Information ServicesTSX:ISC +0.43%86 Operating Margin % is 26.43% as of Mar. 2026, which is 18% above its 10-year median of 22.40. GuruFocus rates TSX:ISC with a GF Score™ of 86/100 and a GF Value™ of C$30.61 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,070 Business Services companies, Information Services ranks better than 88.04% on this metric.
Information Services (TSX:ISC) 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.
Information Services Operating Margin % Related Terms
Information Services Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Information Services'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.
TSX:ISC vs CTAS, CPRT, GPN: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Business Services subindustry, Information Services'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.
Information Services Operating Margin % vs Business Services Industry
For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, Information Services's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Information Services's Operating Margin % falls into.
Information Services 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.
Information Services'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.
Information Services (TSX:ISC) has a Operating Margin % of 26.43% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Information Services and its competitors. This is 18% above median its historical median of 22.40. Over the past decade, Information Services' Operating Margin % has ranged from 19.12 to 27.60. According to the industry distribution chart, Information Services ranks #128 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 12%.
Is Information Services' Operating Margin % too high?
Information Services' current Operating Margin % of 26.43% is 18% above median its 10-year median of 22.40. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 19.12 to a high of 27.60. The Business Services industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. Information Services' value of 26.43% is 317.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Information Services ranks #128 out of 1070 companies in the Business Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Information Services has a GF Score™ of 86/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Information Services' Operating Margin % compare to CTAS and CPRT?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, Information Services ranks #128 out of 1070 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Information Services in the top 12% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 6.33. Information Services' value of 26.43% is 317.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Information Services' own Operating Margin % has ranged from 19.12 to 27.60 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 22.40 vs. the industry median of 6.33, Information Services 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 Business Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Business Services companies is 6.33, based on 1,070 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. Information Services's current Operating Margin % of 26.43% is 317.5% 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 Information Services and its competitors. For the Business Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 6.33 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Information Services's current Operating Margin % is 26.43%, which is 18% above median its own 10-year median of 22.40. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Information Services stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Information Services (TSX:ISC) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is C$30.61, compared to a current price of C$51.20 — trading 67.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 26.43%, which is 18% above median its 10-year median of 22.40 and 317.5% above the Business Services industry median of 6.33. Information Services' overall GF Score™ is 86/100 with 9 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 Information Services (TSX:ISC), the current Operating Margin % is 26.43% 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 Information Services (TSX:ISC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Information Services stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of C$51.20 is trading 67.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of C$30.61.
GuruFocus considers Information Services to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for TSX:ISC:
Operating Margin %: 26.43% (18% above median its 10-year median of 22.40)
GF Value™: C$30.61 vs. price of C$51.20 (67.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 317.5% above the Business Services median (#128 of 1070)
No single metric tells the full story. See the TSX:ISC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Information Services Corp is a Canada-based provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. The company has three segments namely Registry Operations, Services and Technology Solutions. The Registries segment involves the provision of registry and information services and solutions to governments and private sector organizations. The Services segment provides products and services that utilize public records and data to provide value to customers in the financial and legal sectors. Technology Solutions provides the development, delivery and support of registry (and related) technology solutions. The company derives maximum revenue from Registry Operations segment.
86GF Score
Get the complete analysis for TSX:ISC
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
TSX:ISC has been successfully added to your 
