Liberty GlobalLBTYB +0.76%65 Operating Margin % is 5.07% as of Mar. 2026, which is 33% below its 10-year median of 7.54. GuruFocus rates LBTYB with a GF Score™ of 65/100 and a GF Value™ of $14.73 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 367 Telecommunication Services companies, Liberty Global ranks worse than 75.48% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Liberty Global's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
LBTYB'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -6.58 Med: 7.54 Max: 18.43
Current: 1.45
LBTYB's Operating Margin % is ranked worse than 75.48% of 367
companies
in the Telecommunication Services industry
Industry Median: 9.73
vs LBTYB: 1.45
Liberty Global's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 0.00% per year.
Liberty Global (NAS:LBTYB) 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.
Liberty Global Operating Margin % Related Terms
Liberty Global Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Liberty Global'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.
LBTYB vs AD, TDS, LBRDA: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Telecom Services subindustry, Liberty Global'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.
Liberty Global Operating Margin % vs Telecommunication Services Industry
For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, Liberty Global's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Liberty Global'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.
Liberty Global'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.
Liberty Global (LBTYB) has a Operating Margin % of 5.07% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Liberty Global and its competitors. This is 33% below median its historical median of 7.54. According to the industry distribution chart, Liberty Global ranks #277 out of 367 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 75.5%.
Is Liberty Global's Operating Margin % too high?
Liberty Global's current Operating Margin % of 5.07% is 33% below median its 10-year median of 7.54. The Telecommunication Services industry median Operating Margin % is 9.73. Liberty Global's value of 5.07% is 47.9% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Liberty Global ranks #277 out of 367 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Liberty Global has a GF Score™ of 65/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Liberty Global's Operating Margin % compare to AD and TDS?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Liberty Global ranks #277 out of 367 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Liberty Global in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 9.73. Liberty Global's value of 5.07% is 47.9% below this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 7.54 vs. the industry median of 9.73, Liberty Global has consistently been below 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 Telecommunication Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Telecommunication Services companies is 9.73, based on 367 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. Liberty Global's current Operating Margin % of 5.07% is 47.9% below 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 Liberty Global and its competitors. For the Telecommunication Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 9.73 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Liberty Global's current Operating Margin % is 5.07%, which is 33% below median its own 10-year median of 7.54. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Liberty Global stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Liberty Global (LBTYB) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $14.73, compared to a current price of $13.20 — trading 10.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 5.07%, which is 33% below median its 10-year median of 7.54 and 47.9% below the Telecommunication Services industry median of 9.73. Liberty Global's overall GF Score™ is 65/100 with 6 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 Liberty Global (LBTYB), the current Operating Margin % is 5.07% 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 Liberty Global (LBTYB) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Liberty Global stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $13.20 is trading 10.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of $14.73.
GuruFocus considers Liberty Global to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for LBTYB:
Operating Margin %: 5.07% (33% below median its 10-year median of 7.54)
GF Value™: $14.73 vs. price of $13.20 (10.4% below fair value)
Industry Position: 47.9% below the Telecommunication Services median (#277 of 367)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LBTYB stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Liberty Global is a holding company with interests in European telecom companies in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Slovakia. Liberty owns the main cable network in each of these geographies and has pursued a strategy since 2016 to merge or partner with mobile network operators to be able to offer converged services. Liberty also owns minority stakes in other media, entertainment, and cloud companies.
65GF Score
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