Kimball Electronics (KE) Margin Rebound Challenges Long Term Earnings Skepticism In Q2 2026

Kimball Electronics (KE) has put out a mixed Q2 2026 update, with revenue of US$341.3 million and basic EPS of US$0.15, alongside trailing twelve month EPS of US$0.98 on US$1.46 billion of revenue that reflects a sharp 199.5% earnings gain over the last year but a longer run of choppy results. The company has seen quarterly revenue move between US$341.3 million and US$380.5 million over the past six reported periods, while basic EPS has ranged from about US$0.13 to US$0.41. This sets the stage for investors to focus on how the recent improvement in net profit margin to 1.6% shapes the quality and durability of these earnings.

See our full analysis for Kimball Electronics.

With the latest earnings on the table, the next step is to see how these hard numbers line up against the widely followed narratives around growth, profitability and execution, and where those stories may need to be updated.

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199.5% earnings rebound meets 5 year decline

• Over the last 12 months, net income reached US$24.1 million on US$1.46b of revenue, which is very different to the 15.9% annual earnings decline seen over the past five years.
• What stands out for a bullish view is that a very large 199.5% earnings gain over the last year sits against that 5 year decline, so anyone optimistic on a turnaround needs to reconcile the sharp recent improvement with the longer stretch of weaker EPS trends.

Margins at 1.6% with modest revenue forecasts

• Net profit margin on the trailing 12 months is 1.6% compared with 0.5% a year earlier, while the data you have also points to revenue growth expectations of about 1.1% a year.
• Bears might focus on how a 1.6% margin and modest 1.1% revenue growth forecast put a lot of weight on profitability tweaks, even though the trailing basic EPS of US$0.98 on US$1.46b of sales indicates that most of the recent earnings lift has come from margin changes rather than top line expansion.
• That mix of higher margin and low expected revenue growth suggests earnings could be sensitive to any cost pressure or mix shift, given net income of US$24.1 million is being generated on a large revenue base.
• The quarterly pattern, with revenue between US$341.3 million and US$380.5 million across the last six periods, also shows that the revenue line has moved within a fairly tight band while EPS has varied more.

P/E of 23.8x and analyst target at US$33

• Kimball Electronics trades on a trailing P/E of 23.8x compared with 27.1x for the US Electronic industry and a 75.1x peer average, while analysts’ consensus target of US$33.00 sits above both the current share price of US$23.55 and the US$14.31 DCF fair value.
• What is interesting for a bullish argument is that the P/E sits below both the industry and peer averages even after a year of very strong earnings growth, while the US$33.00 target and forecast earnings growth of about 21.2% a year suggest optimism about future profitability, yet the share price currently trades above the DCF fair value of US$14.31 which points to a different message from the cash flow model.
• The gap between the US$23.55 market price and US$14.31 DCF fair value means some investors may see more support in the earnings based and analyst target views than in the cash flow estimate.
• At the same time, the combination of a 23.8x P/E and a 1.6% net margin highlights that valuation still rests on relatively thin margins, even if consensus expects EPS to grow faster than revenue at about 21.2% a year versus 1.1% for sales.

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Next Steps

Don't just look at this quarter; the real story is in the long-term trend. We've done an in-depth analysis on Kimball Electronics's growth and its valuation to see if today's price is a bargain. Add the company to your watchlist or portfolio now so you don't miss the next big move.

See What Else Is Out There

Kimball Electronics combines a thin 1.6% net margin, modest 1.1% revenue growth expectations and a share price above DCF fair value, which may limit valuation support.

If that mix of tight margins and a price sitting above DCF fair value makes you cautious, check out our 55 high quality undervalued stocks that aim to pair stronger value signals with more attractive pricing.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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