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.
Imperial Metals Operating Margin % Related Terms
Imperial Metals Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Imperial Metals'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.
For the Copper subindustry, Imperial Metals'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.
Imperial Metals Operating Margin % vs Metals & Mining Industry
For the Metals & Mining industry and Basic Materials sector, Imperial Metals's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Imperial Metals'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.
Imperial Metals'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.
Imperial Metals (IPMLF) has a Operating Margin % of 26.01% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Imperial Metals and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Imperial Metals ranks #138 out of 841 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, placing it in the top 16.4%.
Is Imperial Metals' Operating Margin % too high?
Imperial Metals' current Operating Margin % is 26.01%. The Metals & Mining industry median Operating Margin % is 5.72. Imperial Metals' value of 26.01% is 354.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Imperial Metals ranks #138 out of 841 companies in the Metals & Mining industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Imperial Metals has a GF Score™ of 68/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Imperial Metals' Operating Margin % compare to SCCO and FCX?
According to the Metals & Mining industry distribution chart, Imperial Metals ranks #138 out of 841 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Imperial Metals in the top 16% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 5.72. Imperial Metals' value of 26.01% is 354.7% above this benchmark. 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 Metals & Mining company?
The median Operating Margin % among Metals & Mining companies is 5.72, based on 841 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. Imperial Metals's current Operating Margin % of 26.01% is 354.7% 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 Imperial Metals and its competitors. For the Metals & Mining industry, the median Operating Margin % is 5.72 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Imperial Metals's current Operating Margin % is 26.01%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Imperial Metals stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Imperial Metals (IPMLF) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $3.30, compared to a current price of $4.28 — trading 29.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 26.01% and 354.7% above the Metals & Mining industry median of 5.72. Imperial Metals' 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 Imperial Metals (IPMLF), the current Operating Margin % is 26.01% 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 Imperial Metals (IPMLF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Imperial Metals stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $4.28 is trading 29.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $3.30.
GuruFocus considers Imperial Metals to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for IPMLF:
Operating Margin %: 26.01%
GF Value™: $3.30 vs. price of $4.28 (29.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 354.7% above the Metals & Mining median (#138 of 841)
No single metric tells the full story. See the IPMLF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Imperial Metals Corp is a mining company mainly engaged in the exploration, development, and production of base and precious metals from Canadian mineral properties. The Company has four reportable segments, Red Chris, including related exploration and development activities, Mount Polley, including related exploration and development activities, Huckleberry, including related exploration and development activities, and Corporate, including Sterling and all other properties and related exploration and development activities. The maximum of the company's revenue is generated from the Mount Polley segment. Geographically, it derives maximum revenue from its customers in Switzerland, followed by China, USA, Singapore, etc.
68GF Score
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Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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