AvalonBay CommunitiesLTS:0HJO +0.61%82 Operating Margin % is 29.41% as of Mar. 2026, which is 7% below its 10-year median of 31.73. GuruFocus rates LTS:0HJO with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $206.29 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 750 REITs companies, AvalonBay Communities ranks worse than 75.2% 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.
AvalonBay Communities Operating Margin % Related Terms
AvalonBay Communities Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for AvalonBay Communities'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.
LTS:0HJO vs EQR, ESS, INVH: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the REIT - Residential subindustry, AvalonBay Communities'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.
AvalonBay Communities Operating Margin % vs REITs Industry
For the REITs industry and Real Estate sector, AvalonBay Communities's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where AvalonBay Communities'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.
AvalonBay Communities'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.
AvalonBay Communities (LTS:0HJO) has a Operating Margin % of 29.41% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on AvalonBay Communities and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 31.73. Over the past decade, AvalonBay Communities' Operating Margin % has ranged from 26.70 to 38.37. According to the industry distribution chart, AvalonBay Communities ranks #564 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, placing it in the top 75.2%.
Is AvalonBay Communities' Operating Margin % too high?
AvalonBay Communities' current Operating Margin % of 29.41% is near median its 10-year median of 31.73. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 26.70 to a high of 38.37. The REITs industry median Operating Margin % is 52.67. AvalonBay Communities' value of 29.41% is 44.2% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, AvalonBay Communities ranks #564 out of 750 companies in the REITs industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, AvalonBay Communities has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does AvalonBay Communities' Operating Margin % compare to EQR and ESS?
According to the REITs industry distribution chart, AvalonBay Communities ranks #564 out of 750 companies for Operating Margin %. This places AvalonBay Communities in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 52.67. AvalonBay Communities' value of 29.41% is 44.2% below this benchmark. Historically, AvalonBay Communities' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 26.70 to 38.37 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 31.73 vs. the industry median of 52.67, AvalonBay Communities 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 REITs company?
The median Operating Margin % among REITs companies is 52.67, based on 750 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. AvalonBay Communities's current Operating Margin % of 29.41% is 44.2% 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 AvalonBay Communities and its competitors. For the REITs industry, the median Operating Margin % is 52.67 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. AvalonBay Communities's current Operating Margin % is 29.41%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 31.73. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is AvalonBay Communities stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AvalonBay Communities (LTS:0HJO) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $206.29, compared to a current price of $182.26 — trading 11.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 29.41%, which is near median its 10-year median of 31.73 and 44.2% below the REITs industry median of 52.67. AvalonBay Communities' overall GF Score™ is 82/100 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 AvalonBay Communities (LTS:0HJO), the current Operating Margin % is 29.41% 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 AvalonBay Communities (LTS:0HJO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AvalonBay Communities stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $182.26 is trading 11.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of $206.29.
GuruFocus considers AvalonBay Communities to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for LTS:0HJO:
Operating Margin %: 29.41% (near median its 10-year median of 31.73)
GF Value™: $206.29 vs. price of $182.26 (11.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 44.2% below the REITs median (#564 of 750)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LTS:0HJO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
AvalonBay Communities owns a portfolio of 296 apartment communities with more than 90,000 units and is developing 24 additional properties with approximately 8,600 units. The company focuses on owning large, high-quality properties in major metropolitan areas of New England, New York/New Jersey, Washington, D.C., California, and the Pacific Northwest.
82GF Score
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Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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