What is Operating Profit Margin? 

If you have decided to invest in stocks and are looking to identify a company to invest in, then you need to compare companies based on various parameters. One of such parameters is the operating profit margin. 

In this blog, we will explain the concept of operating profit margin, along with the formula and an example.

Meaning of Operating Profit Margin

Operating profit margin is a financial metric that reflects the percentage of a company’s revenue that is left after paying all the operating expenses related to production, including wages, raw materials, etc. before paying interest or taxes. 

Features of Operating Profit Margin

The key features of operating profit margin are as follows:

1. Business Profitability: Operating profit margin reflects the efficiency of a company in generating profit from its core business operations.
2. Comparative Analysis: The operating profit margin is generally used to compare the profit of the company with its competitors.
3. Operating Expenses: Only items related to operating expenses are considered when calculating the operating profit.

Formula of Operating Profit Margin

The formula to calculate the operating profit margin is as follows:

Operating Profit Margin = (Operating Profit/Revenue)*100

Where;

Operating Profit = Revenue – COGS – Operating Expenses

Revenue = Total income earned by the company before any type of cost or expenses is deducted.

Example of Operating Profit Margin

Let’s understand the example of operating profit margin with an example.

Company XYZ has made a sale of 

• Revenue = ₹10,00,000 
• Cost of Goods Sold = ₹2,00,000
• Operating Expenses = ₹3,00,000 

Now we will have to calculate the operating profit.
Operating Profit = Revenue – COGS – Operating Expenses

Operating Profit = ₹10,00,000 – ₹2,00,000 – ₹3,00,000 = ₹5,00,000

The formula to calculate the operating profit margin is 

Operating Profit Margin = Operating Profit/Revenue*100

where,

Operating Profit = ₹5,00,000

Revenue = ₹10,00,000

Operating Profit Margin = 5,00,000/10,00,000*100 = 50%
Hence, the operating profit margin of XYZ Limited is 50%.

Importance of Operating Profit Margin

The importance of operating profit margin is mentioned below:

1. Evaluation: Operating profit margin allows us to evaluate the efficiency of a company based on its operations. A higher margin shows that the company has lower input costs and higher sales.
2. Profitability: A higher operating margin will increase the net profitability of the company.
3. Competitive Advantage: When comparing companies with their peers, operating margins play an important role, as companies with lower profit margins are considered a financial trouble.
4. Decision Making: Based on the operating margins, the company can decide the prices of their products and make decisions related to cost-cutting.

Factors Affecting Operating Profit Margin

The factors mentioned below will affect the operating profit margin:

1. Raw Material: The input cost or the cost of raw material used by the company in producing goods can affect the operating profit margin. The higher the cost, the lower the profit margin.
2. Labour Cost: If the labour cost is high, the operating profit will be less.
3. Availability of Resources: If the resources are not available readily, then it can lead to an increase in production costs.
4. Distribution Channel: If the channel through which the raw material is supplied or goods get delivered gets disrupted, then the cost of production will increase.

Conclusion

On a concluding note, operating profit margin plays an important role in evaluating the company’s efficiency in generating profits from its core business operations. Improving or high operating profit margin posted by the company over time indicates efficient management, effective cost control, and a competitive edge over other companies. However, investing based only on the operating profit margin is not a wise decision. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your investment advisor before making any investment decision.

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