As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at electronic components & manufacturing stocks, starting with Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS).

The sector could see higher demand as the prevalence of advanced electronics increases in industries such as automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and computing. The high-performance components and contract manufacturing expertise required for autonomous vehicles and cloud computing datacenters, for instance, will benefit companies in the space. However, headwinds include geopolitical risks, particularly U.S.-China trade tensions that could disrupt component sourcing and production as the Trump administration takes an increasingly antagonizing stance on foreign relations. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations on e-waste and emissions could force the industry to pivot in potentially costly ways.

The 10 electronic components & manufacturing stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.9% on average since the latest earnings results.

Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS)

With over 20,000 team members across 26 global facilities, Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS) designs, manufactures, and services complex electronic products for companies in aerospace/defense, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

Plexus reported revenues of $980.2 million, up 1.4% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

Todd Kelsey, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Plexus generated strong fiscal second quarter financial performance, demonstrating the continued momentum of our operational and working capital efficiency initiatives. We achieved revenue of $980 million, in-line with guidance, with non-GAAP operating margin of 5.7% at the high-end of guidance and non-GAAP EPS of $1.66 exceeding guidance. In addition, free cash flow exceeded our expectations.”

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $126.54.

Is now the time to buy Plexus? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: TTM Technologies (NASDAQ: TTMI)

As one of the world's largest printed circuit board manufacturers with facilities spanning North America and Asia, TTM Technologies (NASDAQ: TTMI) manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs) and radio frequency (RF) components for aerospace, defense, automotive, and telecommunications industries.

TTM Technologies reported revenues of $648.7 million, up 13.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 28.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $25.80.

Is now the time to buy TTM Technologies? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: Benchmark (NYSE: BHE)

Operating as a critical behind-the-scenes partner for complex technology products since 1979, Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE) provides advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology solutions for original equipment manufacturers across aerospace, medical, industrial, and technology sectors.

Benchmark reported revenues of $631.8 million, down 6.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a softer quarter as it posted revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations and a slight miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 9.1% since the results and currently trades at $34.81.

Read our full analysis of Benchmark’s results here.

Amphenol (NYSE: APH)

With over 90 years of connecting the world's technologies, Amphenol (NYSE: APH) designs and manufactures connectors, cables, sensors, and interconnect systems that enable electrical and electronic connections across virtually every industry.

Amphenol reported revenues of $4.81 billion, up 47.7% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 12.2%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

Amphenol achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 21.7% since reporting and currently trades at $80.08.

Read our full, actionable report on Amphenol here, it’s free.

Knowles (NYSE: KN)

With roots dating back to 1946 and a focus on components that must perform flawlessly in critical situations, Knowles (NYSE: KN) designs and manufactures specialized electronic components like high-performance capacitors, microphones, and speakers for medical technology, defense, and industrial applications.

Knowles reported revenues of $132.2 million, down 32.7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also logged revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

Knowles had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 4.5% since reporting and currently trades at $16.37.

Read our full, actionable report on Knowles here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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