Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX) 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.
Helix Energy Solutions Group Operating Margin % Related Terms
Helix Energy Solutions Group 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.
Helix Energy Solutions Group Operating Margin % Chart
HLX vs WBI, RES, VTOL: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Oil & Gas Equipment & Services subindustry, Helix Energy Solutions Group'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.
Helix Energy Solutions Group Operating Margin % vs Oil & Gas Industry
For the Oil & Gas industry and Energy sector, Helix Energy Solutions Group's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Helix Energy Solutions Group's Operating Margin % falls into.
Helix Energy Solutions Group 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.
Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX) has a Operating Margin % of -4.62% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Helix Energy Solutions Group and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Helix Energy Solutions Group ranks #514 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, placing it in the top 56.1%.
Is Helix Energy Solutions Group's Operating Margin % too high?
Helix Energy Solutions Group's current Operating Margin % is -4.62%. Based on the distribution chart, Helix Energy Solutions Group ranks #514 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Helix Energy Solutions Group has a GF Score™ of 81/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Helix Energy Solutions Group's Operating Margin % compare to WBI and RES?
According to the Oil & Gas industry distribution chart, Helix Energy Solutions Group ranks #514 out of 916 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Helix Energy Solutions Group in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.86. 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. 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 Helix Energy Solutions Group 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. Helix Energy Solutions Group's current Operating Margin % is -4.62%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Helix Energy Solutions Group stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $9.79, compared to a current price of $8.67 — trading 11.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -4.62%. Helix Energy Solutions Group's overall GF Score™ is 81/100 with 3 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 Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX), the current Operating Margin % is -4.62% 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 Helix Energy Solutions Group (HLX) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Helix Energy Solutions Group stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $8.67 is trading 11.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of $9.79.
GuruFocus considers Helix Energy Solutions Group to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for HLX:
Operating Margin %: -4.62%
GF Value™: $9.79 vs. price of $8.67 (11.4% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the HLX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc is an offshore energy services company. It provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with an emphasis on well intervention and robotics operations. Helix provides services in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, Asia Pacific and West Africa regions. It has four segments: Well Intervention, Robotics, Shallow Water Abandonment and Production Facilities. The Well Intervention segment includes vessels and equipment used to perform well intervention services in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea and Brazil. It derives the majority of its revenue from the U.S., and it also has its presence in North Sea, Brazil, Asia Pacific, West Africa, and Other.
81GF Score
Get the complete analysis for HLX
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
HLX has been successfully added to your 
