KE vs PLXS

For growth investors, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the stronger pick with 1. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) offers the better valuation at 37. 0x trailing P/E (18. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) a "Buy" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc.

(KE) is the cheapest at 37. 0x versus Plexus Corp. at 42. 3x. On forward P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) delivered a total return of +184. 5%, compared to +17. 1% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLXS returned +523. 6% versus KE's +133. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 65β versus Kimball Electronics, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning KE is approximately 10% more volatile than PLXS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Plexus Corp. (PLXS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 26% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is pulling ahead at 1. 8% versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Plexus Corp. grew EPS 56. 1% year-over-year, compared to -16. 0% for Kimball Electronics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KE leads at 3. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 3% net margin versus 1. 1% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLXS leads at 5. 0% versus 3. 1% for KE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLXS leads at 10. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Kimball Electronics, Inc.

(KE) trades at 18. 3x forward P/E versus 34. 4x for Plexus Corp. — 16. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KE: 27. 2% to $32. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+523. 6% 10Y return). Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) carries a higher beta of 1. 83 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLXS: +523. 6%, KE: +133. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (KE (Industrials) and PLXS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.