KN vs AAPL

For growth investors, Knowles Corporation (KN) is the stronger pick with 7.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 38. 5x trailing P/E (33. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Knowles Corporation (KN) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the cheapest at 38. 5x versus Knowles Corporation at 67. 6x. On forward P/E, Knowles Corporation is actually cheaper at 26. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Knowles Corporation wins at 0. 35x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc.

(AAPL) delivered a total return of +124. 4%, compared to +65. 0% for Knowles Corporation (KN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +1174% versus KN's +160. 4%. 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), Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Knowles Corporation's 1. 62β — meaning KN is approximately 64% more volatile than AAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Knowles Corporation (KN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 152% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Knowles Corporation (KN) is pulling ahead at 7.

2% versus 6. 4% for Apple Inc. (AAPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Knowles Corporation grew EPS 118. 7% year-over-year, compared to 22. 7% for Apple Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KN leads at 7. 4% 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.

Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 9% net margin versus 7. 5% for Knowles Corporation — meaning it keeps 26. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32. 0% versus 13. 1% for KN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAPL leads at 46. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Knowles Corporation (KN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x versus Apple Inc. 's 1. 89x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Knowles Corporation (KN) trades at 26. 2x forward P/E versus 33. 8x for Apple Inc. — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KN: 13. 9% to $38. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the highest yield at 0. 4%, versus 0. 2% for Knowles Corporation (KN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Apple Inc.

(AAPL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 99), +1174% 10Y return). Knowles Corporation (KN) carries a higher beta of 1. 62 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +1174%, KN: +160. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.