Northwest Natural Holding CoSTU:NN3 +2.49%70 Operating Margin % is 33.21% as of Mar. 2026, which is 74% above its 10-year median of 19.07. GuruFocus rates STU:NN3 with a GF Score™ of 70/100 and a GF Value™ of €37.03 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 8 warning signs investors should review. Among 499 Utilities - Regulated companies, Northwest Natural Holding Co ranks better than 70.74% on this metric.
Northwest Natural Holding Co operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
STU:NN3'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 15.44 Med: 19.07 Max: 22.56
Current: 22.51
STU:NN3's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 70.74% of 499
companies
in the Utilities - Regulated industry
Industry Median: 14.97
vs STU:NN3: 22.51
Northwest Natural Holding Co has recorded a loss in operating income at least once over the past 3 years.
Northwest Natural Holding Co (STU:NN3) 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.
Northwest Natural Holding Co Operating Margin % Related Terms
Northwest Natural Holding 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.
Northwest Natural Holding Co Operating Margin % Chart
STU:NN3 vs SPH, CPK, CTRI: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Gas subindustry, Northwest Natural Holding 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.
Northwest Natural Holding Co Operating Margin % vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % falls into.
Northwest Natural Holding 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.
Northwest Natural Holding Co (STU:NN3) has a Operating Margin % of 33.21% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Northwest Natural Holding Co and its competitors. This is 74% above median its historical median of 19.07. Over the past decade, Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % has ranged from 15.44 to 22.56. According to the industry distribution chart, Northwest Natural Holding Co ranks #146 out of 499 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 29.3%.
Is Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % too high?
Northwest Natural Holding Co's current Operating Margin % of 33.21% is 74% above median its 10-year median of 19.07. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 15.44 to a high of 22.56. The Utilities - Regulated industry median Operating Margin % is 14.97. Northwest Natural Holding Co's value of 33.21% is 121.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Northwest Natural Holding Co ranks #146 out of 499 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Northwest Natural Holding Co has a GF Score™ of 70/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Northwest Natural Holding Co's Operating Margin % compare to SPH and CPK?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, Northwest Natural Holding Co ranks #146 out of 499 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Northwest Natural Holding Co in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 14.97. Northwest Natural Holding Co's value of 33.21% is 121.8% above this benchmark. Historically, Northwest Natural Holding Co's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 15.44 to 22.56 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 19.07 vs. the industry median of 14.97, Northwest Natural Holding 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 an Utilities - Regulated company?
The median Operating Margin % among Utilities - Regulated companies is 14.97, based on 499 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. Northwest Natural Holding Co's current Operating Margin % of 33.21% is 121.8% 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 Northwest Natural Holding Co and its competitors. For the Utilities - Regulated industry, the median Operating Margin % is 14.97 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Northwest Natural Holding Co's current Operating Margin % is 33.21%, which is 74% above median its own 10-year median of 19.07. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Northwest Natural Holding Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Northwest Natural Holding Co (STU:NN3) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €37.03, compared to a current price of €43.68 — trading 18% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 33.21%, which is 74% above median its 10-year median of 19.07 and 121.8% above the Utilities - Regulated industry median of 14.97. Northwest Natural Holding Co's overall GF Score™ is 70/100 with 8 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 Northwest Natural Holding Co (STU:NN3), the current Operating Margin % is 33.21% as of Mar. 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 Northwest Natural Holding Co (STU:NN3) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Northwest Natural Holding Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €43.68 is trading 18% above its estimated GF Value™ of €37.03.
GuruFocus considers Northwest Natural Holding Co to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for STU:NN3:
Operating Margin %: 33.21% (74% above median its 10-year median of 19.07)
GF Value™: €37.03 vs. price of €43.68 (18% above fair value)
Industry Position: 121.8% above the Utilities - Regulated median (#146 of 499)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:NN3 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Northwest Natural Holding Co is a public natural gas service supplier operating in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Its subsidiary, NW Natural, operates through the natural gas distribution segment, which purchases and distributes natural gas through which operates in Oregon and southwest Washington. The company operates in three reportable business segments, which are NWN Gas Utility, SiEnergy, and NWN Water. The company generates maximum revenue from NWN Gas Utility segment. It also generates revenue from residential, commercial, and industrial customers, the majority of which are in Oregon. Residential and commercial customers account for the vast majority of profitability.
70GF Score
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