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Westell TechnologiesWSTL +4.35%40 Operating Margin % is 17.86% as of Dec. 2025. GuruFocus rates WSTL with a GF Score™ of 40/100. The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,475 Hardware companies, Westell Technologies ranks better than 93.7% 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.
Westell Technologies Operating Margin % Related Terms
Westell Technologies Operating Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Westell Technologies'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.
WSTL vs AIRG, WATT, CMTL: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Communication Equipment subindustry, Westell Technologies'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.
Westell Technologies Operating Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Westell Technologies's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Westell Technologies'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.
Westell Technologies's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Mar. 2021 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.
Westell Technologies (WSTL) has a Operating Margin % of 17.86% as of Dec. 2025. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Westell Technologies and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Westell Technologies ranks #156 out of 2475 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 6.3%.
Is Westell Technologies' Operating Margin % too high?
Westell Technologies' current Operating Margin % is 17.86%. The Hardware industry median Operating Margin % is 3.89. Westell Technologies' value of 17.86% is 359.1% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Westell Technologies ranks #156 out of 2475 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Westell Technologies has a GF Score™ of 40/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Westell Technologies' Operating Margin % compare to AIRG and WATT?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Westell Technologies ranks #156 out of 2475 companies for Operating Margin %. This places Westell Technologies in the top 6% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 3.89. Westell Technologies' value of 17.86% is 359.1% above this benchmark. 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 3.89, based on 2,475 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. Westell Technologies's current Operating Margin % of 17.86% is 359.1% 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 Westell Technologies and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Operating Margin % is 3.89 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Westell Technologies's current Operating Margin % is 17.86%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Westell Technologies stock overvalued right now?
Westell Technologies (WSTL) has a current Operating Margin % of 17.86%. The current Operating Margin % is 17.86% and 359.1% above the Hardware industry median of 3.89. Westell Technologies' overall GF Score™ is 40/100 with 6 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 Westell Technologies (WSTL), the current Operating Margin % is 17.86% 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.
Westell Technologies Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes telecommunications solutions, which are sold to the telephone companies. It is organized into the following operating segments: In-Building Wireless (IBW), Intelligent Site Management (ISM), and Communications Network Solutions (CNS). The majority of its revenue is generated from the ISM segment, which includes a suite of remote units that provide machine-to-machine communications that enable operators to remotely monitor, manage, and control physical site infrastructure and support systems. Geographically, it derives a majority of its revenue from the United States of America.
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