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Milestone ScientificMLSS -10.47%37 Operating Margin % is -37.38% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus rates MLSS with a GF Score™ of 37/100 and a GF Value™ of $0.60 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 814 Medical Devices & Instruments companies, Milestone Scientific ranks worse than 76.29% on this metric.
Milestone Scientific Inc operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Milestone Scientific's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
MLSS'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -137.08 Med: -69.38 Max: -43.56
Current: -43.56
MLSS's Operating Margin % is ranked worse than 76.29% of 814
companies
in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry
Industry Median: 3.35
vs MLSS: -43.56
Milestone Scientific's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 10.60% per year.
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.
Milestone Scientific Operating Margin % Related Terms
Milestone Scientific Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Milestone 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.
MLSS vs NEPH, HBIO, POCI: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Medical Instruments & Supplies subindustry, Milestone 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.
Milestone Scientific Operating Margin % vs Medical Devices & Instruments Industry
For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry and Healthcare sector, Milestone Scientific's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Milestone 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.
Milestone 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.
Milestone Scientific (MLSS) has a Operating Margin % of -37.38% as of Jun. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Milestone Scientific and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Milestone Scientific ranks #621 out of 814 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, placing it in the top 76.3%.
Is Milestone Scientific's Operating Margin % too high?
Milestone Scientific's current Operating Margin % is -37.38%. Based on the distribution chart, Milestone Scientific ranks #621 out of 814 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Milestone Scientific has a GF Score™ of 37/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Milestone Scientific's Operating Margin % compare to NEPH and HBIO?
According to the Medical Devices & Instruments industry distribution chart, Milestone Scientific ranks #621 out of 814 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Milestone Scientific in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.35. 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 Medical Devices & Instruments company?
The median Operating Margin % among Medical Devices & Instruments companies is 3.35, based on 814 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 Milestone Scientific and its competitors. For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.35 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Milestone Scientific's current Operating Margin % is -37.38%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Milestone Scientific stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Milestone Scientific (MLSS) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $0.60, compared to a current price of $0.50 — trading 17.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -37.38%. Milestone Scientific's overall GF Score™ is 37/100 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 Milestone Scientific (MLSS), the current Operating Margin % is -37.38% as of Jun. 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 Milestone Scientific (MLSS) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Milestone Scientific stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $0.50 is trading 17.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $0.60.
GuruFocus considers Milestone Scientific to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for MLSS:
Operating Margin %: -37.38%
GF Value™: $0.60 vs. price of $0.50 (17.5% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MLSS stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Milestone Scientific Inc develops and commercializes proprietary computer-controlled drug delivery systems designed to enhance the safety, precision, and patient experience associated with subcutaneous injections and fluid aspiration procedures. The company's core technology platform, Dynamic Pressure Sensing (DPS) Technology, controls flow rate and measures pressure at the needle tip in real time. DPS Technology is incorporated into both the company's dental and medical products and supports clinical applications, including local anesthesia delivery, epidural space identification in regional anesthesia procedures, and intra-articular joint injections. It operates in two segments: Dental, which markets and sells its dental products, and Medical, markets and sells its medical products.
37GF Score
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