United States Lime & Minerals (FRA:ULI) 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.
United States Lime & Minerals Operating Margin % Related Terms
United States Lime & Minerals Operating Margin % Historical Data
* 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.
United States Lime & Minerals Operating Margin % Chart
FRA:ULI vs TTAM, KNF, TGLS: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Building Materials subindustry, United States Lime & Minerals'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.
United States Lime & Minerals Operating Margin % vs Building Materials Industry
For the Building Materials industry and Basic Materials sector, United States Lime & Minerals's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where United States Lime & Minerals's Operating Margin % falls into.
United States Lime & Minerals 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.
* 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.
United States Lime & Minerals (FRA:ULI) has a Operating Margin % of 40.74% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on United States Lime & Minerals and its competitors. This is 80% above median its historical median of 22.62. Over the past decade, United States Lime & Minerals' Operating Margin % has ranged from 13.85 to 42.35. According to the industry distribution chart, United States Lime & Minerals ranks #7 out of 405 companies in the Building Materials industry, placing it in the top 1.7%.
Is United States Lime & Minerals' Operating Margin % too high?
United States Lime & Minerals' current Operating Margin % of 40.74% is 80% above median its 10-year median of 22.62. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 13.85 to a high of 42.35. The Building Materials industry median Operating Margin % is 7.64. United States Lime & Minerals' value of 40.74% is 433.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, United States Lime & Minerals ranks #7 out of 405 companies in the Building Materials industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, United States Lime & Minerals has a GF Score™ of 93/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does United States Lime & Minerals' Operating Margin % compare to TTAM and KNF?
According to the Building Materials industry distribution chart, United States Lime & Minerals ranks #7 out of 405 companies for Operating Margin %. This places United States Lime & Minerals in the top 2% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.64. United States Lime & Minerals' value of 40.74% is 433.2% above this benchmark. Historically, United States Lime & Minerals' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 13.85 to 42.35 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 22.62 vs. the industry median of 7.64, United States Lime & Minerals 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 Building Materials company?
The median Operating Margin % among Building Materials companies is 7.64, based on 405 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. United States Lime & Minerals's current Operating Margin % of 40.74% is 433.2% 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 United States Lime & Minerals and its competitors. For the Building Materials industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.64 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. United States Lime & Minerals's current Operating Margin % is 40.74%, which is 80% above median its own 10-year median of 22.62. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is United States Lime & Minerals stock overvalued right now?
United States Lime & Minerals (FRA:ULI) has a current Operating Margin % of 40.74%. The stock's GF Value™ is €101.36, compared to a current price of €95.00 — trading 6.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 40.74%, which is 80% above median its 10-year median of 22.62 and 433.2% above the Building Materials industry median of 7.64. United States Lime & Minerals' overall GF Score™ is 93/100 with 1 warning sign 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 United States Lime & Minerals (FRA:ULI), the current Operating Margin % is 40.74% 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 United States Lime & Minerals (FRA:ULI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, United States Lime & Minerals stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €95.00 is trading 6.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of €101.36.
Key valuation signals for FRA:ULI:
Operating Margin %: 40.74% (80% above median its 10-year median of 22.62)
GF Value™: €101.36 vs. price of €95.00 (6.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 433.2% above the Building Materials median (#7 of 405)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:ULI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
United States Lime & Minerals Business Description
United States Lime & Minerals Inc is engaged in the business of manufacturing lime and limestone products including PLS, quicklime, hydrated lime and lime slurry. The company supplies its products predominantly to the construction including highway, road, and building contractors, industrial including paper and glass manufacturers, environmental including municipal sanitation and water treatment facilities and flue gas treatment processes, metals including steel producers, oil and gas services, roof shingle manufacturers and agriculture including poultry industries. The company operates through its Lime and Limestone Operations segment.
93GF Score
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