MSAfetyMSA +1.62%89 Operating Margin % is 20.61% as of Mar. 2026, which is 14% above its 10-year median of 18.02. GuruFocus rates MSA with a GF Score™ of 89/100 and a GF Value™ of $186.84 (Modestly Undervalued). Among 1,070 Business Services companies, MSAfety ranks better than 87.85% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. MSAfety's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $96 Mil. MSAfety's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $464 Mil. Therefore, MSAfety's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 20.61%.
Good Sign:
MSA Safety Inc operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for MSAfety's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
MSA'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 14.54 Med: 18.02 Max: 22.08
Current: 21.04
MSA's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 87.85% of 1070
companies
in the Business Services industry
Industry Median: 6.33
vs MSA: 21.04
MSAfety's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 5.20% per year.
MSAfety's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $96 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $403 Mil.
MSAfety (NYSE:MSA) 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.
MSAfety Operating Margin % Related Terms
MSAfety Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for MSAfety'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.
MSA vs ADT, BCO, BRC: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Security & Protection Services subindustry, MSAfety'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.
MSAfety Operating Margin % vs Business Services Industry
For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, MSAfety's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where MSAfety'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.
MSAfety'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.
MSAfety (MSA) has a Operating Margin % of 20.61% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on MSAfety and its competitors. This is 14% above median its historical median of 18.02. Over the past decade, MSAfety's Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.54 to 22.08. According to the industry distribution chart, MSAfety ranks #130 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 12.1%.
Is MSAfety's Operating Margin % too high?
MSAfety's current Operating Margin % of 20.61% is 14% above median its 10-year median of 18.02. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 14.54 to a high of 22.08. The Business Services industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. MSAfety's value of 20.61% is 225.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, MSAfety ranks #130 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, MSAfety has a GF Score™ of 89/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MSAfety's Operating Margin % compare to ADT and BCO?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, MSAfety ranks #130 out of 1070 companies for Operating Margin %. This places MSAfety in the top 12% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. MSAfety's value of 20.61% is 225.6% above this benchmark. Historically, MSAfety's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 14.54 to 22.08 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 18.02 vs. the industry median of 6.33, MSAfety 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 Business Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Business Services companies is 6.33, based on 1,070 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. MSAfety's current Operating Margin % of 20.61% is 225.6% 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 MSAfety and its competitors. For the Business Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.33 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. MSAfety's current Operating Margin % is 20.61%, which is 14% above median its own 10-year median of 18.02. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is MSAfety stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MSAfety (MSA) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $186.84, compared to a current price of $165.29 — trading 11.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 20.61%, which is 14% above median its 10-year median of 18.02 and 225.6% above the Business Services industry median of 6.33. MSAfety's overall GF Score™ is 89/100. 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 MSAfety (MSA), the current Operating Margin % is 20.61% 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 MSAfety (MSA) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MSAfety stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $165.29 is trading 11.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $186.84.
GuruFocus considers MSAfety to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for MSA:
Operating Margin %: 20.61% (14% above median its 10-year median of 18.02)
GF Value™: $186.84 vs. price of $165.29 (11.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 225.6% above the Business Services median (#130 of 1070)
No single metric tells the full story. See the MSA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
MSA Safety Inc makes safety products that are used to protect workers in the oil and gas and mining industries. The company's product offerings include breathing apparatuses, fall protection, portable gas detection systems, industrial head protection, fire and rescue helmets, and fixed gas and flame detection systems, among others. The end markets for its products include the fire service, contractor, industrial, mining, oil and gas, and utilities industries. The company has organized its business into four geographical operating segments that are aggregated into two reportable segments: Americas and International. The majority of its revenue is generated from the Americas segment, which is comprised of the company's operations in Northern North America and Latin America geographies.
89GF Score
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