SoftcatSTU:SF5 +0.98%88 Operating Margin % is 11.20% as of Jan. 2026, which is 6% above its 10-year median of 10.53. GuruFocus rates STU:SF5 with a GF Score™ of 88/100 and a GF Value™ of €29.90 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,471 Hardware companies, Softcat ranks better than 79.36% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Softcat's Operating Income for the
six
months ended in Jan. 2026 was €108 Mil. Softcat's Revenue for the
six
months ended in Jan. 2026 was €964 Mil. Therefore, Softcat's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Jan. 2026 was 11.20%.
Good Sign:
Softcat PLC operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Softcat's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
STU:SF5'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 6.03 Med: 10.53 Max: 16
Current: 11.44
STU:SF5's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 79.36% of 2471
companies
in the Hardware industry
Industry Median: 3.8
vs STU:SF5: 11.44
Softcat's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 6.00% per year.
Softcat's Operating Income for the
six
months ended in Jan. 2026 was €108 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Jan. 2026 was €231 Mil.
Softcat (STU:SF5) 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.
Softcat Operating Margin % Related Terms
Softcat Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Softcat'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:SF5 vs SNX, ARW, AVT: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Electronics & Computer Distribution subindustry, Softcat'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.
Softcat Operating Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Softcat's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Softcat'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.
Softcat'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.
Softcat (STU:SF5) has a Operating Margin % of 11.20% as of Jan. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Softcat and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 10.53. Over the past decade, Softcat's Operating Margin % has ranged from 6.03 to 16.00. According to the industry distribution chart, Softcat ranks #510 out of 2471 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 20.6%.
Is Softcat's Operating Margin % too high?
Softcat's current Operating Margin % of 11.20% is near median its 10-year median of 10.53. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 6.03 to a high of 16.00. The Hardware industry median Operating Margin % is 3.80. Softcat's value of 11.20% is 194.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Softcat ranks #510 out of 2471 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Softcat has a GF Score™ of 88/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Softcat's Operating Margin % compare to SNX and ARW?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Softcat ranks #510 out of 2471 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Softcat in the top 21% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.80. Softcat's value of 11.20% is 194.7% above this benchmark. Historically, Softcat's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 6.03 to 16.00 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 10.53 vs. the industry median of 3.80, Softcat 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 Hardware company?
The median Operating Margin % among Hardware companies is 3.80, based on 2,471 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. Softcat's current Operating Margin % of 11.20% is 194.7% 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 Softcat 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. Softcat's current Operating Margin % is 11.20%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 10.53. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Softcat stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Softcat (STU:SF5) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €29.90, compared to a current price of €20.60 — trading 31.1% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 11.20%, which is near median its 10-year median of 10.53 and 194.7% above the Hardware industry median of 3.80. Softcat's overall GF Score™ is 88/100 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 Softcat (STU:SF5), the current Operating Margin % is 11.20% 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 Softcat (STU:SF5) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Softcat stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €20.60 is trading 31.1% below its estimated GF Value™ of €29.90.
GuruFocus considers Softcat to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for STU:SF5:
Operating Margin %: 11.20% (near median its 10-year median of 10.53)
GF Value™: €29.90 vs. price of €20.60 (31.1% below fair value)
Industry Position: 194.7% above the Hardware median (#510 of 2471)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:SF5 stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Softcat PLC is an information technology infrastructure and service provider offering software licensing, workplace technology, networking and security, and cloud and data center solutions to corporates, public sector organizations, and small to medium-sized businesses, with the latter being the main business provider. It earns revenue from software, hardware, and services, including its own services, with the majority derived from software products. Its solutions include Workspace, Cyber Security, Networking and Connectivity, Data, Automation and AI, and Hybrid Cloud Solutions. The company serves Small to Medium Businesses, Enterprise, Multinational Services, and the Public Sector including healthcare, education, government, defence, police, and emergency services.
88GF Score
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