Does Knowles Corporation have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Knowles Corporation (KN) 47.5 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 63, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 84, capital discipline 59.

Is KN stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $6.34 per share versus a recent price of $35.23 — 456% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has KN's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 47.5 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

Knowles Corporation

KN · Industrials · $3.0B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power63

Median gross margin 40.3% over 10y, stable.

Returns on capital0

Median ROIC 4.2%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety84

Net debt/EBITDA 0.6x, interest coverage 17x.

Capital discipline59

Owner earnings trend unclear, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

456% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $48.4M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $6.34
Recent price: $35.23
Discount to value: 456% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

15 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Knowles Corporation booked $593.2M of revenue in FY2025 in the Industrials sector and kept 43.2% of it as gross profit — a solid-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 7.5% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue shrank from $1.1B (FY2012) to $593.2M (FY2025) — about −4.8% a year compounded over 13 years.

It earned 6.7% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 5.2% across 14 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 0/100.

The balance sheet carried $114.0M of total debt in FY2025 against $48.4M of owner earnings — roughly 2.4 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 84/100.

The share count fell 7.3% between FY2020 and FY2025 — management has been retiring shares, which concentrates each remaining owner's claim. Capital Discipline scores it 59/100.

Put together: Balance-Sheet Safety is the strongest of the four filters (84/100) and Returns on Capital the weakest (0/100), which is how KN lands at 48/100 — a Shallow moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$593.2M FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods43.2% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed6.7% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$48.4M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in KN’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale47.5 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — KN has read Shallow moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Industrials context

#121 of 309 scored Industrials companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#119SPXC SPX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.47.6 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#120IVFH INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.47.6 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#122TEX Terex Corporation47.4 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#123HSIC HENRY SCHEIN, INC.47.3 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

Compare KN with its nearest peers →All Industrials companies on the Index →

Common questions about KN

Does Knowles Corporation have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Knowles Corporation (KN) 47.5 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 63, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 84, capital discipline 59.
Is KN stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $6.34 per share versus a recent price of $35.23 — 456% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has KN's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 47.5 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell KN. See the disclaimer.