Live VenturesLIVE -5.65%64 Operating Margin % is 3.31% as of Mar. 2026, which is 32% below its 10-year median of 4.88. GuruFocus rates LIVE with a GF Score™ of 64/100 and a GF Value™ of $16.34 (Possible Value Trap). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,128 Retail - Cyclical companies, Live Ventures ranks better than 54.52% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Live Ventures's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $3.4 Mil. Live Ventures's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $102.9 Mil. Therefore, Live Ventures's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 3.31%.
Warning Sign:
Live Ventures Inc operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -33.1%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Live Ventures's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
LIVE'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 0.93 Med: 4.88 Max: 13.11
Current: 4.65
LIVE's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 54.52% of 1128
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 3.905
vs LIVE: 4.65
Live Ventures's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -33.10% per year.
Live Ventures Inc has recorded a loss in operating income at least once over the past 3 years.
Live Ventures (NAS:LIVE) 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.
Live Ventures Operating Margin % Related Terms
Live Ventures Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Live Ventures'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.
LIVE vs TTSH, HD, LOW: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Home Improvement Retail subindustry, Live Ventures'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.
Live Ventures Operating Margin % vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Live Ventures's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Live Ventures'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.
Live Ventures's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Sep. 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.
Live Ventures (LIVE) has a Operating Margin % of 3.31% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Live Ventures and its competitors. This is 32% below median its historical median of 4.88. Over the past decade, Live Ventures' Operating Margin % has ranged from 0.93 to 13.11. According to the industry distribution chart, Live Ventures ranks #513 out of 1128 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 45.5%.
Is Live Ventures' Operating Margin % too high?
Live Ventures' current Operating Margin % of 3.31% is 32% below median its 10-year median of 4.88. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 0.93 to a high of 13.11. The Retail - Cyclical industry median Operating Margin % is 3.91. Live Ventures' value of 3.31% is 15.2% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Live Ventures ranks #513 out of 1128 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Live Ventures has a GF Score™ of 64/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Live Ventures' Operating Margin % compare to TTSH and HD?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, Live Ventures ranks #513 out of 1128 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Live Ventures in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.91. Live Ventures' value of 3.31% is 15.2% below this benchmark. Historically, Live Ventures' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 0.93 to 13.11 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 4.88 vs. the industry median of 3.91, Live Ventures 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 Retail - Cyclical company?
The median Operating Margin % among Retail - Cyclical companies is 3.91, based on 1,128 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. Live Ventures's current Operating Margin % of 3.31% is 15.2% 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 Live Ventures and its competitors. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.91 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Live Ventures's current Operating Margin % is 3.31%, which is 32% below median its own 10-year median of 4.88. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Live Ventures stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Live Ventures (LIVE) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $16.34, compared to a current price of $10.36 — trading 36.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 3.31%, which is 32% below median its 10-year median of 4.88 and 15.2% below the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 3.91. Live Ventures' overall GF Score™ is 64/100 with 9 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 Live Ventures (LIVE), the current Operating Margin % is 3.31% 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 Live Ventures (LIVE) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Live Ventures stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $10.36 is trading 36.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of $16.34.
GuruFocus considers Live Ventures to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for LIVE:
Operating Margin %: 3.31% (32% below median its 10-year median of 4.88)
GF Value™: $16.34 vs. price of $10.36 (36.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 15.2% below the Retail - Cyclical median (#513 of 1128)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LIVE stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Live Ventures Inc is a holding company of diversified businesses. It acquires and operates companies with a history of earnings power across five segments: Retail-Entertainment, Retail-Flooring, Flooring Manufacturing, Steel Manufacturing, and Corporate & Other. Retail-Entertainment offers new and pre-owned movies, video games, music, books, comics and collectibles through an integrated buy-sell-trade model. Retail-Flooring is a retailer and installer of flooring, carpeting, and countertops, serving consumers, builders, and contractors. Flooring Manufacturing produces and distributes carpet and hard-surface flooring. Steel Manufacturing engages in steel production and fabrication, generating the majority of revenue. Corporate & Other covers corporate costs and legacy products and services.
64GF Score
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