China Merchants Port Holdings CoSTU:CPM -0.28%83 Operating Margin % is 34.36% as of Dec. 2025, which is 13% above its 10-year median of 30.43. GuruFocus rates STU:CPM with a GF Score™ of 83/100 and a GF Value™ of €1.52 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,007 Transportation companies, China Merchants Port Holdings Co ranks better than 94.84% on this metric.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co (STU:CPM) 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.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
China Merchants Port Holdings Co 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.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Operating Margin % Chart
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Operating Margin % Competitor Comparison
For the Marine Shipping subindustry, China Merchants Port Holdings Co'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.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Operating Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, China Merchants Port Holdings Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where China Merchants Port Holdings Co's Operating Margin % falls into.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co 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.
* 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.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co (STU:CPM) has a Operating Margin % of 34.36% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on China Merchants Port Holdings Co and its competitors. This is 13% above median its historical median of 30.43. Over the past decade, China Merchants Port Holdings Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.95 to 38.65. According to the industry distribution chart, China Merchants Port Holdings Co ranks #52 out of 1007 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 5.2%.
Is China Merchants Port Holdings Co's Operating Margin % too high?
China Merchants Port Holdings Co's current Operating Margin % of 34.36% is 13% above median its 10-year median of 30.43. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 22.95 to a high of 38.65. The Transportation industry median Operating Margin % is 7.37. China Merchants Port Holdings Co's value of 34.36% is 366.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, China Merchants Port Holdings Co ranks #52 out of 1007 companies in the Transportation industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, China Merchants Port Holdings Co has a GF Score™ of 83/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does China Merchants Port Holdings Co's Operating Margin % compare to competitors?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, China Merchants Port Holdings Co ranks #52 out of 1007 companies for Operating Margin %. This places China Merchants Port Holdings Co in the top 5% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.37. China Merchants Port Holdings Co's value of 34.36% is 366.2% above this benchmark. Historically, China Merchants Port Holdings Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 22.95 to 38.65 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 30.43 vs. the industry median of 7.37, China Merchants Port Holdings Co 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 7.37, 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. China Merchants Port Holdings Co's current Operating Margin % of 34.36% is 366.2% 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 China Merchants Port Holdings Co and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.37 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. China Merchants Port Holdings Co's current Operating Margin % is 34.36%, which is 13% above median its own 10-year median of 30.43. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is China Merchants Port Holdings Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, China Merchants Port Holdings Co (STU:CPM) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €1.52, compared to a current price of €1.41 — trading 7.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 34.36%, which is 13% above median its 10-year median of 30.43 and 366.2% above the Transportation industry median of 7.37. China Merchants Port Holdings Co's overall GF Score™ is 83/100 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 China Merchants Port Holdings Co (STU:CPM), the current Operating Margin % is 34.36% 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 China Merchants Port Holdings Co (STU:CPM) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, China Merchants Port Holdings Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €1.41 is trading 7.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of €1.52.
GuruFocus considers China Merchants Port Holdings Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for STU:CPM:
Operating Margin %: 34.36% (13% above median its 10-year median of 30.43)
GF Value™: €1.52 vs. price of €1.41 (7.4% below fair value)
Industry Position: 366.2% above the Transportation median (#52 of 1007)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:CPM stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Business Description
China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd is a port service provider principally engaged in port operations, bonded logistics operations, and property investment. Its segments are port operations, bonded logistics operations, and other operations. Port operations generate maximum revenue, including container terminal operations and bulk and general cargo terminal operations conducted by the Group, its associates, and joint ventures across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as other international locations. Bonded logistics operations include logistics park operations, port transportation, and airport cargo handling. Other operations mainly include property development and investment, logistics operations by associates, and corporate functions.
83GF Score
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