Oil & Natural GasNSE:ONGC -1.78%89 Operating Margin % is 22.81% as of Mar. 2026, which is 78% above its 10-year median of 12.84. GuruFocus rates NSE:ONGC with a GF Score™ of 89/100 and a GF Value™ of ₹268.48 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 2 warning signs investors should review. Among 916 Oil & Gas companies, Oil & Natural Gas ranks better than 73.91% on this metric.
Oil & Natural Gas (NSE:ONGC) 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.
Oil & Natural Gas Operating Margin % Related Terms
Oil & Natural Gas Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Oil & Natural Gas'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.
NSE:ONGC vs XOM, CVX: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Oil & Gas Integrated subindustry, Oil & Natural Gas'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.
Oil & Natural Gas Operating Margin % vs Oil & Gas Industry
For the Oil & Gas industry and Energy sector, Oil & Natural Gas's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Oil & Natural Gas'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.
Oil & Natural Gas'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.
Oil & Natural Gas (NSE:ONGC) has a Operating Margin % of 22.81% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Oil & Natural Gas and its competitors. This is 78% above median its historical median of 12.84. Over the past decade, Oil & Natural Gas' Operating Margin % has ranged from 10.69 to 20.25. According to the industry distribution chart, Oil & Natural Gas ranks #239 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, placing it in the top 26.1%.
Is Oil & Natural Gas' Operating Margin % too high?
Oil & Natural Gas' current Operating Margin % of 22.81% is 78% above median its 10-year median of 12.84. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 10.69 to a high of 20.25. The Oil & Gas industry median Operating Margin % is 6.86. Oil & Natural Gas' value of 22.81% is 232.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Oil & Natural Gas ranks #239 out of 916 companies in the Oil & Gas industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Oil & Natural Gas has a GF Score™ of 89/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Oil & Natural Gas' Operating Margin % compare to XOM and CVX?
According to the Oil & Gas industry distribution chart, Oil & Natural Gas ranks #239 out of 916 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Oil & Natural Gas in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.86. Oil & Natural Gas' value of 22.81% is 232.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Oil & Natural Gas' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 10.69 to 20.25 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 12.84 vs. the industry median of 6.86, Oil & Natural Gas 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 an Oil & Gas company?
The median Operating Margin % among Oil & Gas companies is 6.86, based on 916 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. Oil & Natural Gas's current Operating Margin % of 22.81% is 232.5% 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 Oil & Natural Gas and its competitors. For the Oil & Gas industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Oil & Natural Gas's current Operating Margin % is 22.81%, which is 78% above median its own 10-year median of 12.84. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Oil & Natural Gas stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Oil & Natural Gas (NSE:ONGC) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is ₹268.48, compared to a current price of ₹240.00 — trading 10.6% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 22.81%, which is 78% above median its 10-year median of 12.84 and 232.5% above the Oil & Gas industry median of 6.86. Oil & Natural Gas' overall GF Score™ is 89/100 with 2 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 Oil & Natural Gas (NSE:ONGC), the current Operating Margin % is 22.81% 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 Oil & Natural Gas (NSE:ONGC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Oil & Natural Gas stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of ₹240.00 is trading 10.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of ₹268.48.
GuruFocus considers Oil & Natural Gas to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for NSE:ONGC:
Operating Margin %: 22.81% (78% above median its 10-year median of 12.84)
GF Value™: ₹268.48 vs. price of ₹240.00 (10.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 232.5% above the Oil & Gas median (#239 of 916)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NSE:ONGC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Oil & Natural Gas Corp Ltd is an Indian-based company. It engaged in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and value-added products. Along with its subsidiaries, the company operates in the following business segments: Refining and Marketing, which derives maximum revenue, Exploration and Production, and Petrochemicals. Geographically, the group derives maximum revenue from India, from its offshore and onshore activities, and is also involved in exploration and production activities outside India.
89GF Score
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