Cropper (James)LSE:CRPR 70 Operating Margin % is 4.35% as of Sep. 2025, which is 55% above its 10-year median of 2.81. GuruFocus rates LSE:CRPR with a GF Score™ of 70/100 and a GF Value™ of £3.10 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 283 Forest Products companies, Cropper (James) ranks better than 61.13% on this metric.
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.
Cropper (James) Operating Margin % Related Terms
Cropper (James) Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Cropper (James)'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 Paper & Paper Products subindustry, Cropper (James)'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.
Cropper (James) Operating Margin % vs Forest Products Industry
For the Forest Products industry and Basic Materials sector, Cropper (James)'s Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Cropper (James)'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.
Cropper (James)'s Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Mar. 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.
Cropper (James) (LSE:CRPR) has a Operating Margin % of 4.35% as of Sep. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Cropper (James) and its competitors. This is 55% above median its historical median of 2.81. Over the past decade, Cropper (James)'s Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.22 to 6.35. According to the industry distribution chart, Cropper (James) ranks #110 out of 283 companies in the Forest Products industry, placing it in the top 38.9%.
Is Cropper (James)'s Operating Margin % too high?
Cropper (James)'s current Operating Margin % of 4.35% is 55% above median its 10-year median of 2.81. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.22 to a high of 6.35. The Forest Products industry median Operating Margin % is 2.60. Cropper (James)'s value of 4.35% is 67.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Cropper (James) ranks #110 out of 283 companies in the Forest Products industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Cropper (James) has a GF Score™ of 70/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Cropper (James)'s Operating Margin % compare to SLVM?
According to the Forest Products industry distribution chart, Cropper (James) ranks #110 out of 283 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Cropper (James) in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 2.60. Cropper (James)'s value of 4.35% is 67.3% above this benchmark. Historically, Cropper (James)'s own Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.22 to 6.35 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 2.81 vs. the industry median of 2.60, Cropper (James) 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 Forest Products company?
The median Operating Margin % among Forest Products companies is 2.60, based on 283 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. Cropper (James)'s current Operating Margin % of 4.35% is 67.3% 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 Cropper (James) and its competitors. For the Forest Products industry, the median Operating Margin % is 2.60 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Cropper (James)'s current Operating Margin % is 4.35%, which is 55% above median its own 10-year median of 2.81. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Cropper (James) stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cropper (James) (LSE:CRPR) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £3.10, compared to a current price of £3.45 — trading 11.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 4.35%, which is 55% above median its 10-year median of 2.81 and 67.3% above the Forest Products industry median of 2.60. Cropper (James)'s overall GF Score™ is 70/100 with 5 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 Cropper (James) (LSE:CRPR), the current Operating Margin % is 4.35% as of Sep. 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 Cropper (James) (LSE:CRPR) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Cropper (James) stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of £3.45 is trading 11.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of £3.10.
GuruFocus considers Cropper (James) to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for LSE:CRPR:
Operating Margin %: 4.35% (55% above median its 10-year median of 2.81)
GF Value™: £3.10 vs. price of £3.45 (11.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 67.3% above the Forest Products median (#110 of 283)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LSE:CRPR stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Cropper (James) PLC serves in the UK-based paper products industry. It provides specialist paper products and other materials through four operating segments: Advanced Materials; Paper & Packaging; and Group Services and Eliminations. The company earns the majority of its revenue from the Paper & Packaging Segment in the United Kingdom. It also sells its products across the border in the European market, America, Asia, and others.
70GF Score
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