A.O. Smith (AOS) vs Knowles (KN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Knowles (KN) has outperformed A.O. Smith (AOS) over the past year, gaining 62.8% versus a loss of 20.4%. Over five years, KN leads with a +94.2% price change compared with -13.9% for AOS. A.O. Smith is the larger company by market cap ($7.69 billion vs $3.17 billion), about 2.4 times the size, while Knowles is growing revenue faster (+7.2% vs +0.3%).
On valuation, A.O. Smith trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 23.0x for Knowles). A.O. Smith pays a dividend yielding 2.51%, while Knowles does not currently pay one. A.O. Smith converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.3% versus 7.5%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AOS | KN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $56.56 | $37.14 |
| Market cap | $7.69B | $3.17B |
| 1-day change | +2.20% | -2.44% |
| YTD return | -15.43% | +77.65% |
| 1-year return | -20.42% | +62.76% |
| 5-year return | -13.91% | +94.23% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.75 | 44.21 |
| Forward P/E | 13.84 | 22.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.59 | $0.84 |
| Dividend yield | 2.51% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.42 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.83B | $593.20M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.32% | +7.17% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $546.20M | $44.20M |
| Gross margin | 38.83% | 43.21% |
| Operating margin | 19.02% | 11.85% |
| Net margin | 14.26% | 7.45% |
| 52-week high | $81.87 | $42.93 |
| 52-week low | $54.16 | $20.57 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.91% | -13.49% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.60% | +17.80% |
| Average volume | 1.53M | 798.30K |
| Shares outstanding | 110.05M | 85.41M |
| Employees | 11,500 | 5,200 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Consumer Electronics/Appliances | Consumer Electronics/Appliances |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- A.O. Smith is about 2.4 times larger than Knowles by market value ($7.69B vs $3.17B).
- KN has outperformed AOS by 83.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Knowles trades at a higher earnings multiple (44.2x vs 15.8x trailing P/E).
- A.O. Smith offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.51% vs 0.00%).
- A.O. Smith is more profitable, keeping 14.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.5 cents for Knowles.
- Knowles grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.17% vs +0.32%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: A.O. Smith in Consumer Discretionary and Knowles in Consumer Staples.
About A.O. Smith
AOS stock →A. O.
Consumer Discretionary · Consumer Electronics/Appliances · 11,500 employees
About Knowles
KN stock →Knowles Corporation offers capacitors, radio frequency (RF) and microwave filters, balanced armature speakers, and medtech microphones in Asia, the United States, Europe, rest of Americas, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Precision Devices (PD) and Medtech & Specialty Audio (MSA).
Consumer Staples · Consumer Electronics/Appliances · 5,200 employees
AOS vs KN FAQ
Which is bigger, A.O. Smith or Knowles?
A.O. Smith (AOS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $7.69B compared with $3.17B for Knowles (KN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AOS or KN?
KN returned +62.76% over the past 12 months, compared with -20.42% for AOS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AOS or KN?
AOS has the lower trailing P/E at 15.8, versus 44.2 for KN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, A.O. Smith or Knowles?
A.O. Smith pays a dividend yielding 2.51%, while Knowles does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are A.O. Smith and Knowles in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Consumer Electronics/Appliances industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.