Bowler MetcalfJSE:BCF 82 Operating Margin % is 16.49% as of Dec. 2025, which is 10% above its 10-year median of 14.97. GuruFocus rates JSE:BCF with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of R14.77 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 389 Packaging & Containers companies, Bowler Metcalf ranks better than 92.29% on this metric.
Bowler Metcalf Ltd operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -3.8%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
JSE:BCF'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 10.16 Med: 14.97 Max: 18.59
Current: 15.8
JSE:BCF's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 92.29% of 389
companies
in the Packaging & Containers industry
Industry Median: 5.27
vs JSE:BCF: 15.80
Bowler Metcalf's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -3.80% per year.
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.
Bowler Metcalf Operating Margin % Related Terms
Bowler Metcalf Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Bowler Metcalf'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.
JSE:BCF vs SW, PKG, IP: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Packaging & Containers subindustry, Bowler Metcalf'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.
Bowler Metcalf Operating Margin % vs Packaging & Containers Industry
For the Packaging & Containers industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Bowler Metcalf'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.
Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jun. 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.
Bowler Metcalf (JSE:BCF) has a Operating Margin % of 16.49% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Bowler Metcalf and its competitors. This is 10% above median its historical median of 14.97. Over the past decade, Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % has ranged from 10.16 to 18.59. According to the industry distribution chart, Bowler Metcalf ranks #30 out of 389 companies in the Packaging & Containers industry, placing it in the top 7.7%.
Is Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % too high?
Bowler Metcalf's current Operating Margin % of 16.49% is 10% above median its 10-year median of 14.97. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 10.16 to a high of 18.59. The Packaging & Containers industry median Operating Margin % is 5.27. Bowler Metcalf's value of 16.49% is 212.9% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Bowler Metcalf ranks #30 out of 389 companies in the Packaging & Containers industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Bowler Metcalf has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Bowler Metcalf's Operating Margin % compare to SW and PKG?
According to the Packaging & Containers industry distribution chart, Bowler Metcalf ranks #30 out of 389 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Bowler Metcalf in the top 8% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 5.27. Bowler Metcalf's value of 16.49% is 212.9% above this benchmark. Historically, Bowler Metcalf's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 10.16 to 18.59 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 14.97 vs. the industry median of 5.27, Bowler Metcalf 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 Packaging & Containers company?
The median Operating Margin % among Packaging & Containers companies is 5.27, based on 389 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. Bowler Metcalf's current Operating Margin % of 16.49% is 212.9% 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 Bowler Metcalf and its competitors. For the Packaging & Containers industry, the median Operating Margin % is 5.27 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Bowler Metcalf's current Operating Margin % is 16.49%, which is 10% above median its own 10-year median of 14.97. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Bowler Metcalf stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Bowler Metcalf (JSE:BCF) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is R14.77, compared to a current price of R13.99 — trading 5.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 16.49%, which is 10% above median its 10-year median of 14.97 and 212.9% above the Packaging & Containers industry median of 5.27. Bowler Metcalf's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 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 Bowler Metcalf (JSE:BCF), the current Operating Margin % is 16.49% as of Dec. 2025. 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 Bowler Metcalf (JSE:BCF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Bowler Metcalf stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of R13.99 is trading 5.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of R14.77.
GuruFocus considers Bowler Metcalf to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for JSE:BCF:
Operating Margin %: 16.49% (10% above median its 10-year median of 14.97)
GF Value™: R14.77 vs. price of R13.99 (5.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 212.9% above the Packaging & Containers median (#30 of 389)
No single metric tells the full story. See the JSE:BCF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Bowler Metcalf Ltd is mainly engaged in the business of containers and packaging. The company's operating segments include Plastic Packaging and Property Investment. It generates maximum revenue from the Plastic Packaging segment, which specializes in the manufacture of rigid plastic packaging for the toiletry, cosmetic, household, pharmaceutical, and food markets. Its mode of manufacture comprises injection and blow molding, extrusion, and injection stretch blow molding. The Property Investment segment is involved in the business of investing in properties for letting to the manufacturing industry.
82GF Score
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