Core LaboratoriesFRA:HJ1 -8.76%68 Operating Margin % is 1.02% as of Mar. 2026, which is 91% below its 10-year median of 11.58. GuruFocus rates FRA:HJ1 with a GF Score™ of 68/100 and a GF Value™ of €14.64 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 916 Oil & Gas companies, Core Laboratories ranks better than 55.68% on this metric.
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.
Core Laboratories Operating Margin % Related Terms
Core Laboratories Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Core Laboratories'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:HJ1 vs EROK, FET, FTK: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Oil & Gas Equipment & Services subindustry, Core Laboratories'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.
Core Laboratories Operating Margin % vs Oil & Gas Industry
For the Oil & Gas industry and Energy sector, Core Laboratories's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Core Laboratories'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.
Core Laboratories'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.
Core Laboratories (FRA:HJ1) has a Operating Margin % of 1.02% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Core Laboratories and its competitors. This is 91% below median its historical median of 11.58. Over the past decade, Core Laboratories' Operating Margin % has ranged from 8.44 to 17.07. According to the industry distribution chart, Core Laboratories ranks #406 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, placing it in the top 44.3%.
Is Core Laboratories' Operating Margin % too high?
Core Laboratories' current Operating Margin % of 1.02% is 91% below median its 10-year median of 11.58. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 8.44 to a high of 17.07. The Oil & Gas industry median Operating Margin % is 6.86. Core Laboratories' value of 1.02% is 85.1% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Core Laboratories ranks #406 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Core Laboratories has a GF Score™ of 68/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Core Laboratories' Operating Margin % compare to EROK and FET?
According to the Oil & Gas industry distribution chart, Core Laboratories ranks #406 out of 916 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Core Laboratories in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.86. Core Laboratories' value of 1.02% is 85.1% below this benchmark. Historically, Core Laboratories' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 8.44 to 17.07 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.58 vs. the industry median of 6.86, Core Laboratories has consistently been below 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 an Oil & Gas company?
The median Operating Margin % among Oil & Gas companies is 6.86, based on 916 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. Core Laboratories's current Operating Margin % of 1.02% is 85.1% below 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 Core Laboratories and its competitors. For the Oil & Gas industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Core Laboratories's current Operating Margin % is 1.02%, which is 91% below median its own 10-year median of 11.58. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Core Laboratories stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Core Laboratories (FRA:HJ1) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €14.64, compared to a current price of €8.85 — trading 39.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 1.02%, which is 91% below median its 10-year median of 11.58 and 85.1% below the Oil & Gas industry median of 6.86. Core Laboratories' overall GF Score™ is 68/100 with 2 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 Core Laboratories (FRA:HJ1), the current Operating Margin % is 1.02% 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 Core Laboratories (FRA:HJ1) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Core Laboratories stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €8.85 is trading 39.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of €14.64.
GuruFocus considers Core Laboratories to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:HJ1:
Operating Margin %: 1.02% (91% below median its 10-year median of 11.58)
GF Value™: €14.64 vs. price of €8.85 (39.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 85.1% below the Oil & Gas median (#406 of 916)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:HJ1 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Core Laboratories Inc is a providers of proprietary and patented reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry, through client relationships. The company operates its business in two segments; Reservoir Description, and Production Enhancement. It provides data and analytics to aid well operators in determining optimal methods for recovering, processing, and refining hydrocarbons from a well. It also manufactures the associated lab equipment for its services. The company generates majority of its revenue from Reservoir Description segment.
68GF Score
Get the complete analysis for FRA:HJ1
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
FRA:HJ1 has been successfully added to your 
