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Knowles Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 7% year over year: Revenue from continuing operations was $152.9 million, up from $145.9 million in Q2 and $142.5 million in the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 45.7%: GAAP gross margin was 45.7%, against 41.5% in Q2 and 44.1% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 46.2%, against 44.2% in Q2 and 45.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 25.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $39.5 million, or 25.8% of revenues, against $32.7 million (22.4%) in Q2 and $35.0 million (24.6%) a year earlier. Source
  • Design activity and backlog continued: Management said design activity and backlog continued into the fourth quarter and point to continued growth. No backlog figure was given. Source
  • Operating cash flow $29.1 million: Net cash from operating activities was $29.1 million, against $36.4 million in Q2 and $52.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks and debt reduction in Q3: Management said operating cash allowed $20 million of share repurchases and a $15 million debt reduction in the quarter. Source

“I am excited about the opportunities we have in front of us and with the momentum and strength of the business I continue to be confident in our ability to drive value for our shareholders”

Jeffrey Niew, President, and CEO of Knowles

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue from continuing operations SourceFourth quarter 2025 (quarter ending December 31, 2025)$151 to $161 millionNew
Diluted EPS from continuing operations SourceFourth quarter 2025GAAP $0.21 to $0.25; non-GAAP $0.33 to $0.37New
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFourth quarter 2025$30 to $40 millionNew
Year over year revenue growth SourceFourth quarter 20259%New
GAAP items excluded from non-GAAP results SourceFourth quarter 2025$0.06 per share stock-based compensation; $0.05 per share intangibles amortization; $0.01 production transfer costsNew
Organic revenue growth SourceFull year 20256%New
Organic revenue growth Source2026High end of the range of 4-6%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First stated Q4 2025 guidance for revenue, diluted EPS and operating cash flow, covering the quarter ending December 31, 2025. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2025 organic revenue growth of 6% is stated. The prior release gave no figure for the year, only expected growth. Source
  • New guidance: A 2026 organic growth range of 4-6% is stated, with the company expecting the high end. The prior release gave no 2026 figure. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP diluted share count now excludes PSU dilution. The company said this added $0.01 to non-GAAP diluted EPS in Q3 2025 and in Q3 2024. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 7% year over year: Revenue from continuing operations was $152.9 million, up from $145.9 million in Q2 and $142.5 million in the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS both higher: GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.21, against $0.09 in Q2 and $0.10 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.33, against $0.24 in Q2 and $0.27 a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month non-GAAP EPS higher: Nine-month non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.75, against $0.65 a year earlier. Source

Margins and operating costs

  • Gross margin rose to 45.7%: GAAP gross margin was 45.7%, against 41.5% in Q2 and 44.1% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 46.2%, against 44.2% in Q2 and 45.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Q2 impairment charge did not recur: Q2 cost of goods sold included $3.6 million of impairment charges; the Q3 statement of earnings shows none. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 25.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $39.5 million, or 25.8% of revenues, against $32.7 million (22.4%) in Q2 and $35.0 million (24.6%) a year earlier. Source
  • Operating expenses lower than Q2: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $34.8 million, against $36.2 million in Q2 and $32.9 million a year earlier. Source

“As we enter the fourth quarter, our design activity and backlog remain strong, and we believe this points to continued growth, giving me confidence in our ability to achieve full year organic revenue growth of 6% in 2025.”

Jeffrey Niew, President, and CEO of Knowles

Non-GAAP items excluded from EPS

  • Q3 per-share items excluded: Q3 results include $0.06 per share of stock-based compensation, $0.04 of intangibles amortization and $0.01 of production transfer costs, all excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax provision was $3.3 million: Non-GAAP provision for income taxes was $3.3 million, against $4.0 million in Q2 and $1.9 million a year earlier. Source

Demand and order book

  • Design activity and backlog continued: Management said design activity and backlog continued into the fourth quarter and point to continued growth. No backlog figure was given. Source
  • New design wins ramping next year: Management said new design wins are ramping and existing orders are backlogged, which it linked to 2026 organic growth. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow $29.1 million: Net cash from operating activities was $29.1 million, against $36.4 million in Q2 and $52.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $23.3 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $23.3 million, or 15.2% of revenues, against $39.6 million (27.1%) in Q2 and $27.0 million (18.9%) a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance lower than December: Cash and equivalents were $92.5 million at September 30, against $130.1 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Current debt maturities $72.3 million: Current maturities of long-term debt were $72.3 million at September 30, against $68.5 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Capital spending higher than last year: Capital expenditures were $7.7 million in Q3, against $5.1 million in Q2; nine-month capital expenditures were $16.8 million, against $10.3 million a year earlier. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • Buybacks and debt reduction in Q3: Management said operating cash allowed $20 million of share repurchases and a $15 million debt reduction in the quarter. Source
  • Nine-month repurchases higher: Nine-month repurchases of common stock were $55.0 million, against $29.5 million a year earlier; revolver payments were $30.0 million, against $130.0 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell: Shares outstanding were 85,151,884 at September 30, 2025, against 87,358,659 at December 31, 2024. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Custom products scaled into production: Management described creating custom products through customer application intimacy, then scaling them into production, for end markets with secular growth trends. Source
  • Consumer MEMS business excluded: Continuing operations exclude the Consumer MEMS Microphones business, which was divested in December 2024. Source
  • Cornell Dubilier costs in Precision Devices: Acquisition-related costs cover the Cornell Dubilier deal, booked in Precision Devices, including integration costs and amortization of inventory fair-value adjustments. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 October 2025

  • New design wins ramp into 2026: Management said new design wins are ramping and existing orders are backlogged, supporting 2026 organic growth at the high end of 4-6%. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Production transfer costs are duplicate costs of moving manufacturing to existing facilities; they were $0.6 million in Q3, against $0.2 million in Q2. Source
  • Financial: Other expenses include non-recurring professional fees for reorganization projects and foreign currency impacts on restructuring balances. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Prior release expected growth sequentially and year over year in Q3 2025; the company reported growth on both bases. Source
  • Met: Q3 guided ranges were revenue $144 to $154 million, operating cash $20 to $30 million and non-GAAP EPS $0.29 to $0.33; each was reported above its mid-point. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.