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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.
Southern Alliance Mining Operating Margin % Related Terms
Southern Alliance Mining Operating Margin % Historical Data
* 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.
SGX:QNS vs NUE, STLD, RS: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Steel subindustry, Southern Alliance Mining'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.
Southern Alliance Mining Operating Margin % vs Steel Industry
For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, Southern Alliance Mining's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Southern Alliance Mining'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.
Southern Alliance Mining's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jul. 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.
Southern Alliance Mining (SGX:QNS) has a Operating Margin % of -6.31% as of Jan. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Southern Alliance Mining and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Southern Alliance Mining ranks #565 out of 611 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 92.5%.
Is Southern Alliance Mining's Operating Margin % too high?
Southern Alliance Mining's current Operating Margin % is -6.31%. Based on the distribution chart, Southern Alliance Mining ranks #565 out of 611 companies in the Steel industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Southern Alliance Mining has a GF Score™ of 46/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Southern Alliance Mining's Operating Margin % compare to NUE and STLD?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, Southern Alliance Mining ranks #565 out of 611 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Southern Alliance Mining in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.01. 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 Steel company?
The median Operating Margin % among Steel companies is 3.01, based on 611 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 Southern Alliance Mining and its competitors. For the Steel industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.01 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Southern Alliance Mining's current Operating Margin % is -6.31%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Southern Alliance Mining stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Alliance Mining (SGX:QNS) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is S$0.84, compared to a current price of S$0.41 — trading 51.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -6.31%. Southern Alliance Mining's overall GF Score™ is 46/100 with 3 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 Southern Alliance Mining (SGX:QNS), the current Operating Margin % is -6.31% as of Jan. 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 Southern Alliance Mining (SGX:QNS) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Alliance Mining stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of S$0.41 is trading 51.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of S$0.84.
GuruFocus considers Southern Alliance Mining to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for SGX:QNS:
Operating Margin %: -6.31%
GF Value™: S$0.84 vs. price of S$0.41 (51.8% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SGX:QNS stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Southern Alliance Mining Ltd is engaged in the exploration, mining, and processing of iron ore for subsequent sale. The principal activities of the company are those of investment holding and provision of management services. The company mines, produces, and sells iron ore, which includes processed iron ore concentrate typically sold to steel mills or traders, and crushed iron ore that is used as a pipe coating material. It mines at the Chaah mine, an open-pit mine located in the southwest of the township of Chaah.
46GF 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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