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Kuwait Cement CoKUW:KCEM -1.02%36 Operating Margin % is 13.08% as of Mar. 2026, which is 196% above its 10-year median of 4.42. GuruFocus rates KUW:KCEM with a GF Score™ of 36/100 and a GF Value™ of KWD0.24 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 403 Building Materials companies, Kuwait Cement Co ranks worse than 52.61% on this metric.
Kuwait Cement Co (KUW:KCEM) 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.
Kuwait Cement Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Kuwait Cement Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Kuwait Cement Co'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.
KUW:KCEM vs CRH, VMC, MLM: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Building Materials subindustry, Kuwait Cement Co'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.
Kuwait Cement Co Operating Margin % vs Building Materials Industry
For the Building Materials industry and Basic Materials sector, Kuwait Cement Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Kuwait Cement Co'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.
Kuwait Cement Co'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.
Kuwait Cement Co (KUW:KCEM) has a Operating Margin % of 13.08% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Kuwait Cement Co and its competitors. This is 196% above median its historical median of 4.42. According to the industry distribution chart, Kuwait Cement Co ranks #212 out of 403 companies in the Building Materials industry, placing it in the top 52.6%.
Is Kuwait Cement Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Kuwait Cement Co's current Operating Margin % of 13.08% is 196% above median its 10-year median of 4.42. The Building Materials industry median Operating Margin % is 7.64. Kuwait Cement Co's value of 13.08% is 71.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Kuwait Cement Co ranks #212 out of 403 companies in the Building Materials industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Kuwait Cement Co has a GF Score™ of 36/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Kuwait Cement Co's Operating Margin % compare to CRH and VMC?
According to the Building Materials industry distribution chart, Kuwait Cement Co ranks #212 out of 403 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Kuwait Cement Co in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.64. Kuwait Cement Co's value of 13.08% is 71.2% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 4.42 vs. the industry median of 7.64, Kuwait Cement Co 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 403 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. Kuwait Cement Co's current Operating Margin % of 13.08% is 71.2% 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 Kuwait Cement Co 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. Kuwait Cement Co's current Operating Margin % is 13.08%, which is 196% above median its own 10-year median of 4.42. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Kuwait Cement Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kuwait Cement Co (KUW:KCEM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is KWD0.24, compared to a current price of KWD0.39 — trading 62.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 13.08%, which is 196% above median its 10-year median of 4.42 and 71.2% above the Building Materials industry median of 7.64. Kuwait Cement Co's overall GF Score™ is 36/100 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 Kuwait Cement Co (KUW:KCEM), the current Operating Margin % is 13.08% 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 Kuwait Cement Co (KUW:KCEM) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kuwait Cement Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of KWD0.39 is trading 62.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of KWD0.24.
GuruFocus considers Kuwait Cement Co to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for KUW:KCEM:
Operating Margin %: 13.08% (196% above median its 10-year median of 4.42)
GF Value™: KWD0.24 vs. price of KWD0.39 (62.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 71.2% above the Building Materials median (#212 of 403)
No single metric tells the full story. See the KUW:KCEM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Kuwait Cement Co is an integrated cement manufacturing company in Kuwait. Its operating business segments are the Manufacturing sector and Investment sector. The company generates maximum revenue from the Manufacturing sector segment. The Manufacturing sector of the company includes the production and sale of cement and ready-mix cement, and its products include Ordinary Portland Cement, Salt Resistant Cement, and many more.
36GF Score
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