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.
SSC Security Services Operating Margin % Related Terms
SSC Security Services Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for SSC Security Services'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.
SECUF vs ALLE, MSA, ADT: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Security & Protection Services subindustry, SSC Security Services'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.
SSC Security Services Operating Margin % vs Business Services Industry
For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, SSC Security Services's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where SSC Security Services'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.
SSC Security Services's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Sep. 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.
SSC Security Services (SECUF) has a Operating Margin % of 0.59% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on SSC Security Services and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, SSC Security Services ranks #816 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 76.3%.
Is SSC Security Services' Operating Margin % too high?
SSC Security Services' current Operating Margin % is 0.59%. The Business Services industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. SSC Security Services' value of 0.59% is 90.7% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, SSC Security Services ranks #816 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, SSC Security Services has a GF Score™ of 66/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does SSC Security Services' Operating Margin % compare to ALLE and MSA?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, SSC Security Services ranks #816 out of 1070 companies for Operating Margin %. This places SSC Security Services in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. SSC Security Services' value of 0.59% is 90.7% below this benchmark. 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. SSC Security Services's current Operating Margin % of 0.59% is 90.7% below 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 SSC Security Services 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. SSC Security Services's current Operating Margin % is 0.59%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is SSC Security Services stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, SSC Security Services (SECUF) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $2.13, compared to a current price of $3.13 — trading 46.8% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 0.59% and 90.7% below the Business Services industry median of 6.33. SSC Security Services' overall GF Score™ is 66/100 with 8 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 SSC Security Services (SECUF), the current Operating Margin % is 0.59% 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 SSC Security Services (SECUF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, SSC Security Services stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $3.13 is trading 46.8% above its estimated GF Value™ of $2.13.
GuruFocus considers SSC Security Services to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for SECUF:
Operating Margin %: 0.59%
GF Value™: $2.13 vs. price of $3.13 (46.8% above fair value)
Industry Position: 90.7% below the Business Services median (#816 of 1070)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SECUF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
SSC Security Services Corp is a provider of protective security services and cyber security services to corporate and public sector clients across Canada. The company operates through the Security, Legacy Operations, and Corporate segments, with the Security segment providing protective services, cyber security services, and security system design, sales, installation, monitoring, and alarm response, and generating the majority of revenue. Legacy Operations relate to the previous canola streaming business, while the Corporate segment includes intersegment charges and corporate overhead costs, and the Company provides security services for enterprise customers across Canada.
66GF Score
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Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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