KE
Kimball Electronics, Inc.
Electrical Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$632M
5Y Perf.+82.9%
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Stock Comparison
KE vs JBL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
JBL
Jabil Inc.
Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Market Cap$37.58B
5Y Perf.+1068.6%
KE vs JBL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KE | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical Equipment & Parts | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $632M | $37.58B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.44B | $32.67B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $26M | $809M |
| Gross Margin | 8.0% | 9.0% |
| Operating Margin | 4.0% | 4.3% |
| Forward P/E | 18.8x | 28.4x |
| Total Debt | $147M | $3.37B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $89M | $1.93B |
KE vs JBL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KE
JBL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimball Electronics… (KE) | 100 | 182.9 | +82.9% |
| Jabil Inc. (JBL) | 100 | 1168.6 | +1068.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KE vs JBL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: JBL leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Kimball Electronics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
KE
Kimball Electronics, Inc.
The Growth Play
KE is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -13.3%, EPS growth -16.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.83, Low D/E 25.8%, current ratio 2.20x
- Lower P/E (18.8x vs 28.4x)
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
JBL
Jabil Inc.
The Income Pick
JBL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.76, yield 0.1%
- 19.6% 10Y total return vs KE's 134.4%
- Beta 1.76, yield 0.1%, current ratio 1.00x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JBL | 3.2% revenue growth vs KE's -13.3% |
| Value | KE | Lower P/E (18.8x vs 28.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | JBL | 2.5% margin vs KE's 1.8% |
| Stability / Safety | JBL | Beta 1.76 vs KE's 1.83 |
| Dividends | JBL | 0.1% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | JBL | +129.2% vs KE's +41.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JBL | 4.2% ROA vs KE's 2.4%, ROIC 30.9% vs 4.9% |
KE vs JBL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
KE vs JBL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLJBLLAGGINGKE
KEKimball Electronics, …
1leads
JBLJabil Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
JBL5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KE6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
JBL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
JBL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JBL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
JBL is the larger business by revenue, generating $32.7B annually — 22.7x KE's $1.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.5% (JBL) to 1.8% (KE). On growth, JBL holds the edge at +23.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $32.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $85M | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $26M | $809M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $98M | $1.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +9.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +4.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.8% | +4.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.8% | +23.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +53.3% | +96.2% |
JBL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 38.2x trailing earnings, KE trades at a 35% valuation discount to JBL's 59.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KE's 8.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than JBL's 21.0x.
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $632M | $37.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $690M | $39.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 38.16x | 59.06x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.84x | 28.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.78x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.36x | 21.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.42x | 1.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.14x | 25.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.20x | 32.07x |
KE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — KE and JBL each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
JBL delivers a 58.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $59 in annual profit, vs $5 for KE. KE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JBL's 2.22x.
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.5% | +58.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.4% | +4.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.9% | +30.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.7% | +22.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.26x | 2.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $58M | $1.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $89M | $1.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $147M | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.36x | 4.57x |
Evenly matched — KE and JBL each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
JBL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in JBL five years ago would be worth $64,063 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,564 for KE. Over the past 12 months, JBL leads with a +129.2% total return vs KE's +41.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JBL at 64.8% vs KE's 7.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.9% | +45.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +41.2% | +129.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +24.5% | +347.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.6% | +540.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +134.4% | +1957.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.6% | +64.8% |
JBL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JBL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
JBL is the less volatile stock with a 1.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KE's 1.83 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. JBL currently trades 93.9% from its 52-week high vs KE's 78.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.83x | 1.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $33.19 | $372.34 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.33 | $148.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.2% | +93.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 78.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 132K | 1.1M |
JBL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KE as "Buy" and JBL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.3% upside for KE (target: $32) vs -21.9% for JBL (target: $273).
| Metric | KEKimball Electroni… | JBLJabil Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.00 | $273.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.32 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.9% | +2.7% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
JBL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). KE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallJabil Inc. (JBL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
KE vs JBL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KE or JBL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Jabil Inc.
(JBL) is the stronger pick with 3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) offers the better valuation at 38. 2x trailing P/E (18. 8x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — KE or JBL?
On trailing P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc.
(KE) is the cheapest at 38. 2x versus Jabil Inc. at 59. 1x. On forward P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KE or JBL?
Over the past 5 years, Jabil Inc.
(JBL) delivered a total return of +540. 6%, compared to +15. 6% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JBL returned +1957% versus KE's +134. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — KE or JBL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Jabil Inc.
(JBL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 76β versus Kimball Electronics, Inc. 's 1. 83β — meaning KE is approximately 4% more volatile than JBL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 2% for Jabil Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KE or JBL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Jabil Inc.
(JBL) is pulling ahead at 3. 2% 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 -47. 0% for Jabil 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.
06Which has better profit margins — KE or JBL?
Jabil Inc.
(JBL) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 2% net margin versus 1. 1% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JBL leads at 4. 0% versus 3. 1% for KE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JBL leads at 8. 9%, 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.
07Is KE or JBL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kimball Electronics, Inc.
(KE) trades at 18. 8x forward P/E versus 28. 4x for Jabil Inc. — 9. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KE: 23. 3% to $32. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — KE or JBL?
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.
09Is KE or JBL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Jabil Inc.
(JBL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1957% 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 (JBL: +1957%, KE: +134. 4%), 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.
10What are the main differences between KE and JBL?
These companies operate in different sectors (KE (Industrials) and JBL (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.
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