SafaricomNAI:SCOM -0.46%100 Operating Margin % is 36.70% as of Mar. 2026, which is 7% above its 10-year median of 34.34. GuruFocus rates NAI:SCOM with a GF Score™ of 100/100 and a GF Value™ of KES21.84 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 367 Telecommunication Services companies, Safaricom ranks better than 93.73% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Safaricom's Operating Income for the
six
months ended in Mar. 2026 was KES80,198 Mil. Safaricom's Revenue for the
six
months ended in Mar. 2026 was KES218,524 Mil. Therefore, Safaricom's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 36.70%.
Warning Sign:
Safaricom PLC operating margin has been in a 5-year decline. The average rate of decline per year is -2.4%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Safaricom's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
NAI:SCOM'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 22.76 Med: 34.34 Max: 39.16
Current: 36.39
NAI:SCOM's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 93.73% of 367
companies
in the Telecommunication Services industry
Industry Median: 9.73
vs NAI:SCOM: 36.39
Safaricom's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was -2.40% per year.
Safaricom's Operating Income for the
six
months ended in Mar. 2026 was KES80,198 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was KES153,188 Mil.
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.
Safaricom Operating Margin % Related Terms
Safaricom Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Safaricom'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.
NAI:SCOM vs TMUS, VZ, T: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Telecom Services subindustry, Safaricom'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.
Safaricom Operating Margin % vs Telecommunication Services Industry
For the Telecommunication Services industry and Communication Services sector, Safaricom's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Safaricom'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.
Safaricom's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Mar. 2026 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.
Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) has a Operating Margin % of 36.70% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Safaricom and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 34.34. Over the past decade, Safaricom's Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.76 to 39.16. According to the industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #23 out of 367 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, placing it in the top 6.3%.
Is Safaricom's Operating Margin % too high?
Safaricom's current Operating Margin % of 36.70% is near median its 10-year median of 34.34. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 22.76 to a high of 39.16. The Telecommunication Services industry median Operating Margin % is 9.73. Safaricom's value of 36.70% is 277.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #23 out of 367 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Safaricom has a GF Score™ of 100/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Safaricom's Operating Margin % compare to TMUS and VZ?
According to the Telecommunication Services industry distribution chart, Safaricom ranks #23 out of 367 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Safaricom in the top 6% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 9.73. Safaricom's value of 36.70% is 277.2% above this benchmark. Historically, Safaricom's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.76 to 39.16 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 34.34 vs. the industry median of 9.73, Safaricom 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 Telecommunication Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Telecommunication Services companies is 9.73, based on 367 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. Safaricom's current Operating Margin % of 36.70% is 277.2% 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 Safaricom and its competitors. For the Telecommunication Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 9.73 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Safaricom's current Operating Margin % is 36.70%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 34.34. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Safaricom stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is KES21.84, compared to a current price of KES32.60 — trading 49.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 36.70%, which is near median its 10-year median of 34.34 and 277.2% above the Telecommunication Services industry median of 9.73. Safaricom's overall GF Score™ is 100/100 with 4 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 Safaricom (NAI:SCOM), the current Operating Margin % is 36.70% 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 Safaricom (NAI:SCOM) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Safaricom stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of KES32.60 is trading 49.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of KES21.84.
GuruFocus considers Safaricom to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for NAI:SCOM:
Operating Margin %: 36.70% (near median its 10-year median of 34.34)
GF Value™: KES21.84 vs. price of KES32.60 (49.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 277.2% above the Telecommunication Services median (#23 of 367)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NAI:SCOM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Safaricom PLC is a Kenya-based telecommunications company. The principal activities of the company are the provision of telecommunication services, providing a comprehensive range of integrated telecommunication services including voice and data both mobile and fixed, SMS, the internet, and m-pesa. The company also offers a wide range of devices such as Mobile handsets, mobile broadband modems, routers, tablets, and notebooks. The majority of its revenue comes from service revenues: Voice, m-pesa, mobile data, messaging, fixed data and other service revenue. The company serves both individual and corporate/enterprise customers.
100GF Score
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