NWPX InfrastructureFRA:NW7 +2.40%76 Operating Margin % is 9.15% as of Mar. 2026, which is 11% above its 10-year median of 8.28. GuruFocus rates FRA:NW7 with a GF Score™ of 76/100 and a GF Value™ of €42.31 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 612 Steel companies, NWPX Infrastructure ranks better than 84.31% 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.
NWPX Infrastructure Operating Margin % Related Terms
NWPX Infrastructure Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for NWPX Infrastructure'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:NW7 vs WS, MTUS, MSB: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Steel subindustry, NWPX Infrastructure'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.
NWPX Infrastructure Operating Margin % vs Steel Industry
For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, NWPX Infrastructure's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where NWPX Infrastructure'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.
NWPX Infrastructure'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.
NWPX Infrastructure (FRA:NW7) has a Operating Margin % of 9.15% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on NWPX Infrastructure and its competitors. This is 11% above median its historical median of 8.28. According to the industry distribution chart, NWPX Infrastructure ranks #96 out of 612 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 15.7%.
Is NWPX Infrastructure's Operating Margin % too high?
NWPX Infrastructure's current Operating Margin % of 9.15% is 11% above median its 10-year median of 8.28. The Steel industry median Operating Margin % is 2.99. NWPX Infrastructure's value of 9.15% is 206% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, NWPX Infrastructure ranks #96 out of 612 companies in the Steel industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, NWPX Infrastructure has a GF Score™ of 76/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does NWPX Infrastructure's Operating Margin % compare to WS and MTUS?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, NWPX Infrastructure ranks #96 out of 612 companies for Operating Margin %. This places NWPX Infrastructure in the top 16% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 2.99. NWPX Infrastructure's value of 9.15% is 206% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 8.28 vs. the industry median of 2.99, NWPX Infrastructure 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 Steel company?
The median Operating Margin % among Steel companies is 2.99, based on 612 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. NWPX Infrastructure's current Operating Margin % of 9.15% is 206% 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 NWPX Infrastructure and its competitors. For the Steel industry, the median Operating Margin % is 2.99 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. NWPX Infrastructure's current Operating Margin % is 9.15%, which is 11% above median its own 10-year median of 8.28. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is NWPX Infrastructure stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, NWPX Infrastructure (FRA:NW7) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €42.31, compared to a current price of €128.00 — trading 202.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 9.15%, which is 11% above median its 10-year median of 8.28 and 206% above the Steel industry median of 2.99. NWPX Infrastructure's overall GF Score™ is 76/100 with 6 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 NWPX Infrastructure (FRA:NW7), the current Operating Margin % is 9.15% 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 NWPX Infrastructure (FRA:NW7) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, NWPX Infrastructure stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €128.00 is trading 202.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of €42.31.
GuruFocus considers NWPX Infrastructure to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:NW7:
Operating Margin %: 9.15% (11% above median its 10-year median of 8.28)
GF Value™: €42.31 vs. price of €128.00 (202.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 206% above the Steel median (#96 of 612)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:NW7 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
NWPX Infrastructure Inc is a manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products, and operates in two segments, Water Transmission Systems (WTS), operating as the Northwest Pipe Company brand, and Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast), which includes the brands NWPX Geneva and NWPX Park. WTS manufactures large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are related to drinking water systems. Precast manufactures stormwater and wastewater technology products, high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products, including reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), manholes, box culverts, vaults, and catch basins, pump lift stations, oil water separators, biofiltration units, and other environmental and engineered solutions.
76GF Score
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