SunCoke EnergySXC -2.57%71 Operating Margin % is 0.97% as of Mar. 2026, which is 88% below its 10-year median of 7.81. GuruFocus rates SXC with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of $8.22 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 616 Steel companies, SunCoke Energy ranks worse than 64.77% on this metric.
SunCoke Energy (NYSE:SXC) 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.
SunCoke Energy Operating Margin % Related Terms
SunCoke Energy Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for SunCoke Energy'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.
SXC vs METC, AREC, AMR: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Coking Coal subindustry, SunCoke Energy'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.
SunCoke Energy Operating Margin % vs Steel Industry
For the Steel industry and Basic Materials sector, SunCoke Energy's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where SunCoke Energy'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.
SunCoke Energy'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.
SunCoke Energy (SXC) has a Operating Margin % of 0.97% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on SunCoke Energy and its competitors. This is 88% below median its historical median of 7.81. Over the past decade, SunCoke Energy's Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.08 to 9.72. According to the industry distribution chart, SunCoke Energy ranks #399 out of 616 companies in the Steel industry, placing it in the top 64.8%.
Is SunCoke Energy's Operating Margin % too high?
SunCoke Energy's current Operating Margin % of 0.97% is 88% below median its 10-year median of 7.81. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 1.08 to a high of 9.72. The Steel industry median Operating Margin % is 3.00. SunCoke Energy's value of 0.97% is 67.7% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, SunCoke Energy ranks #399 out of 616 companies in the Steel industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, SunCoke Energy has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does SunCoke Energy's Operating Margin % compare to METC and AREC?
According to the Steel industry distribution chart, SunCoke Energy ranks #399 out of 616 companies for Operating Margin %. This places SunCoke Energy in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.00. SunCoke Energy's value of 0.97% is 67.7% below this benchmark. Historically, SunCoke Energy's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 1.08 to 9.72 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 7.81 vs. the industry median of 3.00, SunCoke Energy has consistently been below 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 Steel company?
The median Operating Margin % among Steel companies is 3.00, based on 616 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. SunCoke Energy's current Operating Margin % of 0.97% is 67.7% below 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 SunCoke Energy and its competitors. For the Steel industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. SunCoke Energy's current Operating Margin % is 0.97%, which is 88% below median its own 10-year median of 7.81. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is SunCoke Energy stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, SunCoke Energy (SXC) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $8.22, compared to a current price of $8.16 — trading 0.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 0.97%, which is 88% below median its 10-year median of 7.81 and 67.7% below the Steel industry median of 3.00. SunCoke Energy's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 7 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 SunCoke Energy (SXC), the current Operating Margin % is 0.97% 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 SunCoke Energy (SXC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, SunCoke Energy stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $8.16 is trading 0.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $8.22.
GuruFocus considers SunCoke Energy to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for SXC:
Operating Margin %: 0.97% (88% below median its 10-year median of 7.81)
GF Value™: $8.22 vs. price of $8.16 (0.8% below fair value)
Industry Position: 67.7% below the Steel median (#399 of 616)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SXC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
SunCoke Energy Inc operates as an independent producer of coke in the Americas. Its coke is mainly used as a principal raw material in the blast furnace steelmaking process as well as in the foundry production of casted iron. The company operates through two segments: Domestic Coke and Industrial Services. It offers metallurgical and thermal coal. The company also provides handling and/or mixing services to steel, coke, electric utility, coal-producing, and other manufacturing-based customers. The majority of revenue is derived from the Domestic Coke segment.
71GF Score
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