West Pharmaceutical ServicesWST +1.20%95 Pretax Margin % is 21.32% as of Mar. 2026, which is 12% above its 10-year median of 19.12. GuruFocus rates WST with a GF Score™ of 95/100 and a GF Value™ of $361.52 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 9 warning signs investors should review. Among 817 Medical Devices & Instruments companies, West Pharmaceutical Services ranks better than 86.41% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for West Pharmaceutical Services's Pretax Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
WST'
s Pretax Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 12.58 Med: 19.12 Max: 26.45
Current: 20.82
WST's Pretax Margin % is ranked better than 86.41% of 817
companies
in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry
Industry Median: 2.43
vs WST: 20.82
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) Pretax Margin % Explanation
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
West Pharmaceutical Services Pretax Margin % Related Terms
West Pharmaceutical Services Pretax Margin % Historical Data
* 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.
West Pharmaceutical Services Pretax Margin % Chart
WST vs RMD, MDLN, SOLV: Pretax Margin % Comparison
For the Medical Instruments & Supplies subindustry, West Pharmaceutical Services's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax 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.
West Pharmaceutical Services Pretax Margin % vs Medical Devices & Instruments Industry
For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry and Healthcare sector, West Pharmaceutical Services's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where West Pharmaceutical Services's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* 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.
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has a Pretax Margin % of 21.32% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on West Pharmaceutical Services and its competitors. This is 12% above median its historical median of 19.12. Over the past decade, West Pharmaceutical Services' Pretax Margin % has ranged from 12.58 to 26.45. According to the industry distribution chart, West Pharmaceutical Services ranks #111 out of 817 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, placing it in the top 13.6%.
Is West Pharmaceutical Services' Pretax Margin % too high?
West Pharmaceutical Services' current Pretax Margin % of 21.32% is 12% above median its 10-year median of 19.12. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 12.58 to a high of 26.45. The Medical Devices & Instruments industry median Pretax Margin % is 2.43. West Pharmaceutical Services' value of 21.32% is 777.4% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, West Pharmaceutical Services ranks #111 out of 817 companies in the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, West Pharmaceutical Services has a GF Score™ of 95/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does West Pharmaceutical Services' Pretax Margin % compare to RMD and MDLN?
According to the Medical Devices & Instruments industry distribution chart, West Pharmaceutical Services ranks #111 out of 817 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places West Pharmaceutical Services in the top 14% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 2.43. West Pharmaceutical Services' value of 21.32% is 777.4% above this benchmark. Historically, West Pharmaceutical Services' own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 12.58 to 26.45 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 19.12 vs. the industry median of 2.43, West Pharmaceutical 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 Pretax Margin % for a Medical Devices & Instruments company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Medical Devices & Instruments companies is 2.43, based on 817 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. West Pharmaceutical Services's current Pretax Margin % of 21.32% is 777.4% 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 Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on West Pharmaceutical Services and its competitors. For the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 2.43 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. West Pharmaceutical Services's current Pretax Margin % is 21.32%, which is 12% above median its own 10-year median of 19.12. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is West Pharmaceutical Services stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $361.52, compared to a current price of $340.41 — trading 5.8% below its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 21.32%, which is 12% above median its 10-year median of 19.12 and 777.4% above the Medical Devices & Instruments industry median of 2.43. West Pharmaceutical Services' overall GF Score™ is 95/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), the current Pretax Margin % is 21.32% 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, West Pharmaceutical Services stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $340.41 is trading 5.8% below its estimated GF Value™ of $361.52.
GuruFocus considers West Pharmaceutical Services to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for WST:
Pretax Margin %: 21.32% (12% above median its 10-year median of 19.12)
GF Value™: $361.52 vs. price of $340.41 (5.8% below fair value)
Industry Position: 777.4% above the Medical Devices & Instruments median (#111 of 817)
No single metric tells the full story. See the WST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
West Pharmaceutical Services is based in Pennsylvania and is a key supplier to firms in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and generic drug industries. West sells elastomer-based packaging components (including stoppers, seals, and plungers), nonglass containment solutions, and auto-injectors for injectable drugs, which include large-molecule biologics, peptides such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, and small-molecule drugs. The company reports in two segments: proprietary products (about 80% of total revenue) and contract-manufactured products (about 20% of total revenue). It generates approximately 55% of its revenue from international markets and 45% from the United States.
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