KNF

Basic Materials

Knife River Corporation · Construction Materials · $4B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
42.2
Below Average

Knife River Corporation scores 42.2/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Basic Materials Sector
KNF
42.2
Sector avg
38.2
Quality
Weak
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Neutral
Valuation
Good

What is Knife River Corporation?

Knife River Corporation is a mid-cap construction materials company headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. It supplies aggregates, asphalt, and ready-mix concrete while also delivering heavy-civil contracting services across multiple U.S. regions.

Knife River mines and processes construction aggregates — crushed stone, sand, and gravel — then converts those raw materials into asphalt and ready-mix concrete. The company also provides contracting services including highway paving, site grading, and heavy-civil construction. Its six operating segments (Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services) serve federal, state, and municipal governments on infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, airports, and public buildings.

Although the underlying business traces its roots to 1917, Knife River Corporation was established as an independent public company in 2023 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.

  • Construction aggregates: crushed stone, sand, and gravel
  • Asphalt and ready-mix concrete production
  • Heavy-civil construction and paving contracting
  • Site development, grading, and infrastructure services
  • Energy Services segment supporting aggregate-based operations

Is KNF a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates KNF as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful challenges across several key quality dimensions.

Among the five pillars, Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot, suggesting the market may not be pricing in excessive optimism for this materials business. The Growth and Risk pillars both land at Neutral, indicating neither a compelling expansion story nor an alarming near-term threat profile.

Both the Quality and Moat pillars register as Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and below-average business fundamentals relative to sector peers — a combination that warrants careful scrutiny.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account at uqs-score.com. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does KNF pay dividends?

No — Knife River Corporation does not currently pay a dividend.

Knife River Corporation does not currently pay a dividend. As a relatively newly independent public company operating in a capital-intensive materials and contracting business, management appears to be directing available resources toward operational investment and growth rather than shareholder distributions. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment.

When does KNF report earnings?

Knife River Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for U.S.-listed equities.

The company's quarterly results tend to reflect the seasonal nature of construction activity, with warmer months typically driving stronger volumes across aggregates and contracting services. Investors should monitor revenue trends across its six regional segments for signs of demand shifts in public infrastructure spending.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance commentary, visit Knife River Corporation's investor relations page directly.

KNF Price History

+140.4% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Knife River Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$9,616
That's a -3.8% total return, or -3.8% annualized.

Based on Knife River Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

KNF Long-term Outlook

With Growth and Risk both rated Neutral, Knife River's near-term fundamental trajectory appears steady rather than accelerating. The company is positioned to benefit from ongoing public infrastructure investment in the United States, though its Weak Quality and Moat scores suggest limited pricing power and thin competitive buffers if input costs rise or project volumes soften. The Valuation pillar's Good rating may offer some downside cushion, but it does not offset the structural concerns embedded in the other pillars.

Growth drivers

  • Federal and state infrastructure spending supporting aggregate and paving demand
  • Geographic diversification across six U.S. regional operating segments
  • Vertical integration from raw aggregates through finished contracting services

Key risks

  • Weak Moat rating signals limited pricing power in a commoditized materials market
  • Capital-intensive operations expose margins to fuel, labor, and raw material cost swings
  • Dependence on government project cycles creates revenue variability

KNF vs Peers

Knife River operates in a fragmented construction materials sector alongside several established peers with differing business profiles.

USLMKNF scores lower
United States Lime & Minerals, Inc.

USLM focuses on lime and limestone products, giving it a narrower but more specialized product mix compared to Knife River's broader aggregates-and-contracting model.

EXPKNF scores lower
Eagle Materials Inc.

Eagle Materials spans wallboard and cement in addition to aggregates, offering a more diversified building-materials portfolio than Knife River's infrastructure-centric operations.

TTAMKNF scores lower
Titan America S.A.

Titan America competes in cement and aggregates along the U.S. East Coast, with a geographic concentration that differs from Knife River's multi-regional footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Knife River Corporation do?

Knife River Corporation mines and processes construction aggregates such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel, and converts them into asphalt and ready-mix concrete. It also provides heavy-civil contracting services including highway paving, site grading, and infrastructure construction. Its customers are primarily federal, state, and municipal governments.

Does KNF pay dividends?

No, Knife River Corporation does not currently pay a dividend. As a recently independent public company in a capital-intensive industry, it appears to be prioritizing operational investment over shareholder distributions. Investors seeking income should look elsewhere in the materials sector.

When does KNF report earnings?

Knife River reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for U.S.-listed companies. Results tend to reflect construction seasonality, with stronger activity in warmer months. For exact reporting dates, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.

Is KNF a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates KNF as Below Average, driven by Weak Quality and Moat scores. The Valuation pillar offers a relative positive, and Growth and Risk are both Neutral. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is KNF overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for KNF is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, a reasonable valuation alone does not offset the concerns flagged in the Quality and Moat pillars. View the complete valuation metrics with a UQS Pro account.

How does KNF compare to its competitors?

Knife River competes with materials companies such as United States Lime & Minerals, Eagle Materials, and Titan America. Each peer has a distinct product mix or geographic focus. KNF's broad aggregates-and-contracting model spans six U.S. regions, but its Weak Moat score suggests it has less competitive differentiation than some sector peers.

What is KNF's market cap bracket?

Knife River Corporation is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a tier that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap names while still carrying more volatility and less analyst coverage than large-cap peers in the construction materials sector.

Who founded Knife River Corporation?

The business operations underlying Knife River date back to 1917. The company was spun off and established as an independent publicly traded entity in 2023. Detailed founding and corporate history is available through the company's official investor relations materials.

Is KNF a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, KNF's Below Average UQS Score — anchored by Weak Quality and Moat ratings — raises questions about durable competitive advantage and business fundamentals. Neutral Growth and Risk scores suggest stability rather than compounding strength. Long-term investors should weigh these factors carefully before committing capital.

What is the main competitive advantage of Knife River Corporation?

Knife River's primary operational advantage lies in its vertical integration — controlling the supply chain from raw aggregate mining through finished paving and contracting services. Its six-region footprint also provides geographic diversification. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak relative to sector peers.

What sector does KNF belong to?

Knife River Corporation operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically within construction aggregates and materials. Companies in this sector are closely tied to infrastructure spending cycles, commodity input costs, and government capital budgets — all of which influence Knife River's revenue and margin profile.

Is KNF a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, KNF sits closer to a value-leaning profile — the Valuation pillar is rated Good while Growth is only Neutral, indicating the market is not pricing in strong expansion expectations. It does not exhibit the high-growth characteristics typically associated with growth-oriented equities.

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Pro Analysis

KNF — Score History

35404550Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 16 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 21, 202642.032.719.056.650.068.2+0.3
May 15, 202641.732.719.056.650.066.3-0.1
May 14, 202641.832.719.056.650.066.8+0.8
May 12, 202641.032.719.056.650.061.9-1.8
May 7, 202642.834.419.055.854.767.40.0
May 3, 202642.834.419.055.854.767.0-0.1
Apr 29, 202642.934.419.055.854.768.0+0.2
Apr 19, 202642.734.419.054.754.768.1-0.3
Apr 18, 202643.034.419.054.754.769.8+0.3
Apr 17, 202642.734.419.054.754.767.9+0.2

KNF — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

32.7/100 (25%)

Knife River Corporation currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityWeak

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsModerate

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationWeak

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

56.6/100 (20%)

Knife River Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.

Recent Revenue TrendModerate

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookStrong

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

50.0/100 (15%)

Knife River Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityModerate

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

70.1/100 (15%)

Knife River Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldModerate

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

19/100 (25%)

Knife River Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for KNF.

Score Composition

Quality
32.7×25%8.2
Growth
56.6×20%11.3
Risk
50.0×15%7.5
Valuation
70.1×15%10.5
Moat
19.0×25%4.8
Total
42.2Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the KNF UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Knife River Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Knife River Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Knife River Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.