Knowles Corp
KN · Household Audio & Video Equipment · 85.6M shares · -0%/yr ↓ buyback · EDGAR filings ↗
Net buyback after stock comp: $18M (gross $48M, SBC $29M)
Reference price $37.33 · est. market cap ~$3.2B — last insider sale, 2026-05-27 (estimated from the dated SEC Form 4 price × shares outstanding — not a live quote)
Grade
B72Above-average specialty electronic components maker with strong margins and ROA but only mid-pack ROE and heavy customer concentration.
Strengths
- High operating margin (75th pct) and ROA (76th pct) with low leverage (debt/equity 32nd pct)
- Healthy liquidity (current ratio 2.75) and defensible niche in defense, medtech and hearing-health
- Net margin 67th pct
Risks
- Modest ROE (~5.7%, 51st pct) caps the return profile
- Significant customer/distributor concentration (WS Audiology 11%, TTI 10% of consolidated revenue)
- Reliance on sole-source foundries and US government contract compliance
Notable findings
- Exec changeRecent 8-K item 5.02 8-K ↗
- Customer concentration~76% of revenue from one customer/distributor — For 2025, MSA's top five customers accounted for approximately 76% of its revenues, with WS Audiology A/S accounting for approximately 24% of MSA's revenues and 11% of the consolidated Company revenue
- Strong balance sheetStrong balance sheet — $138M cash & investments
- China exposureAmong the causes for debarment are violations of various laws and regulations, including those related to procurement integrity, export control (including International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("I
- Insider sellingInsider selling — 24 open-market sale(s) by 8 insider(s) (cluster of 8 insiders, ~$13M, last 6mo) Form 4 ↗
Quarterly revenue
Last 4 quarters · from SEC filings.
Key metrics
Gross margin
43.2%
Operating margin
11.9%
Net margin
7.5%
Return on equity
5.7%
Return on assets
4.2%
ROIC
6.2%
Revenue growth (QoQ)
-5.6%
Debt / equity
0.1×
Net debt / EBITDA
-0.2×
Current ratio
2.8×
EBITDA
$107M
Tangible book value
$364M
Cash & investments
$138M
Stock comp / revenue
4.8%
Insider transactions · last 18 months
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-27 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Sell | 10K | $37.33 |
| 2026-05-27 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Sell | 10K | $37.31 |
| 2026-05-13 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 18K | $36.62 |
| 2026-05-13 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Option exercise | 25K | $16.77 |
| 2026-05-05 | Niew Jeffrey | Option exercise | 143K | $16.77 |
| 2026-05-05 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 143K | $33.25 |
| 2026-04-30 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 3.6K | $30.91 |
| 2026-04-29 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 2.2K | $29.96 |
| 2026-04-28 | SHAVERS CHERYL L | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | Angelini Laura | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 2.0K | $30.26 |
| 2026-04-28 | Cardew Jason M | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | Crowley Daniel J | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | BARNES KEITH | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | Li Ye Jane | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-28 | WISHART MICHAEL S | Grant | 6.3K | $30.33 |
| 2026-04-27 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 2.3K | $30.68 |
| 2026-02-26 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 9.2K | $27.88 |
| 2026-02-24 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 7.4K | $28.10 |
| 2026-02-20 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 3.1K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-20 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 3.1K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-20 | SHAVERS CHERYL L | Sell | 3.7K | $27.40 |
| 2026-02-20 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 17K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-20 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 4.0K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-20 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 2.3K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-20 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 5.7K | $27.54 |
| 2026-02-19 | BARNES KEITH | Sell | 41K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 16K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 2.1K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 5.2K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 2.8K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 3.6K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-18 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 2.8K | $27.16 |
| 2026-02-17 | PERNA ROBERT J | Grant | 35K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 15K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | PERNA ROBERT J | Grant | 14K | — |
| 2026-02-17 | Anderson John S. | Grant | 64K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Grant | 30K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 13K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Grant | 14K | — |
| 2026-02-17 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 29K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Grant | 40K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 18K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Grant | 17K | — |
| 2026-02-17 | Anderson John S. | Grant | 24K | — |
| 2026-02-17 | Niew Jeffrey | Grant | 213K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 94K | $27.14 |
| 2026-02-17 | Niew Jeffrey | Grant | 73K | — |
| 2026-02-17 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Grant | 11K | — |
| 2026-02-10 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 16K | $27.13 |
| 2026-02-10 | BARNES KEITH | Gift | 41K | — |
| 2026-02-10 | BARNES KEITH | Gift | 41K | — |
| 2026-02-10 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 3.2K | $27.09 |
| 2026-02-10 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 9.0K | $27.00 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 9.6K | $26.75 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 2.4K | $26.82 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Option exercise | 12K | $21.14 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 10K | $27.24 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Option exercise | 8.1K | $20.60 |
| 2026-02-09 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 7.0K | $27.24 |
| 2026-02-09 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Sell | 10K | $26.75 |
| 2026-02-09 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Sell | 16K | $27.22 |
| 2026-02-06 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 2.3K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-06 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 2.6K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-06 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 3.3K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-06 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 14K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-06 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 2.9K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-06 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $26.00 |
| 2026-02-06 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $26.50 |
| 2026-02-06 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $27.00 |
| 2026-02-06 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 5.3K | $26.98 |
| 2026-02-03 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $25.50 |
| 2026-02-03 | Li Ye Jane | Gift | 7.4K | — |
| 2026-02-03 | Li Ye Jane | Gift | 7.4K | — |
| 2026-01-30 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 1.7K | $24.24 |
| 2026-01-30 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 1.7K | $24.24 |
| 2026-01-30 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 1.7K | $24.24 |
| 2026-01-30 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 2.2K | $24.24 |
| 2026-01-30 | Anderson John S. | Grant | 17K | — |
| 2026-01-15 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $25.00 |
| 2026-01-15 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $24.50 |
| 2025-12-11 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 26K | $24.04 |
| 2025-12-11 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Option exercise | 32K | $16.77 |
| 2025-12-10 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $24.00 |
| 2025-12-04 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 25K | $23.50 |
| 2025-11-25 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $21.95 |
| 2025-11-25 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 1.4K | $22.40 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $20.90 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $20.80 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $21.50 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $20.90 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $20.80 |
| 2025-11-21 | Anderson John S. | Sell | 10K | $21.50 |
| 2025-11-03 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 38K | $23.55 |
| 2025-11-03 | Niew Jeffrey | Option exercise | 38K | $16.07 |
| 2025-10-31 | Niew Jeffrey | Option exercise | 98K | $16.07 |
| 2025-10-31 | Niew Jeffrey | Sell | 98K | $23.71 |
| 2025-08-25 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Option exercise | 24K | $16.07 |
| 2025-08-25 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 21K | $21.35 |
| 2025-08-22 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Option exercise | 30K | $16.07 |
| 2025-08-22 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 26K | $21.57 |
| 2025-08-13 | Anderson John S. | Option exercise | 42K | $16.77 |
| 2025-08-13 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 37K | $21.01 |
| 2025-08-05 | SHAVERS CHERYL L | Sell | 21K | $20.02 |
| 2025-07-29 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Sell | 10K | $20.94 |
| 2025-07-28 | PERNA ROBERT J | Option exercise | 27K | $17.39 |
| 2025-07-28 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 27K | $20.47 |
| 2025-07-28 | PERNA ROBERT J | Option exercise | 29K | $16.77 |
| 2025-07-28 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 29K | $20.47 |
| 2025-05-15 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Sell | 5.3K | $17.25 |
| 2025-05-15 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Sell | 208 | $17.26 |
| 2025-04-29 | Crowley Daniel J | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | Cardew Jason M | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | BARNES KEITH | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | WISHART MICHAEL S | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | SHAVERS CHERYL L | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | Angelini Laura | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | Li Ye Jane | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-04-29 | HIRSCH DIDIER | Grant | 12K | $15.98 |
| 2025-03-20 | PERNA ROBERT J | Gift | 9.2K | — |
| 2025-03-20 | PERNA ROBERT J | Gift | 9.2K | — |
| 2025-02-26 | PERNA ROBERT J | Sell | 10K | $17.02 |
| 2025-02-20 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 3.1K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-20 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 17K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-20 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 4.0K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-20 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 3.1K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-20 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 2.3K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-20 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 5.5K | $17.84 |
| 2025-02-18 | Anderson John S. | Grant | 28K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | PERNA ROBERT J | Grant | 17K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 7.3K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | PERNA ROBERT J | Grant | 19K | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Grant | 16K | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Grant | 19K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 8.4K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Grant | 25K | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 6.3K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Grant | 14K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Grant | 19K | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Niew Jeffrey | Grant | 96K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 43K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Niew Jeffrey | Grant | 108K | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 12K | $18.34 |
| 2025-02-18 | Anderson John S. | Grant | 35K | — |
| 2025-02-07 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 4.0K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-07 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 2.5K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-07 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 12K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-07 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 2.8K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-07 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 2.2K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-07 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 1.4K | $18.22 |
| 2025-02-06 | Bastarrica Air A. Jr. | Tax withheld | 2.2K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-06 | Niew Jeffrey | Tax withheld | 14K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-06 | Giesecke Daniel J. | Tax withheld | 3.4K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-06 | Cabrera Raymond D. | Tax withheld | 2.6K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-06 | PERNA ROBERT J | Tax withheld | 3.0K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-06 | Anderson John S. | Tax withheld | 5.1K | $18.56 |
| 2025-02-05 | Li Ye Jane | Gift | 20K | — |
| 2025-02-05 | Li Ye Jane | Gift | 20K | — |
All non-derivative Form 4 activity (SEC), newest first.
Notable events (8-K)
Recent filings
| Form | Filed | Period | Accession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-K | 2026-04-29 | 2026-04-28 | 0001587523-26-000021 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2026-04-28 | 2026-03-31 | 0001587523-26-000018 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-04-23 | 2026-04-23 | 0001587523-26-000016 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-20 | 2026-02-17 | 0001587523-26-000007 ↗ |
| 10-K | 2026-02-09 | 2025-12-31 | 0001587523-26-000005 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-05 | 2026-02-05 | 0001587523-26-000002 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-10-28 | 2025-09-30 | 0001587523-25-000079 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-10-23 | 2025-10-23 | 0001587523-25-000077 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-07-29 | 2025-06-30 | 0001587523-25-000066 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-07-24 | 2025-07-24 | 0001587523-25-000064 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-05-13 | 2025-05-13 | 0001587523-25-000057 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-05-01 | 2025-04-29 | 0001587523-25-000046 ↗ |