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Knife River Corporation (KNF)
NYSE:KNF
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Knife River Corporation (KNF) AI Stock Analysis

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KNF

Knife River Corporation

(NYSE:KNF)

Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$95.00
▲(7.91% Upside)
Knife River Corporation's overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth but is tempered by declining margins, increased leverage, and cash flow challenges. The technical indicators suggest mixed momentum, while the valuation indicates the stock may be overvalued. The earnings call highlighted both strategic progress and significant operational challenges, contributing to a balanced outlook.
Positive Factors
Acquisitions and Growth
The company is an acquirer of choice for many aggregate-led construction materials targets with a healthy pipeline of deals.
Financial Performance
The full-year EBITDA guidance was raised significantly due to the recent Strata acquisition, indicating strong expected financial performance.
Government Funding
Public funding is a key driver for project growth, and government infrastructure spend is a large driver of KNF’s earnings.
Negative Factors
Macroeconomic Uncertainty
There have been slowdowns and project delays on the private side of the business given tariff and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Project Delays
There have been some delayed construction projects in Oregon due to funding delays and market uncertainty, expected to impact future results.
Seasonality Challenges
Knife River Corporation's Q1 EBITDA loss was larger than expected due to seasonality impacts in colder-weather states, affecting construction project timelines.

Knife River Corporation (KNF) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Knife River Corporation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKnife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting services to support the aggregate-based product lines, including heavy-civil construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. It serves federal, state, and municipal governments for various projects, such as highways, bridges, airports, schools, public buildings, and other public-infrastructure projects. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.
How the Company Makes MoneyKnife River Corporation generates revenue through the sale of construction materials such as aggregate, asphalt, and ready-mix concrete. The company operates quarries and production facilities to extract and process raw materials, which are then sold to contractors and other businesses involved in construction projects. Additionally, Knife River offers contracting services, providing expertise in infrastructure development, paving, and site preparation. This dual approach allows the company to capitalize on both material sales and service contracts. Key revenue streams include long-term contracts with governmental agencies for public infrastructure projects, as well as partnerships with private construction firms for commercial and residential developments. Regional demand for construction and infrastructure development significantly influences its earnings.

Knife River Corporation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 4.36%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 10, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed picture. While the company achieved a record backlog and made significant progress on dynamic pricing and strategic acquisitions, it faced substantial weather-related disruptions and challenges in Oregon that negatively impacted revenue and EBITDA. The sentiment is balanced with strong performance in some segments offset by significant challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Backlog
Knife River reported a record backlog of $1.3 billion, the highest of any quarter in the company's history, with $650 million in new projects secured during the second quarter, a $250 million increase from the same time last year.
Strong Performance in West Segment
The West segment, including California, Hawaii, and Alaska, saw aggregate volumes up almost 60%, with ready-mix volumes up in both Hawaii and Alaska, and contracting services revenue in California improved by 30% over last year.
Dynamic Pricing and Margin Improvement
The implementation of dynamic pricing initiatives resulted in significant pricing improvements, with aggregates prices up almost 12% and ready-mix prices up 8% over last year, contributing to higher gross profit per ton.
Strategic Acquisitions
The acquisition of Strata led to record second-quarter volumes, revenue, and EBITDA in the Central segment, and additional acquisitions in Oregon and Minnesota are expected to support future growth.
Negative Updates
Weather-Related Disruptions
Unfavorable weather, including rain on nearly 40% of available workdays in key markets, negatively impacted construction revenue, materials volumes, and Energy Services operations, leading to substantial disruptions.
Challenges in Oregon
Project availability in Oregon was limited due to delays on both public and private sides, with aggregate volumes down about 25%, impacting over 50% of Knife River's EBITDA variance for the quarter.
Flooding Impact in Texas
Flooding in Texas caused damage to the Honey Creek quarry operations, with access roads washed out and the rail line under reconstruction, leading to expected sales volume declines for the third quarter.
Lower Contracting Services Revenue
Contracting services revenue declined by 8.5% for the quarter compared to last year, due to weather-related delays and reduced project availability in key markets.
Company Guidance
During the call, Knife River Corporation provided updated financial guidance for 2025, highlighting several key metrics. The company revised its adjusted EBITDA guidance to between $475 million and $525 million, with segment contributions of $425 million to $465 million and Energy Services contributing $50 million to $60 million. This revision reflects a reduction of $55 million in the midpoint of their previous guidance, primarily due to challenges in the Oregon market and adverse weather conditions. The company's consolidated revenue is projected to be between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion. Despite these challenges, Knife River reported a record backlog of $1.3 billion, driven by securing $650 million in new projects during the quarter. The company also expects to achieve high single-digit pricing increases in aggregates, signifying the traction of their dynamic pricing strategy, while maintaining a long-term goal of reaching a 20% adjusted EBITDA margin.

Knife River Corporation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Knife River Corporation demonstrates strong financial performance, with consistent revenue growth and effective cost management. The balance sheet is stable, but increasing debt levels need monitoring. Cash flows are well-managed, supporting operations, despite some fluctuations.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Knife River Corporation demonstrates strong financial performance with a consistent revenue growth trend, reflected by a 16% increase from 2022 to 2023. The gross profit margin and EBIT margin are solid, indicating effective cost management. However, there is a slight decline in net profit margin compared to the previous year, which suggests rising operational costs or other expenses.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The company's balance sheet is stable with a moderate debt-to-equity ratio, which suggests a balanced use of debt and equity financing. The equity ratio is healthy, indicating a strong equity position relative to total assets. However, the increasing debt levels over the years pose a potential risk that needs to be monitored.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals robust operating cash flows, consistently covering capital expenditures, reflecting good cash management. The free cash flow to net income ratio is positive, indicating that the company generates sufficient cash to cover net income. However, fluctuations in free cash flow growth highlight potential volatility in cash management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.95B2.90B2.83B2.53B2.23B2.18B
Gross Profit534.72M569.83M538.93M347.27M346.95M370.58M
EBITDA340.47M463.11M427.09M310.81M290.90M302.46M
Net Income153.28M201.68M182.87M72.92M129.75M147.32M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.63B2.85B2.60B2.51B2.18B0.00
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments77.70M281.13M262.32M221.29M13.85M0.00
Total Debt1.40B726.76M726.37M925.29M734.52M0.00
Total Liabilities2.17B1.38B1.33B1.48B1.23B0.00
Stockholders Equity1.46B1.48B1.27B1.03B952.84M0.00
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-53.10M149.90M211.44M29.28M7.01M96.53M
Operating Cash Flow244.30M322.32M335.73M207.44M181.24M232.40M
Investing Cash Flow-886.50M-294.80M-117.89M-155.88M-398.27M-185.85M
Financing Cash Flow662.77M-8.71M34.39M-55.32M223.80M-47.95M

Knife River Corporation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price88.04
Price Trends
50DMA
83.74
Positive
100DMA
88.67
Negative
200DMA
93.88
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
1.15
Negative
RSI
67.36
Neutral
STOCH
86.66
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KNF, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 88.04 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 82.33, above the 50-day MA of 83.74, and below the 200-day MA of 93.88, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.15 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.36 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.66 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KNF.

Knife River Corporation Risk Analysis

Knife River Corporation disclosed 45 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Knife River Corporation 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 3 New Risks
1.
We operate in a capital-intensive industry and are subject to capital market and interest rate risks. Q4, 2024
2.
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may be able to incur substantially more debt, which could increase the risks to our financial condition described above. Q4, 2024
3.
The incurrence by us of substantial indebtedness in connection with the financing of the Acquisition may have an adverse impact on our liquidity, limit our flexibility in responding to other business opportunities, and increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions. Q4, 2024

Knife River Corporation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (44)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$37.86B40.0511.89%0.66%0.19%4.33%
77
Outperform
$7.31B16.5931.87%0.44%0.88%-4.17%
75
Outperform
$13.05B8.407.12%0.98%-9.62%795.20%
74
Outperform
$36.05B33.1312.10%0.52%-0.54%-48.61%
71
Outperform
$3.10B12.1811.77%7.11%-4.67%-35.04%
65
Neutral
$4.99B32.7411.11%2.64%-22.49%
44
Neutral
AU$1.47B-5.90-41.17%4.21%-3.35%-41.14%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KNF
Knife River Corporation
88.04
15.24
20.93%
CX
Cemex SAB
8.62
2.44
39.48%
EXP
Eagle Materials
225.16
-13.17
-5.53%
MLM
Martin Marietta Materials
610.92
88.89
17.03%
VMC
Vulcan Materials
286.52
46.46
19.35%
BCC
Boise Cascade
82.09
-38.96
-32.19%

Knife River Corporation Corporate Events

Financial DisclosuresRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Knife River Corporation Reports Q2 2025 Earnings
Neutral
Aug 5, 2025

On August 5, 2025, Knife River Corporation announced its second quarter 2025 earnings. The announcement, which was also submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, could have implications for the company’s financial performance and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (KNF) stock is a Buy with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Knife River Corporation stock, see the KNF Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Knife River Corporation Holds Annual Meeting with Key Approvals
Neutral
May 28, 2025

On May 22, 2025, Knife River Corporation held its Annual Meeting where four proposals were presented to stockholders. All company nominees for Class II directors were elected, the compensation for named executive officers was approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2025, and an amendment to eliminate supermajority voting requirements was passed.

The most recent analyst rating on (KNF) stock is a Buy with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Knife River Corporation stock, see the KNF 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 08, 2025