Q vs PLXS

For growth investors, Qnity Electronics, Inc.

(Q) is the stronger pick with 7. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 8% for Plexus Corp. (PLXS). Plexus Corp. (PLXS) offers the better valuation at 41. 6x trailing P/E (33. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Qnity Electronics, Inc. (Q) a "Buy" — based on 3 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, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the cheapest at 41. 6x versus Qnity Electronics, Inc. at 43. 4x. On forward P/E, Plexus Corp. is actually cheaper at 33. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) delivered a total return of +174. 0%, compared to +50. 8% for Qnity Electronics, Inc. (Q). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLXS returned +515. 8% versus Q's +50. 8%. 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 Qnity Electronics, Inc. 's 2. 65β — meaning Q is approximately 60% more volatile than PLXS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Qnity Electronics, Inc. (Q) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 12% for Plexus Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(Q) is pulling ahead at 7. 4% versus 1. 8% for Plexus Corp. (PLXS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Plexus Corp. grew EPS 56. 1% year-over-year, compared to 36. 7% for Qnity Electronics, Inc.. 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.

Qnity Electronics, Inc.

(Q) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 0% net margin versus 4. 3% for Plexus Corp. — meaning it keeps 16. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: Q leads at 19. 5% versus 5. 0% for PLXS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — Q leads at 46. 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, Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) trades at 33. 8x forward P/E versus 37. 7x for Qnity Electronics, Inc. — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLXS: -3. 6% to $251. 25.

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 (+515. 8% 10Y return). Qnity Electronics, Inc. (Q) carries a higher beta of 2. 65 — 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: +515. 8%, Q: +50. 8%), 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.