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.
Creative Technology Operating Margin % Related Terms
Creative Technology Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Creative Technology'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.
STU:CTL vs DELL, SNDK, ANET: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Computer Hardware subindustry, Creative Technology'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.
Creative Technology Operating Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Creative Technology's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Creative Technology'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.
Creative Technology'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.
Creative Technology (STU:CTL) has a Operating Margin % of -4.45% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Creative Technology and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Creative Technology ranks #2034 out of 2472 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 82.3%.
Is Creative Technology's Operating Margin % too high?
Creative Technology's current Operating Margin % is -4.45%. Based on the distribution chart, Creative Technology ranks #2034 out of 2472 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Creative Technology has a GF Score™ of 38/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Creative Technology's Operating Margin % compare to DELL and SNDK?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Creative Technology ranks #2034 out of 2472 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Creative Technology in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.80. 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 Hardware company?
The median Operating Margin % among Hardware companies is 3.80, based on 2,472 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 Creative Technology and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.80 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Creative Technology's current Operating Margin % is -4.45%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Creative Technology stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Creative Technology (STU:CTL) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €0.67, compared to a current price of €0.52 — trading 22.4% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -4.45%. Creative Technology's overall GF Score™ is 38/100 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 Creative Technology (STU:CTL), the current Operating Margin % is -4.45% 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 Creative Technology (STU:CTL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Creative Technology stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €0.52 is trading 22.4% below its estimated GF Value™ of €0.67.
GuruFocus considers Creative Technology to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for STU:CTL:
Operating Margin %: -4.45%
GF Value™: €0.67 vs. price of €0.52 (22.4% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:CTL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Creative Technology Ltd is a digital entertainment company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of multimedia products. The company's portfolio includes digitized sound and video boards, computers, and personal digital entertainment devices. Their product range features technologies such as Super X-Fi and Sound Blaster, encompassing internal sound cards, external USB DACs and amplifiers, gaming headsets, computer speakers, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and various accessories. It also offers comprehensive work solutions, including webcams, USB dongles, communication devices, and high-resolution DACs. The company operates across Singapore, the United States of America, Asia Pacific, Ireland, and Europe, with Europe contributing the majority of its revenue.
38GF Score
Get the complete analysis for STU:CTL
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
STU:CTL has been successfully added to your 
