Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
Salem Media GroupSALM 35 Operating Margin % is -2.68% as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus rates SALM with a GF Score™ of 35/100 and a GF Value™ of $0.40 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,011 Media - Diversified companies, Salem Media Group ranks worse than 70.92% on this metric.
Salem Media Group (OTCPK:SALM) 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.
Salem Media Group Operating Margin % Related Terms
Salem Media Group Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Salem Media Group'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.
SALM vs BBGI, UONE, XHLD: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Broadcasting subindustry, Salem Media Group'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.
Salem Media Group Operating Margin % vs Media - Diversified Industry
For the Media - Diversified industry and Communication Services sector, Salem Media Group's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Salem Media Group'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.
Salem Media Group'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.
Salem Media Group (SALM) has a Operating Margin % of -2.68% as of Jun. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Salem Media Group and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Salem Media Group ranks #717 out of 1011 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, placing it in the top 70.9%.
Is Salem Media Group's Operating Margin % too high?
Salem Media Group's current Operating Margin % is -2.68%. Based on the distribution chart, Salem Media Group ranks #717 out of 1011 companies in the Media - Diversified industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Salem Media Group has a GF Score™ of 35/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Salem Media Group's Operating Margin % compare to BBGI and UONE?
According to the Media - Diversified industry distribution chart, Salem Media Group ranks #717 out of 1011 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Salem Media Group in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.18. 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 Media - Diversified company?
The median Operating Margin % among Media - Diversified companies is 3.18, based on 1,011 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 Salem Media Group and its competitors. For the Media - Diversified industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.18 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Salem Media Group's current Operating Margin % is -2.68%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Salem Media Group stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Salem Media Group (SALM) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $0.40, compared to a current price of $1.00 — trading 150% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -2.68%. Salem Media Group's overall GF Score™ is 35/100 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 Salem Media Group (SALM), the current Operating Margin % is -2.68% 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 Salem Media Group (SALM) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Salem Media Group stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $1.00 is trading 150% above its estimated GF Value™ of $0.40.
GuruFocus considers Salem Media Group to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for SALM:
Operating Margin %: -2.68%
GF Value™: $0.40 vs. price of $1.00 (150% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SALM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Salem Media Group Inc is a domestic multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio broadcasting, digital media, and publishing. Its content is intended for audiences interested in Christian and family themed programming and conservative news talk. The company derives revenue from the sale of block program time to national and local program producers; the sale of advertising time on its radio stations to national and local advertisers; the sale of banner advertisements on websites or mobile applications; digital newsletters; fees earned for the creation of custom digital media campaigns; syndication of programming on its national network; product sales and royalties for on-air host materials, podcasts, programs and others.
35GF Score
Get the complete analysis for SALM
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
SALM has been successfully added to your 
