KE vs BHE

For growth investors, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is the stronger pick with 0. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) offers the better valuation at 39. 8x trailing P/E (19. 7x 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 39. 8x versus Benchmark Electronics, Inc. at 124. 4x. On forward P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) delivered a total return of +193. 0%, compared to +17. 8% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BHE returned +367. 2% versus KE's +155. 7%. 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), Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 70β versus Kimball Electronics, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning KE is approximately 8% more volatile than BHE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 37% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is pulling ahead at 0. 1% versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kimball Electronics, Inc. grew EPS -16. 0% year-over-year, compared to -60. 5% for Benchmark 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.

Kimball Electronics, Inc.

(KE) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 1% net margin versus 0. 9% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BHE leads at 4. 0% versus 3. 1% for KE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BHE leads at 10. 0%, 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 19. 7x forward P/E versus 30. 6x for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. — 11. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KE: 18. 2% to $32. 00.

In this comparison, BHE (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. KE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 8% yield, +367. 2% 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 (BHE: +367. 2%, KE: +155. 7%), 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 BHE (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

BHE pays a dividend while KE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.