South Port New ZealandNZSE:SPN -0.58%96 Operating Margin % is 36.25% as of Dec. 2025, which is 36% above its 10-year median of 26.73. GuruFocus rates NZSE:SPN with a GF Score™ of 96/100 and a GF Value™ of NZ$8.41 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,007 Transportation companies, South Port New Zealand ranks better than 79.64% on this metric.
South Port New Zealand (NZSE:SPN) 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.
South Port New Zealand Operating Margin % Related Terms
South Port New Zealand Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for South Port New Zealand'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.
South Port New Zealand Operating Margin % Competitor Comparison
For the Marine Shipping subindustry, South Port New Zealand'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.
South Port New Zealand Operating Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % falls into.
South Port New Zealand Operating Margin % Calculation
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.
South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jun. 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.
South Port New Zealand (NZSE:SPN) has a Operating Margin % of 36.25% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on South Port New Zealand and its competitors. This is 36% above median its historical median of 26.73. Over the past decade, South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % has ranged from 16.12 to 34.60. According to the industry distribution chart, South Port New Zealand ranks #205 out of 1007 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 20.4%.
Is South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % too high?
South Port New Zealand's current Operating Margin % of 36.25% is 36% above median its 10-year median of 26.73. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 16.12 to a high of 34.60. The Transportation industry median Operating Margin % is 7.36. South Port New Zealand's value of 36.25% is 392.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, South Port New Zealand ranks #205 out of 1007 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, South Port New Zealand has a GF Score™ of 96/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does South Port New Zealand's Operating Margin % compare to competitors?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, South Port New Zealand ranks #205 out of 1007 companies for Operating Margin %. This places South Port New Zealand in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.36. South Port New Zealand's value of 36.25% is 392.5% above this benchmark. Historically, South Port New Zealand's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 16.12 to 34.60 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 26.73 vs. the industry median of 7.36, South Port New Zealand 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 Transportation company?
The median Operating Margin % among Transportation companies is 7.36, based on 1,007 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. South Port New Zealand's current Operating Margin % of 36.25% is 392.5% 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 South Port New Zealand and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.36 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. South Port New Zealand's current Operating Margin % is 36.25%, which is 36% above median its own 10-year median of 26.73. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is South Port New Zealand stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, South Port New Zealand (NZSE:SPN) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is NZ$8.41, compared to a current price of NZ$8.50 — trading 1.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 36.25%, which is 36% above median its 10-year median of 26.73 and 392.5% above the Transportation industry median of 7.36. South Port New Zealand's overall GF Score™ is 96/100 with 6 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 South Port New Zealand (NZSE:SPN), the current Operating Margin % is 36.25% as of Dec. 2025. 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 South Port New Zealand (NZSE:SPN) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, South Port New Zealand stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of NZ$8.50 is trading 1.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of NZ$8.41.
GuruFocus considers South Port New Zealand to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for NZSE:SPN:
Operating Margin %: 36.25% (36% above median its 10-year median of 26.73)
GF Value™: NZ$8.41 vs. price of NZ$8.50 (1.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 392.5% above the Transportation median (#205 of 1007)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NZSE:SPN stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
South Port New Zealand Ltd offers a wide range of marine services, cargo and container shipping, and on-site warehousing for domestic and international customers. It serves key export and import industries in the Southland region, including aluminium, timber, fisheries, dairy, meat, wood chips, stock food, cement, alumina, fertiliser, and petroleum products. South Port is publicly listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and is majority-owned by Environment Southland. It also operates an intermodal freight center to facilitate efficient product distribution within the Southland and Otago regions. The majority of revenue comes from the Cargo and logistics services.
96GF Score
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