Engineering Adhesives, and Construction Adhesives. It generates the maximum revenue from hygiene, health, and consumable adhesives. This segment produces and supplies a full range of specialty industrial adhesives such as thermoplastic, thermoset, reactive, water-based, and solvent-based products for applications in various markets, including packaging, converting, nonwoven, and hygiene (disposable diapers, feminine care, and medical garments) and health and beauty. The company generates around half of its revenue in the United States.
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