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Knowles Corp (KN)
NYSE:KN
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Knowles (KN) AI Stock Analysis

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KN

Knowles

(NYSE:KN)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$23.50
▲(8.85% Upside)
Knowles Corporation demonstrates strong operational efficiency and positive technical indicators, contributing significantly to its overall score. The optimistic earnings call further supports a favorable outlook. However, high valuation metrics and revenue growth challenges slightly temper the overall score.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Knowles posted better results and guidance as the company benefited from broad-based strength across all its end markets.
Market Opportunities
Knowles highlighted new growth areas with the launch of its new Ceramic Inductor line and MedTech Micro Solutions, which could provide upside to CAGR targets.
Operational Efficiency
GMs were better than expected, driven by improved pricing and increased factory capacity utilization in the PD segment.
Negative Factors
Analyst Outlook
Analyst remains Neutral as continued progress on the recovery is awaited.
Market Competition
Knowles noted the potential to gain market share from competitors due to the tariff situation, which could provide incremental upside.
Tariff Impact
Knowles reiterated its prior estimate that less than 5% of revenue and less than 3% of COGS will be impacted by tariffs, expecting to recover almost all of the tariff impacts through price increases and surcharges.

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:Jul 24, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 23, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a strong financial performance with significant revenue growth and increased EPS, driven by positive trends in the MedTech & Specialty Audio and Precision Devices segments. Despite some gross margin pressures and increased expenses, the company demonstrated strong cash flow and robust order activity. Overall, the positive highlights significantly outweighed the lowlights.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Q2 2025 revenue was $146 million, representing an 8% increase year-over-year and exceeding the high end of the guidance range.
EPS Increase
Earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 2025 was $0.24, up 20% year-over-year and above the midpoint of the guidance range.
Cash Flow Performance
Cash from operations was $36 million, exceeding the high end of the guidance range.
MedTech & Specialty Audio Segment Growth
Revenue for this segment was $67 million, up 13% sequentially and 10% year-over-year.
Precision Devices Segment Growth
Revenue for this segment was $79 million, up 8% sequentially and 6% year-over-year.
Bookings and Order Activity
Third consecutive quarter with positive bookings trends, with a book-to-bill ratio over 1.15 in the Precision Devices segment.
Share Repurchase Program
Repurchased $30 million in shares during Q2, funded by strong cash generation from operations.
Negative Updates
Gross Margin Pressure
Overall gross margins were 44.3%, with Q2 MedTech & Specialty Audio segment gross margins at 50.6%, down 280 basis points year-over-year due to unfavorable product mix and higher factory costs.
R&D and SG&A Expense Increases
R&D expenses were $9 million, slightly up from Q2 2024, and SG&A expenses were $28 million, up $2 million due to annual merit increases and higher incentive compensation costs.
Company Guidance
During the Q2 2025 earnings call, Knowles Corporation provided guidance that indicated strong performance and growth prospects. The company reported revenue of $146 million, an 8% year-over-year increase, and EPS of $0.24, up 20% from the previous year. Cash from operations was robust at $36 million, surpassing the high end of the guided range. For Q3 2025, Knowles expects revenues between $144 million and $154 million, with projected EPS ranging from $0.29 to $0.33. The company anticipates continued revenue growth in its MedTech & Specialty Audio and Precision Devices segments, driven by strong demand and new design wins. Knowles is also focused on expanding its specialty film production line and introducing new products like its inductor line to drive future growth. Despite market uncertainties, the company is optimistic about its organic growth potential and plans to continue share repurchases while maintaining manageable debt levels.

Knowles Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Knowles faces challenges in revenue growth and profitability with a negative net profit margin and declining revenue. Although the balance sheet shows moderate stability, declining equity and profitability raise concerns. Cash flow remains a strong point, with healthy operating cash flow aiding financial stability.
Income Statement
42
Neutral
The income statement reveals a challenging period for Knowles with declining revenue and net losses. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data shows a negative net profit margin and EBITDA, indicating profitability concerns. However, gross profit margin remains positive, suggesting operational efficiency. The decline in revenue from the previous year highlights potential market challenges or loss of competitive edge.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a moderate financial position with a reasonable debt-to-equity ratio and a positive equity ratio, reflecting financial stability. However, the decline in stockholders' equity over the years is a concern. The company has managed its liabilities well, maintaining a moderate level of total debt relative to equity.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows a healthy operating cash flow, but a declining trend in free cash flow growth rate. The company maintains a positive free cash flow, indicating potential for reinvestment and debt servicing. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, suggesting that operating activities are generating sufficient cash relative to net income.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue563.10M553.50M707.60M764.70M868.10M764.30M
Gross Profit237.70M234.80M283.40M276.30M359.50M271.20M
EBITDA287.60M51.80M98.90M-360.00M184.90M110.50M
Net Income26.40M-239.50M72.40M-430.10M150.40M2.90M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.09B1.12B1.46B1.18B1.73B1.65B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments103.20M130.10M87.30M48.20M68.90M147.80M
Total Debt210.90M213.00M286.70M60.60M96.10M194.00M
Total Liabilities342.20M362.20M428.70M191.00M272.10M351.40M
Stockholders Equity746.10M756.00M1.03B992.90M1.46B1.30B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow109.50M116.50M105.50M54.20M133.50M96.20M
Operating Cash Flow125.60M130.10M122.70M86.30M182.10M128.10M
Investing Cash Flow36.00M45.20M-141.60M-32.70M-129.60M-35.10M
Financing Cash Flow-142.50M-132.00M58.20M-73.20M-131.40M-23.90M

Knowles Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price21.59
Price Trends
50DMA
19.14
Positive
100DMA
17.57
Positive
200DMA
17.95
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.63
Negative
RSI
66.71
Neutral
STOCH
85.92
Negative
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 21.59 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 20.46, above the 50-day MA of 19.14, and above the 200-day MA of 17.95, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.63 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 66.71 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.92 is Negative, 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
78
Outperform
$1.26B29.867.21%-2.37%147.46%
78
Outperform
$1.07B16.1016.36%24.14%16.17%
75
Outperform
$1.84B77.693.60%-28.85%
70
Outperform
$731.29M13.0429.11%4.90%3.30%9.66%
70
Outperform
$785.84M12.5712.97%0.76%
61
Neutral
$35.62B7.50-10.94%1.87%8.86%-10.27%
60
Neutral
$4.14B-12.48%-1.43%43.14%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KN
Knowles
21.59
3.14
17.02%
DGII
Digi International
34.27
4.81
16.33%
HLIT
Harmonic
9.49
-4.96
-34.33%
ITRN
Ituran Location And Control
36.36
9.63
36.03%
NTGR
Netgear
27.12
10.89
67.10%
VSAT
ViaSat
32.50
16.80
107.01%

Knowles Corporate Events

M&A TransactionsShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Knowles Announces Investor Update Meeting on May 13
Positive
May 13, 2025

Knowles Corporation announced an investor update meeting scheduled for May 13, 2025, to discuss its business and financial outlook. The company is repositioning its portfolio towards higher-margin products and markets, including MedTech, Defense, and Industrial sectors, and aims for significant revenue and EBITDA growth over the next five years. The strategic shift involves divestitures and acquisitions, enhancing its market position and financial performance, which is expected to create value for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (KN) stock is a Buy with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Knowles stock, see the KN Stock Forecast page.

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: Aug 14, 2025