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Federal SignalSTU:FSG +0.94%99 Operating Margin % is 17.74% as of Jun. 2026, which is 53% above its 10-year median of 11.61. GuruFocus rates STU:FSG with a GF Score™ of 99/100 and a GF Value™ of €106.46 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 209 Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery companies, Federal Signal ranks better than 94.26% on this metric.
Federal Signal Corp operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Federal Signal's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
STU:FSG'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 7.88 Med: 11.61 Max: 16.84
Current: 16.84
STU:FSG's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 94.26% of 209
companies
in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry
Industry Median: 6.94
vs STU:FSG: 16.84
Federal Signal's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 9.10% per year.
Federal Signal (STU:FSG) 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.
Federal Signal Operating Margin % Related Terms
Federal Signal Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Federal Signal'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:FSG vs TEX, AGCO, OSK: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery subindustry, Federal Signal'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.
Federal Signal Operating Margin % vs Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery Industry
For the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry and Industrials sector, Federal Signal's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Federal Signal'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.
Federal Signal'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.
Federal Signal (STU:FSG) has a Operating Margin % of 17.74% as of Jun. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Federal Signal and its competitors. This is 53% above median its historical median of 11.61. Over the past decade, Federal Signal's Operating Margin % has ranged from 7.88 to 16.84. According to the industry distribution chart, Federal Signal ranks #12 out of 209 companies in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry, placing it in the top 5.7%.
Is Federal Signal's Operating Margin % too high?
Federal Signal's current Operating Margin % of 17.74% is 53% above median its 10-year median of 11.61. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 7.88 to a high of 16.84. The Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry median Operating Margin % is 6.94. Federal Signal's value of 17.74% is 155.6% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Federal Signal ranks #12 out of 209 companies in the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Federal Signal has a GF Score™ of 99/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Federal Signal's Operating Margin % compare to TEX and AGCO?
According to the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry distribution chart, Federal Signal ranks #12 out of 209 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Federal Signal in the top 6% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.94. Federal Signal's value of 17.74% is 155.6% above this benchmark. Historically, Federal Signal's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 7.88 to 16.84 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.61 vs. the industry median of 6.94, Federal Signal 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 Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery company?
The median Operating Margin % among Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery companies is 6.94, based on 209 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. Federal Signal's current Operating Margin % of 17.74% is 155.6% 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 Federal Signal and its competitors. For the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.94 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Federal Signal's current Operating Margin % is 17.74%, which is 53% above median its own 10-year median of 11.61. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Federal Signal stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Federal Signal (STU:FSG) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €106.46, compared to a current price of €107.00 — trading 0.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 17.74%, which is 53% above median its 10-year median of 11.61 and 155.6% above the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery industry median of 6.94. Federal Signal's overall GF Score™ is 99/100 with 1 warning sign 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 Federal Signal (STU:FSG), the current Operating Margin % is 17.74% 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 Federal Signal (STU:FSG) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Federal Signal stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €107.00 is trading 0.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of €106.46.
GuruFocus considers Federal Signal to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for STU:FSG:
Operating Margin %: 17.74% (53% above median its 10-year median of 11.61)
GF Value™: €106.46 vs. price of €107.00 (0.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 155.6% above the Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery median (#12 of 209)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:FSG stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Federal Signal Corp designs and manufactures products and integrated solutions for municipal, governmental, industrial, and airport customers. It operates through two segments. The Environmental Solutions Group manufactures and supplies street sweeper vehicles, sewer cleaner and vacuum loader trucks, hydro-excavation trucks, high-performance water blasting equipment, dump truck bodies, and trailers. The Safety and Security Systems Group manufactures and supplies comprehensive systems and products used by law enforcement, fire rescue, and industrial sites to protect people and property. Its offerings include systems for community alerting and industrial communications. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Environmental Solutions Group segment.
99GF 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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