Judges ScientificLSE:JDG -3.23%71 Operating Margin % is 5.69% as of Dec. 2025, which is 57% below its 10-year median of 13.36. GuruFocus rates LSE:JDG with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of £92.97 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,472 Hardware companies, Judges Scientific ranks better than 71.36% 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.
Judges Scientific Operating Margin % Related Terms
Judges Scientific Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Judges Scientific'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.
LSE:JDG vs COHR, KEYS, GRMN: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Scientific & Technical Instruments subindustry, Judges Scientific'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.
Judges Scientific Operating Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Judges Scientific's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Judges Scientific'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.
Judges Scientific'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.
Judges Scientific (LSE:JDG) has a Operating Margin % of 5.69% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Judges Scientific and its competitors. This is 57% below median its historical median of 13.36. Over the past decade, Judges Scientific's Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.05 to 18.64. According to the industry distribution chart, Judges Scientific ranks #708 out of 2472 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 28.6%.
Is Judges Scientific's Operating Margin % too high?
Judges Scientific's current Operating Margin % of 5.69% is 57% below median its 10-year median of 13.36. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.05 to a high of 18.64. The Hardware industry median Operating Margin % is 3.80. Judges Scientific's value of 5.69% is 49.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Judges Scientific ranks #708 out of 2472 companies in the Hardware industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Judges Scientific has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Judges Scientific's Operating Margin % compare to COHR and KEYS?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Judges Scientific ranks #708 out of 2472 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Judges Scientific in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.80. Judges Scientific's value of 5.69% is 49.7% above this benchmark. Historically, Judges Scientific's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.05 to 18.64 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 13.36 vs. the industry median of 3.80, Judges Scientific 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 Hardware company?
The median Operating Margin % among Hardware companies is 3.80, based on 2,472 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. Judges Scientific's current Operating Margin % of 5.69% is 49.7% 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 Judges Scientific and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.80 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Judges Scientific's current Operating Margin % is 5.69%, which is 57% below median its own 10-year median of 13.36. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Judges Scientific stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Judges Scientific (LSE:JDG) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £92.97, compared to a current price of £45.00 — trading 51.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 5.69%, which is 57% below median its 10-year median of 13.36 and 49.7% above the Hardware industry median of 3.80. Judges Scientific's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 3 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 Judges Scientific (LSE:JDG), the current Operating Margin % is 5.69% 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 Judges Scientific (LSE:JDG) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Judges Scientific stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of £45.00 is trading 51.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of £92.97.
GuruFocus considers Judges Scientific to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for LSE:JDG:
Operating Margin %: 5.69% (57% below median its 10-year median of 13.36)
GF Value™: £92.97 vs. price of £45.00 (51.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 49.7% above the Hardware median (#708 of 2472)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LSE:JDG stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Judges Scientific PLC is engaged in the designing, manufacturing, and sale of scientific instruments. The company operates in two main segments namely Materials Sciences and Vacuum. The firm specializes in the acquisition and development of a portfolio of scientific instrument businesses. The company has operational footprints across the United Kingdom, the Rest of Europe, North America, and the Rest of the world.
71GF Score
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