Mesa Air Group (NAS:MESA) 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.
Mesa Air Group Operating Margin % Related Terms
Mesa Air Group Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Mesa Air Group'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.
MESA vs SNCY, ULCC, ALGT: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Airlines subindustry, Mesa Air Group'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.
Mesa Air Group Operating Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Mesa Air Group's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Mesa Air Group'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.
Mesa Air Group's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Sep. 2024 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.
Mesa Air Group (MESA) has a Operating Margin % of -2.04% as of Sep. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Mesa Air Group and its competitors.
Is Mesa Air Group's Operating Margin % too high?
Mesa Air Group's current Operating Margin % is -2.04%. Overall, Mesa Air Group has a GF Score™ of 55/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Mesa Air Group's Operating Margin % compare to SNCY and ULCC?
Mesa Air Group's Operating Margin % of -2.04% can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.36. 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 Transportation company?
The median Operating Margin % among Transportation companies is 7.36, based on 1,007 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. 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 Mesa Air Group and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.36 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Mesa Air Group's current Operating Margin % is -2.04%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Mesa Air Group stock overvalued right now?
Mesa Air Group (MESA) has a current Operating Margin % of -2.04%. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.88, compared to a current price of $1.40 — trading 89.9% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -2.04%. Mesa Air Group's overall GF Score™ is 55/100 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 Mesa Air Group (MESA), the current Operating Margin % is -2.04% 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 Mesa Air Group (MESA) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Mesa Air Group stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $1.40 is trading 89.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of $13.88.
Key valuation signals for MESA:
Operating Margin %: -2.04%
GF Value™: $13.88 vs. price of $1.40 (89.9% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MESA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Mesa Air Group Inc is a regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service. It provides services to the District of Columbia, Canada, Cuba, and Mexico, and cargo services out of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Flights are operated as American Eagle, United Express, or DHL Express flights to the terms of capacity purchase agreements with American and United and a flight services agreement with DHL. The business has a presence in domestic hubs and cities, including Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Washington-Dulles, and other regions.
55GF 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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