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Lai Sun Development Co (STU:LAY3) 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.
Lai Sun Development Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Lai Sun Development Co Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Lai Sun Development Co'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.
Lai Sun Development Co Operating Margin % Competitor Comparison
For the Real Estate - Diversified subindustry, Lai Sun Development 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.
Lai Sun Development Co Operating Margin % vs Real Estate Industry
For the Real Estate industry and Real Estate sector, Lai Sun Development Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Lai Sun Development Co's Operating Margin % falls into.
Lai Sun Development 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.
Lai Sun Development Co'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.
Lai Sun Development Co (STU:LAY3) has a Operating Margin % of -7.97% as of Jan. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Lai Sun Development Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Lai Sun Development Co ranks #1482 out of 1745 companies in the Real Estate industry, placing it in the top 84.9%.
Is Lai Sun Development Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Lai Sun Development Co's current Operating Margin % is -7.97%. Based on the distribution chart, Lai Sun Development Co ranks #1482 out of 1745 companies in the Real Estate industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Lai Sun Development Co has a GF Score™ of 34/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Lai Sun Development Co's Operating Margin % compare to competitors?
According to the Real Estate industry distribution chart, Lai Sun Development Co ranks #1482 out of 1745 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Lai Sun Development Co in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 13.24. 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 Real Estate company?
The median Operating Margin % among Real Estate companies is 13.24, based on 1,745 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 Lai Sun Development Co and its competitors. For the Real Estate industry, the median Operating Margin % is 13.24 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Lai Sun Development Co's current Operating Margin % is -7.97%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Lai Sun Development Co stock overvalued right now?
Lai Sun Development Co (STU:LAY3) has a current Operating Margin % of -7.97%. The stock's GF Value™ is €0.04, compared to a current price of €0.06 — trading 56.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is -7.97%. Lai Sun Development Co's overall GF Score™ is 34/100 with 4 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 Lai Sun Development Co (STU:LAY3), the current Operating Margin % is -7.97% 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 Lai Sun Development Co (STU:LAY3) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Lai Sun Development Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €0.06 is trading 56.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of €0.04.
Key valuation signals for STU:LAY3:
Operating Margin %: -7.97%
GF Value™: €0.04 vs. price of €0.06 (56.3% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:LAY3 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Lai Sun Development Co Ltd is an investment holding company. Along with its subsidiaries, the company is engaged in various reportable operating segments such as; property development and sales; property investment; hotel operation; restaurant operation; media and entertainment; film and TV programs; cinema operation; theme park operation, and others. The property development and sales segment which derives a majority of its revenue, is engaged in property development and the sale of properties. Geographically, it derives a majority of its revenue from Mainland China and Macau, and the rest from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and other regions.
34GF 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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