Whitehaven CoalWHITF -0.89%79 Operating Margin % is 14.61% as of Dec. 2025, which is 60% below its 10-year median of 36.35. GuruFocus rates WHITF with a GF Score™ of 79/100 and a GF Value™ of $4.93 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 130 Other Energy Sources companies, Whitehaven Coal ranks better than 80% on this metric.
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.
Whitehaven Coal Operating Margin % Related Terms
Whitehaven Coal Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Whitehaven Coal'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.
For the Thermal Coal subindustry, Whitehaven Coal'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.
Whitehaven Coal Operating Margin % vs Other Energy Sources Industry
For the Other Energy Sources industry and Energy sector, Whitehaven Coal's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Whitehaven Coal'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.
Whitehaven Coal's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Jun. 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.
Whitehaven Coal (WHITF) has a Operating Margin % of 14.61% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Whitehaven Coal and its competitors. This is 60% below median its historical median of 36.35. Over the past decade, Whitehaven Coal's Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.21 to 68.72. According to the industry distribution chart, Whitehaven Coal ranks #26 out of 130 companies in the Other Energy Sources industry, placing it in the top 20%.
Is Whitehaven Coal's Operating Margin % too high?
Whitehaven Coal's current Operating Margin % of 14.61% is 60% below median its 10-year median of 36.35. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.21 to a high of 68.72. The Other Energy Sources industry median Operating Margin % is 4.57. Whitehaven Coal's value of 14.61% is 219.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Whitehaven Coal ranks #26 out of 130 companies in the Other Energy Sources industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Whitehaven Coal has a GF Score™ of 79/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Whitehaven Coal's Operating Margin % compare to competitors?
According to the Other Energy Sources industry distribution chart, Whitehaven Coal ranks #26 out of 130 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Whitehaven Coal in the top 20% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 4.57. Whitehaven Coal's value of 14.61% is 219.7% above this benchmark. Historically, Whitehaven Coal's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.21 to 68.72 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 36.35 vs. the industry median of 4.57, Whitehaven Coal 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 Other Energy Sources company?
The median Operating Margin % among Other Energy Sources companies is 4.57, based on 130 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. Whitehaven Coal's current Operating Margin % of 14.61% is 219.7% 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 Whitehaven Coal and its competitors. For the Other Energy Sources industry, the median Operating Margin % is 4.57 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Whitehaven Coal's current Operating Margin % is 14.61%, which is 60% below median its own 10-year median of 36.35. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Whitehaven Coal stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Whitehaven Coal (WHITF) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $4.93, compared to a current price of $5.59 — trading 13.5% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 14.61%, which is 60% below median its 10-year median of 36.35 and 219.7% above the Other Energy Sources industry median of 4.57. Whitehaven Coal's overall GF Score™ is 79/100 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 Whitehaven Coal (WHITF), the current Operating Margin % is 14.61% as of Dec. 2025. 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 Whitehaven Coal (WHITF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Whitehaven Coal stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $5.59 is trading 13.5% above its estimated GF Value™ of $4.93.
GuruFocus considers Whitehaven Coal to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for WHITF:
Operating Margin %: 14.61% (60% below median its 10-year median of 36.35)
GF Value™: $4.93 vs. price of $5.59 (13.5% above fair value)
Industry Position: 219.7% above the Other Energy Sources median (#26 of 130)
No single metric tells the full story. See the WHITF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Whitehaven Coal is a large Australian independent thermal and metallurgical coal miner with mines in the Gunnedah Basin, New South Wales. It also bought Blackwater and Daunia, two coking coal mines in Queensland, from BHP and Mitsubishi in April 2024. In addition, it owns the large Winchester South deposit next to its Daunia mine. Coal is railed to ports in Newcastle and Queensland for export to Asian customers. Initial production of about 1 million metric tons from Vickery and expanded production at its Queensland mines, Maules Creek, and Narrabri means we expect its share of salable coal production to approach 31 million metric tons from fiscal 2030, from about 13 million in fiscal 2023.
79GF Score
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