tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Knowles Corp (KN)
NYSE:KN
Advertisement

Knowles (KN) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
216 Followers

Top Page

KN

Knowles

(NYSE:KN)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 69 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$26.00
▲(10.08% Upside)
Knowles Corporation shows a positive financial trajectory with improving profitability and a strong balance sheet. Technical indicators support a bullish outlook. However, the high P/E ratio suggests potential overvaluation, and cash flow challenges need addressing. The earnings call highlighted strong growth prospects, particularly in the Precision Devices segment, despite some cost challenges.
Positive Factors
Strong Revenue Growth in Precision Devices
The Precision Devices segment's strong growth indicates robust demand across medtech, defense, and industrial markets, supporting long-term revenue expansion.
Effective Cash Flow Management
Strong cash flow management supports strategic investments, share buybacks, and debt reduction, enhancing financial stability and shareholder value.
Guidance for Continued Growth
Positive revenue guidance for Q4 2025 indicates continued business momentum and confidence in market demand, underpinning future growth prospects.
Negative Factors
Higher Production Costs in Specialty Film
Increased production costs in the specialty film line could pressure margins, requiring efficiency improvements to maintain profitability.
Increased SG&A Expenses
Rising SG&A expenses may impact net margins, necessitating cost control measures to sustain profitability and operational efficiency.
Tariff Exposure
While currently manageable, tariff exposure poses a risk to cost structures and pricing strategies, potentially affecting competitive positioning.

Knowles (KN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Knowles Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKnowles Corporation (KN) is a leading provider of advanced micro-acoustic microphones, balanced armature speakers, and other audio solutions. The company operates primarily in the consumer electronics, mobile communications, and industrial markets, offering innovative products that enhance audio performance in various devices. Knowles is recognized for its cutting-edge technology in sound capture and reproduction, catering to manufacturers of smartphones, wearables, and other electronic devices.
How the Company Makes MoneyKnowles generates revenue through the sale of its audio components, particularly its MEMS microphones and speakers, which are integral to smartphones, tablets, and other consumer electronics. The company maintains key partnerships with major technology companies, allowing it to secure long-term contracts and a stable customer base. Additionally, Knowles benefits from a diversified product portfolio that includes both high-end and cost-effective audio solutions, enabling it to capture a wide market segment. The company's revenue model is primarily based on direct sales to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and ODMs (original design manufacturers), along with licensing agreements for its proprietary technologies.

Knowles Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 23, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a generally positive sentiment with strong revenue and EPS growth, particularly in the Precision Devices segment and defense market. The company is demonstrating effective cash flow management and strategic investments leading to share buybacks and debt reduction. However, challenges remain with higher production costs in the specialty film line, increased SG&A expenses, and tariff exposure. Overall, the highlights outweigh the lowlights, suggesting optimistic future growth.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Overall Revenue and EPS Growth
Revenue for Q3 2025 was $153 million, up 7% year-over-year. EPS increased by 22% year-over-year to $0.33.
Precision Devices Segment Success
Q3 revenue for the Precision Devices segment was $88 million, up 12% year-over-year with strong growth across medtech, defense, industrial, and EV and energy markets.
Strong Cash Flow and Share Buyback
Cash from operations was $29 million, enabling a share buyback of $20 million and a reduction in bank borrowings by $15 million.
Defense Market Performance
The defense market showed particularly strong design wins and bookings, supported by increased defense spending and robust demand for military applications.
Guidance for Continued Growth
Revenue for Q4 2025 is expected to be between $151 million and $161 million, up 9% at the midpoint year-over-year, with EPS projected between $0.33 and $0.37.
Negative Updates
Higher Production Costs in Specialty Film
The ramp-up of the specialty film product line resulted in higher production costs and lower-than-expected yields, impacting gross margins.
Increased SG&A Expenses
SG&A expenses rose by $2 million from the prior year, driven by annual merit increases and higher incentive compensation costs.
Tariff Exposure
While tariff exposure is less than 5% of revenue and 3% of cost of goods sold, it remains a concern, though successfully passed on to customers so far.
Company Guidance
During the Q3 2025 earnings call, Knowles Corporation reported strong financial performance, with revenue reaching $153 million, a 7% increase year-over-year. Earnings per share (EPS) were $0.33, marking a 22% rise from the previous year, and cash from operations was $29 million, all surpassing the midpoint of their guidance range. The Medtech & Specialty Audio segment achieved $65 million in revenue, a 2% increase, while the Precision Devices segment reported $88 million in revenue, up 12%. The company anticipates continued growth, with Medtech & Specialty Audio projected to grow 2% to 4%, and Precision Devices expected to grow at the high end of their 6% to 8% range in 2025. Cash generation from operations is projected to be 16% to 20% of revenues for the year, supporting share repurchases and debt reduction. For Q4 2025, Knowles expects revenues between $151 million and $161 million, with EPS forecasted to range from $0.33 to $0.37.

Knowles Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Knowles has demonstrated a recovery in profitability and maintains a strong balance sheet with low leverage. While revenue growth and profit margins are improving, cash flow metrics indicate potential challenges in sustaining growth. Overall, the company is on a positive trajectory but needs to focus on enhancing operational efficiency and cash flow generation.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Knowles has shown a modest revenue growth rate of 1.85% TTM, with a strong gross profit margin of 42.01%. The net profit margin improved significantly to 7.55% TTM from a negative margin in the previous year, indicating a turnaround in profitability. However, the EBIT margin of 5.31% and EBITDA margin of 51.60% TTM suggest room for improvement in operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26 TTM indicates a conservative leverage position, which is positive for financial stability. The return on equity (ROE) of 5.75% TTM shows a recovery from previous losses, although it remains below industry averages. The equity ratio of 69.09% TTM reflects a strong capital structure with a high proportion of equity financing.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.58 TTM suggests moderate cash generation relative to earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.80 TTM is healthy, but the free cash flow growth rate has declined by 25.30% TTM, indicating potential challenges in sustaining cash flow growth.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue573.50M553.50M456.80M764.70M868.10M764.30M
Gross Profit233.80M221.20M200.10M300.80M341.50M259.30M
EBITDA95.60M92.40M70.90M-360.00M181.50M89.00M
Net Income39.30M-239.50M72.40M-430.10M150.40M6.60M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.09B1.12B1.46B1.18B1.73B1.65B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments92.50M130.10M87.30M48.20M68.90M147.80M
Total Debt197.00M213.00M286.70M64.50M102.40M202.10M
Total Liabilities336.40M362.20M428.70M191.00M275.10M351.40M
Stockholders Equity751.80M756.00M1.03B992.90M1.46B1.30B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow81.80M116.50M105.50M54.20M133.50M96.20M
Operating Cash Flow101.90M130.10M122.70M86.30M182.10M128.10M
Investing Cash Flow32.00M45.20M-141.60M-32.70M-129.60M-35.10M
Financing Cash Flow-133.40M-132.00M58.20M-73.20M-131.40M-23.90M

Knowles Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price23.62
Price Trends
50DMA
22.71
Positive
100DMA
20.73
Positive
200DMA
18.72
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.26
Positive
RSI
54.43
Neutral
STOCH
45.82
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 23.62 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.52, above the 50-day MA of 22.71, and above the 200-day MA of 18.72, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.26 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 54.43 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 45.82 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KN.

Knowles Risk Analysis

Knowles disclosed 23 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Knowles reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Knowles Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
$1.21B18.2116.36%24.14%16.17%
$1.41B33.327.21%-2.37%147.46%
$2.01B52.964.68%-24.42%
$3.81B260.272.13%15.60%
$983.10M-37.27-4.94%2.94%-228.28%
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
$843.75M-7.98-53.68%3.52%81.33%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KN
Knowles
23.62
6.30
36.37%
ADTN
Adtran
10.54
4.46
73.36%
DGII
Digi International
37.99
9.02
31.14%
HLIT
Harmonic
10.65
-0.44
-3.97%
NTGR
Netgear
33.89
11.97
54.61%
VIAV
Viavi Solutions
17.10
7.88
85.47%

Knowles Corporate Events

Knowles Corporation’s Earnings Call Highlights Strong Growth
Oct 25, 2025

The recent earnings call for Knowles Corporation reflected a generally positive sentiment, with notable achievements in revenue and EPS growth, particularly within the Precision Devices segment and defense market. The company is effectively managing its cash flow and making strategic investments, leading to share buybacks and debt reduction. Despite facing challenges such as higher production costs in the specialty film line, increased SG&A expenses, and tariff exposure, the overall outlook remains optimistic for future growth.

Knowles Corporation Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results
Oct 24, 2025

Knowles Corporation, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, is a leading manufacturer of specialty electronic components, including high-performance capacitors, RF filters, advanced medtech microphones, and balanced armature speakers, serving medtech, defense, and industrial markets globally.

Knowles Corporation Reports Strong Q2 Earnings and Positive Outlook
Jul 29, 2025

The latest earnings call from Knowles Corporation paints a picture of robust performance and a positive outlook for the future. The company reported strong revenue and EPS growth, which exceeded expectations, and expressed optimism about market trends. While challenges such as gross margin pressure and existing debt levels were acknowledged, the overall sentiment was decidedly upbeat, with the highlights significantly outweighing the lowlights.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 26, 2025