Knowles CEO Sells 5.62% of Shares Amid Positive Momentum
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 30 2026
0mins
Should l Buy KN?
Source: Fool
- Insider Sale: On January 15, 2026, Knowles CEO Jeffrey Niew executed a direct sale of 50,000 shares through multiple open-market transactions, totaling approximately $1.2375 million, indicating his ongoing confidence in the company's stock despite the sale.
- Change in Holdings: This sale represented 5.62% of Niew's direct holdings, marking the largest single open-market sale in recent history and more than double his recent median sell size of 2.73%, reflecting a trend of reduced holdings over the past year.
- Market Performance Analysis: The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $24.75, while the stock closed at $24.93 on the same day, suggesting that the sale occurred amid positive price momentum, with a total return of 24.5% over the past year.
- Investor Considerations: The transaction was executed as part of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows insiders to trade shares on a predetermined basis, highlighting the need for investors to interpret insider activity cautiously without assuming strong conviction in the stock.
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Analyst Views on KN
Wall Street analysts forecast KN stock price to fall
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 27.600
Low
23.00
Averages
27.00
High
30.00
Current: 27.600
Low
23.00
Averages
27.00
High
30.00
About KN
Knowles Corporation is a manufacturer of specialty electronic components. The Company is engaged in manufacturing high-performance capacitors, radio frequency (RF) and microwave filters, advanced medtech microphones, balanced armature speakers, and miniaturization products. The Company’s segments include Precision Devices (PD) and MedTech & Specialty Audio (MSA). Its PD segment is specialized in the design and delivery of high-performance capacitor products and RF solutions primarily serving the defense, medtech, electrification, and industrial markets. Its MSA segment designs and manufactures balanced armature speakers and microphones used in applications that serve the hearing health and premium audio markets. The Company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and to their contract manufacturers and suppliers and through distributors worldwide.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Oil Price Surge Impact: The escalating conflict with Iran has led to a 13% rise in Brent crude prices, surpassing $82 per barrel for the second consecutive day, causing widespread declines in U.S. stocks and raising investor concerns about future economic stability.
- Corporate Investment Confidence Eroded: Analysts warn that a prolonged conflict could trigger inflationary shocks, prompting companies to cut back on investments and hiring, which could further weaken an already fragile economic environment.
- Poor Stock Performance: Companies like Knowles (NYSE:KN) saw a 4.6% drop in stock price, while Benchmark (NYSE:BHE) and Taboola (NASDAQ:TBLA) fell by 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively, indicating a decline in market confidence towards these firms.
- Knowles Stock Review: Despite Knowles's 19.7% increase year-to-date, its current price of $26.29 is close to its 52-week high of $28.48, suggesting heightened market attention on its future performance, necessitating cautious evaluation by investors.
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- Stock Performance: Knowles Corp's shares have surpassed the average analyst 12-month target price of $26.50, currently trading at $26.98, indicating optimistic market expectations for the company's future performance.
- Analyst Reactions: When a stock reaches its target price, analysts may either downgrade their valuation or raise their target, reflecting varying perspectives on the company's fundamental improvements, which could influence investor decisions.
- Target Price Distribution: Among analysts covering Knowles Corp within Zacks, target prices vary significantly, with a low of $23.00 and a high of $30.00, and a standard deviation of $3.109, highlighting differing expectations for the company's future performance.
- Investor Signal: The stock's rise above the target price provides a signal for investors to reassess the company, prompting them to consider whether the current valuation is justified or if it is time to take profits to mitigate risk.
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- Significant Earnings Growth: Knowles Corporation reported Q4 2025 revenue of $162 million, a 14% year-over-year increase, with EPS at $0.36, up 33%, both exceeding expectations and demonstrating strong performance in high-growth markets.
- Robust Market Demand: The company highlighted strong demand across MedTech, Defense, Industrial, EV, and Energy sectors, particularly noting repeat orders and new design wins in high-performance ceramic capacitors and pulse power film capacitors, which further solidify its market position.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management guided Q1 2026 revenues between $143 million and $153 million, indicating a 12% year-over-year increase, with EPS projected between $0.22 and $0.26, showcasing ongoing growth potential.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Knowles plans to keep full-year capital spending at approximately 4% to 5% of revenues, primarily driven by investments in expanding production capacity for energy orders, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth and strategic investment commitment.
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- Earnings Announcement: Knowles is set to release its Q4 earnings on February 5th after market close, with market participants keenly observing the results for potential stock price impacts.
- Earnings Expectations: The consensus EPS estimate stands at $0.35, reflecting a 29.6% year-over-year increase, indicating significant improvement in profitability that could bolster investor confidence.
- Revenue Forecast: Revenue is projected at $156.22 million, representing a 9.6% year-over-year growth, showcasing the company's stable growth trajectory that may attract increased investor interest.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, Knowles has beaten EPS estimates 50% of the time and revenue estimates 75% of the time, demonstrating its financial reliability and adaptability in the market.
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- Insider Sale: On January 15, 2026, Knowles CEO Jeffrey Niew executed a direct sale of 50,000 shares through multiple open-market transactions, totaling approximately $1.2375 million, indicating his ongoing confidence in the company's stock despite the sale.
- Change in Holdings: This sale represented 5.62% of Niew's direct holdings, marking the largest single open-market sale in recent history and more than double his recent median sell size of 2.73%, reflecting a trend of reduced holdings over the past year.
- Market Performance Analysis: The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $24.75, while the stock closed at $24.93 on the same day, suggesting that the sale occurred amid positive price momentum, with a total return of 24.5% over the past year.
- Investor Considerations: The transaction was executed as part of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows insiders to trade shares on a predetermined basis, highlighting the need for investors to interpret insider activity cautiously without assuming strong conviction in the stock.
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Current Trading Status: Knowles Corp (KN) shares have entered oversold territory with an RSI of 28.8, indicating potential exhaustion of recent selling pressure.
Price Performance: The stock's current price is $21.26, within a 52-week range of $12.19 (low) to $24.535 (high).
Investor Outlook: Bullish investors may view the low RSI as an opportunity to consider buying shares as selling may be slowing down.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nasdaq, Inc.
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