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.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Operating Margin % Related Terms
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Ionis Pharmaceuticals'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.
MEX:IONS vs EXEL, BBIO, AXSM: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Biotechnology subindustry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals'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.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Operating Margin % vs Biotechnology Industry
For the Biotechnology industry and Healthcare sector, Ionis Pharmaceuticals's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ionis Pharmaceuticals'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.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals'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.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals (MEX:IONS) has a Operating Margin % of -47.74% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Ionis Pharmaceuticals ranks #384 out of 941 companies in the Biotechnology industry, placing it in the top 40.8%.
Is Ionis Pharmaceuticals' Operating Margin % too high?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals' current Operating Margin % is -47.74%. Based on the distribution chart, Ionis Pharmaceuticals ranks #384 out of 941 companies in the Biotechnology industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a GF Score™ of 65/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ionis Pharmaceuticals' Operating Margin % compare to EXEL and BBIO?
According to the Biotechnology industry distribution chart, Ionis Pharmaceuticals ranks #384 out of 941 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Ionis Pharmaceuticals in the upper half of its industry. 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 Biotechnology company?
A good Operating Margin % depends on the Biotechnology industry context. 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 Ionis Pharmaceuticals and its competitors. Ionis Pharmaceuticals's current Operating Margin % is -47.74%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ionis Pharmaceuticals stock overvalued right now?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals (MEX:IONS) has a current Operating Margin % of -47.74%. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN782.91, compared to a current price of MXN1,150.00 — trading 46.9% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -47.74%. Ionis Pharmaceuticals' overall GF Score™ is 65/100 with 8 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 Ionis Pharmaceuticals (MEX:IONS), the current Operating Margin % is -47.74% 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 Ionis Pharmaceuticals (MEX:IONS) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ionis Pharmaceuticals stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of MXN1,150.00 is trading 46.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of MXN782.91.
Key valuation signals for MEX:IONS:
Operating Margin %: -47.74%
GF Value™: MXN782.91 vs. price of MXN1,150.00 (46.9% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:IONS stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals is the leading developer of antisense technology to discover and develop novel drugs. Its broad clinical and preclinical pipeline targets a wide variety of diseases, with an emphasis on cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and rare diseases. Ionis and Biogen brought Spinraza to market in 2016 as a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, and Biogen launched ALS drug Qalsody in 2023. Ionis brought two additional drugs to market via its cardiovascular-focused subsidiary Akcea, including ATTR amyloidosis drug Tegsedi (2018) and cardiology drug Waylivra (Europe, 2019). Ionis and AstraZeneca launched polyneuropathy drug Wainua in 2024. Ionis marked its first two independent launches in 2025 for Tryngolza (for FCS) and Dawnzera (for HAE).
65GF Score
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