The New Competitors of Various SizesThin moat

Amphenol (APH) — moat facet

Amphenol's own 10-K warns that new competitors may enter AI interconnect, and its 33.6% segment margin is what would draw them.

The rival that worries Amphenol's own lawyers is one that does not exist yet. The 10-K says: "Rapid technological changes could also lead to the entry of new competitors of various sizes, against whom we may not be able to successfully compete"1. In a trade where most products change slowly, the one market changing fastest is the one now carrying the company.

Communications Solutions segment operating margin (%)21.5202021.2202122.0202221.6202324.8202431.1202533.6Q2 2026Amphenol Forms 10-K FY2022 and FY2025 segment notes; Q2 2026 results release
Twelve points of margin gained since 2023.

AI data-centre products are that market. The growth of AI demand, the 10-K says, "will be dependent upon many factors, including our go-forward market share for such products"2. That is a company telling its owners that its share of the best business it has is not assured. High-speed, fibre and power interconnect for AI systems is where the chief executive says Amphenol leads3, and high margins in a fast-moving market are exactly what attract new competitors.

So far the margins say nobody has arrived in force. Communications Solutions earned 21.5% on sales in 2020, 21.2% in 2021, 22.0% in 2022 and 21.6% in 20234, then 24.8% in 2024 and 31.1% in 20255. In the June 2026 quarter it earned 33.6%6. If new rivals were winning sockets on price, that line would be falling, not rising.

The competitive basis Amphenol names includes "delivery time"7, and in a shortage the supplier with capacity wins whatever its price. That advantage fades when supply catches up, which is also when new entrants' plants come on line.

Amphenol's own research is aimed at the same place an entrant would aim. It focuses on product areas with "the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period"8, supported by about 6,400 employees in research, development and engineering9. It does not claim patents as a barrier; it says its position would not be "materially impacted by the loss of any single patent or group of related patents"10. The defense against an entrant is to be faster, which is a defense that has to be won again each product generation.

A Communications Solutions margin below 28% while sales are still growing would mean someone was taking share by cutting price, and the AI business would be behaving like the rest of the connector trade.

Moat trajectory: Holding steady

Communications Solutions margin 33.6% in Q2 2026, still rising.

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Communications Solutions segment margin, latest quarter
33.6% (Q2 2026), from 30.6% a year earlier

Where entrants would show up; below 28% while sales still grow would mean price competition had arrived.

Source: Amphenol Q2 2026 results release ↗
References
  1. ReportedThe 10-K says: "Rapid technological changes could also lead to the entry of new competitors of various sizes, against whom we may not be able to successfully compete".
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1A risk factors: acquisitions, AI demand, trade, China and taxes. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedThe growth of AI demand, the 10-K says, "will be dependent upon many factors, including our go-forward market share for such products".
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1 business, markets and customers: end markets, applications and customer types. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  3. ReportedHigh-speed, fibre and power interconnect for AI systems is where the chief executive says Amphenol leads, and high margins in a fast-moving market are exactly what attract new competitors.
    Amphenol second-quarter 2026 earnings call transcript (Motley Fool) - end-market shares and growth, CommScope, orders, debt and leverage - end-market shares and growth. — Q2 2026 · publ. August 2026 · source ↗
  4. Moat Explorer calcCommunications Solutions earned 21.5% on sales in 2020, 21.2% in 2021, 22.0% in 2022 and 21.6% in 2023, then 24.8% in 2024 and 31.1% in 2025.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Amphenol's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years; per-share figures adjusted for the two-for-one splits of March 2021, June 2024 and September 2026). Sales growth: 2025 23,094.7 / 15,222.7 - 1 = +51.7%; 2024 15,222.7 / 12,554.7 - 1 = +21.3%; 2023 12,554.7 / 12,623.0 - 1 = -0.5%; 2019 8,225.4 / 8,202.0 - 1 = +0.3%; 2025 increase 23,094.7 - 15,222.7 = 7,872.0, about $7.9bn; 2015-2025 23,094.7 / 5,568.7 = 4.1 times. Operating margin (operating income / net sales): 2015 1,104.7 / 5,568.7 = 19.8%; 2016 1,205.2 / 6,286.4 = 19.2%; 2017 1,427.6 / 7,011.3 = 20.4%; 2018 1,686.9 / 8,202.0 = 20.6%; 2019 1,619.2 / 8,225.4 = 19.7%; 2020 1,638.4 / 8,598.9 = 19.1%; 2021 2,105.1 / 10,876.3 = 19.4%; 2022 2,585.8 / 12,623.0 = 20.5%; 2023 2,559.6 / 12,554.7 = 20.4%; 2024 3,156.9 / 15,222.7 = 20.7%; 2025 5,868.6 / 23,094.7 = 25.4%; average 2015-2024 about 20.0%; Q2 2025 1,418.8 / 5,650.3 = 25.1%; operating income growth 2025 5,868.6 / 3,156.9 - 1 = +85.9%, Q2 2026 2,584.6 / 1,418.8 - 1 = +82.2%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: sales 23,094.7 - 10,461.3 + 16,378.2 = 29,011.6; net income 4,270.3 - 1,829.1 + 2,702.2 = 5,143.4; operating income 5,868.6 - 2,443.6 + 4,416.4 = 7,841.4, margin 7,841.4 / 29,011.6 = 27.0%; at a 20% margin 29,011.6 x 0.20 = about 5,800, 26% below 7,841.4. Gross margin: 4,084.1 / 12,554.7 = 32.5% (2023); 5,139.7 / 15,222.7 = 33.8% (2024); 8,517.7 / 23,094.7 = 36.9% (2025); 3,548.0 / 8,758.1 = 40.5% (Q2 2026); tariff benefit 80 / 8,758.1 = 0.9 points. Segment margins (segment operating income / external sales): Communications Solutions 871.2 / 4,056.2 = 21.5% (2020), 1,023.3 / 4,832.1 = 21.2%, 1,245.7 / 5,652.4 = 22.0%, 1,063.5 / 4,912.8 = 21.6%, 1,569.6 / 6,323.8 = 24.8%, 3,746.6 / 12,056.0 = 31.1% (2025); Harsh Environment Solutions 556.8 / 2,286.0 = 24.4%, 708.2 / 2,752.2 = 25.7%, 801.6 / 3,107.2 = 25.8%, 943.9 / 3,530.8 = 26.7%, 1,093.2 / 4,417.4 = 24.7%, 1,541.4 / 5,881.7 = 26.2%; Interconnect and Sensor Systems 348.6 / 2,256.7 = 15.4%, 588.1 / 3,292.0 = 17.9%, 716.5 / 3,863.4 = 18.5%, 753.7 / 4,111.1 = 18.3%, 825.9 / 4,481.5 = 18.4%, 1,005.1 / 5,157.0 = 19.5%. Communications Solutions share of segment operating income: 871.2 / 1,776.6 = 49.0% (2020); 1,023.3 / 2,319.6 = 44.1%; 1,245.7 / 2,763.8 = 45.1%; 1,063.5 / 2,761.1 = 38.5%; 1,569.6 / 3,488.7 = 45.0%; 3,746.6 / 6,293.1 = 59.5% (2025); Q2 2026 1,808.3 / (1,808.3 + 559.3 + 318.9 = 2,686.5) = 67.3%; Q2 2025 890.7 / 1,506.7 = 59.1%. Segment operating income growth Q2 2026: Harsh Environment 559.3 / 363.7 - 1 = +53.8%; Interconnect and Sensor 318.9 / 252.3 - 1 = +26.4%. Segment sales growth 2020-2025: Communications Solutions 12,056.0 / 4,056.2 = 2.97 times, 24.3% a year; Harsh Environment 5,881.7 / 2,286.0 = 2.57 times, 20.8% a year; Interconnect and Sensor 5,157.0 / 2,256.7 = 2.29 times, 18.0% a year; Communications Solutions operating income 3,746.6 / 871.2 = 4.3 times; Communications Solutions 2023 4,912.8 / 5,652.4 - 1 = -13.1%; Interconnect and Sensor 2021 3,292.0 / 2,256.7 - 1 = +45.9%, 2023 4,111.1 / 3,863.4 - 1 = +6.4%; Communications Solutions share of net sales 4,056.2 / 8,598.9 = 47% (2020), Q2 2026 5,383.6 / 8,758.1 = 61.5%. Segment costs and geography 2025: gap between segment and consolidated operating income 6,293.1 - 5,868.6 = 424.5, 424.5 / 6,293.1 = 6.7%; 2024 3,488.7 - 3,156.9 = 331.8, 9.5%; 2023 2,761.1 - 2,559.6 = 201.5, 7.3%; depreciation and amortisation 486.9 / (486.9 + 166.5 + 150.0 = 803.4) = 60.6%, 486.9 / 12,056.0 = 4.0%, 166.5 / 5,881.7 = 2.8%, 150.0 / 5,157.0 = 2.9%; Harsh Environment United States 3,211.0 / 5,881.7 = 54.6%, China 508.5 / 5,881.7 = 8.6%, distributors 1,595.8 / 5,881.7 = 27.1%; Interconnect and Sensor China 959.4 / 5,157.0 = 18.6%; Communications Solutions China 2,205.2 / 12,056.0 = 18.3% and 2,205.2 / 3,673.1 = 60.0% of China sales; Q2 2026 Communications Solutions China 698.0 / 515.2 - 1 = +35.5%. Geography: China share of net sales 2,067.3 / 7,011.3 = 29.5% (2017); 2,594.0 / 8,202.0 = 31.6% (2018); 2,306.4 / 8,225.4 = 28.0% (2019); 2,597.5 / 8,598.9 = 30.2% (2020); 3,044.4 / 10,876.3 = 28.0% (2021); 3,265.0 / 12,623.0 = 25.9% (2022); 2,884.0 / 12,554.7 = 23.0% (2023); 3,399.9 / 15,222.7 = 22.3% (2024); 3,673.1 / 23,094.7 = 15.9% (2025); Q2 2026 1,113.0 / 8,758.1 = 12.7%, Q2 2025 882.2 / 5,650.3 = 15.6%; China Q2 growth 1,113.0 / 882.2 - 1 = +26.2%; United States share 2,524.7 / 8,225.4 = 30.7% (2019), 7,987.7 / 23,094.7 = 34.6% (2025), Q2 2026 3,413.8 / 8,758.1 = 39.0%, United States Q2 growth 3,413.8 / 1,937.3 - 1 = +76.2%; long-lived assets in China 1,050.4 / 617.9 - 1 = +70.0% (2025); China cash taxes 579.5 / 1,084.1 = 53.5%; China tax charges 100.0 + 130.0 + 160.0 = 390.0, 390.0 / 5,143.4 = 7.6% of trailing net income. People: employees outside the United States 170,000 - 15,000 = 155,000 (2025), 125,000 - 12,000 = 113,000 (2024); United States share 12,000 / 125,000 = 10% and 15,000 / 170,000 = 9%; employees 170,000 / 74,000 = 2.3 times; net sales per employee 8,225.4 / 74,000 = about $111,000 (2019), 23,094.7 / 170,000 = about $136,000 (2025); net sales per general manager 8,598.9 / 120 = 71.7 (2020), 10,876.3 / 130 = 83.7, 12,623.0 / 130 = 97.1, 12,554.7 / 130 = 96.6, 15,222.7 / 140 = 108.7, 23,094.7 / 140 = 165.0 (2025); people added by CommScope deals about 4,000 + 20,000 = 24,000; SG&A 2,545.7 / 23,094.7 = 11.0% (2025), 1,855.4 / 15,222.7 = 12.2%, 1,489.9 / 12,554.7 = 11.9%, SG&A growth 2,545.7 / 1,855.4 - 1 = +37.2%; Norwitt 8,219,557 x 2 = about 16.4 million shares, x $83.14 = about $1.37bn. Acquisitions: payments 2015-2025 199.8 + 1,305.1 + 265.5 + 158.9 + 937.4 + 50.4 + 2,225.4 + 288.2 + 970.4 + 2,156.4 + 3,818.6 = 12,376.1, plus 10,684.0 in H1 2026 = about $23.1bn; goodwill 17,554.7 / 4,867.1 = 3.6 times; goodwill and intangibles 17,554.7 + 5,288.9 = 22,843.6, 22,843.6 / 44,806.6 = 51.0% (June 2026), 10,575.4 + 2,241.4 = 12,816.8, 12,816.8 / 36,236.9 = 35.4% (December 2025); property 2,932.2 / 44,806.6 = 6.5%; acquisition payments / operating cash flow 937.4 / 1,502.3 = 62.4% (2019), 50.4 / 1,592.0 = 3.2%, 2,225.4 / 1,540.1 = 144.5%, 288.2 / 2,174.6 = 13.3%, 970.4 / 2,528.7 = 38.4%, 2,156.4 / 2,814.7 = 76.6%, 3,818.6 / 5,374.7 = 71.0% (2025); 2025 uses of cash 996.6 capex + 3,818.6 acquisitions + 802.2 dividends + 665.2 buybacks = 6,282.6, above operating cash flow of 5,374.7; dividends and buybacks 802.2 + 665.2 = 1,467.4; price / expected sales CIT 1,995.3 / 900 = 2.2 times, Andrew 2,022.7 / 1,200 = 1.7 times, CommScope CCS 10,500 / 3,754.5 = 2.8 times and 10,500 / 545.9 = 19 times net income; CCS operating margin 739.6 / 3,754.5 = 19.7%; CCS sales growth 3,754.5 / 2,823.2 - 1 = +33.0%; CCS allocation (6,958.0 + 3,289.0) / 10,735.8 = 95%, other net assets 10,735.8 - 6,958.0 - 3,289.0 - 317.0 = 171.8; CCS operating income 739.6 / 10,500 = about 7% of price; CommScope since acquisition 190.2 / 2,100.9 = 9.1% net margin, Amphenol H1 2026 2,702.2 / 16,378.2 = 16.5%, CommScope share of H1 sales 2,100.9 / 16,378.2 = 12.8%; H1 2026 purchase costs 272.4 + 132.0 + 179.0 = 583.4, 583.4 / 190.2 = 3.1 times; acquisition-related expenses 103.4 / 23,094.7 = 0.4% of sales; accretion $0.30 pre-split / 2 = $0.15; acquired and currency growth Q2 2026 55% - 30% = 25 points, industrial 56% - 18% = 38 points; CommScope purchases 2,022.7 + 10,500 = about $12.5bn. Cash and capital: free cash flow / net income 2,159.9 / 1,928.0 = 112.0% (2023), 2,156.9 / 2,424.0 = 89.0% (2024), 4,392.9 / 4,270.3 = 102.9% (2025); operating cash flow 5,374.7 / 1,030.5 = 5.2 times (2015-2025); capital spending / sales 172.1 / 5,568.7 = 3.1% (2015), 360.4 / 10,876.3 = 3.3% (2021), 383.8 / 12,623.0 = 3.0%, 372.8 / 12,554.7 = 3.0% (2023), 665.4 / 15,222.7 = 4.4%, 996.6 / 23,094.7 = 4.3% (2025), 355.5 / 8,758.1 = 4.1% (Q2 2026); long-lived assets 2,864.6 / 2,096.2 - 1 = +36.7%; buybacks 2015-2025 248.9 + 325.8 + 618.0 + 935.2 + 601.7 + 641.3 + 661.7 + 730.5 + 585.1 + 689.3 + 665.2 = 6,702.7; buybacks net of option proceeds 585.1 - 394.5 = 190.6 (2023), 689.3 - 447.4 = 241.9 (2024), 665.2 - 553.0 = 112.2 (2025); diluted shares 316.5 x 8 = 2,532 million (2015), 1,289.2 x 2 = 2,578 million (Q2 2026), +1.8%, 1,272.2 x 2 = 2,544 million (Q2 2025); diluted EPS 2.41 / 8 = $0.30 (2015), 3.34 / 2 = $1.67 (2025), 1.37 / 2 = $0.685 (Q2 2026); net debt 6,886.1 - 3,335.4 = 3,550.7 (2024), 15,502.0 - 11,434.2 = 4,067.8 (2025); November 2025 notes 500 + 750 + 750 + 1,000 + 1,250 + 1,600 + 1,650 = 7,500; interest H1 2026 421.6 / 157.4 = 2.7 times; interest cover 5,868.6 / 367.8 = 16 times (2025), 4,416.4 / 421.6 = 10.5 times (H1 2026); interest / operating income 139.5 / 2,559.6 = 5.5% (2023), 421.6 / 4,416.4 = 9.5% (H1 2026); invested capital 30,639.2 / 18,303.5 = 1.67 times. Markets: IT datacom sales 0.19 x 8,225.4 = about 1,560 (2019), 0.24 x 15,222.7 = about 3,650 (2024), 0.36 x 23,094.7 = about 8,310 (2025), 2025 increase about 4,660 of 7,872.0; industrial 0.19 x 23,094.7 = about 4,390 (2025); mobile devices 0.15 x 8,598.9 = about 1,290 (2020), 0.06 x 23,094.7 = about 1,390 (2025); communications networks = mobile networks + broadband 8 + 4 = 12% (2019), 6 + 4 = 10% (2020), 5 + 4 = 9% (2021), 5 + 5 = 10% (2022), 4 + 4 = 8% (2023), 3 + 3 = 6% (2024); sales outside IT datacom Q2 2026 8,758.1 - 3,800 = about 4,960, Q2 2025 5,650.3 - 3,800 / 1.89 = about 3,640; distributor share 2,092.5 / 12,554.7 = 16.7% (2023), 2,778.2 / 15,222.7 = 18.3% (2024), 4,297.2 / 23,094.7 = 18.6% (2025); end customers and contract manufacturers 18,797.5 / 23,094.7 = 81.4%; backlog 8.9 / 1.720 = 5.2 times (2018-2025), 8.9 / 6.1 - 1 = +45.9%, 8.9 / 23.09 = 38.5% of 2025 sales; market share 23,094.7 / about 500,000 = 4.6%. Valuation: market value / net income 16,100 / 763.5 = 21.1 (2015), 26,810 / 650.5 = 41.2 (2017), 24,410 / 1,205.0 = 20.3 (2018), 39,120 / 1,203.4 = 32.5 (2020), 45,310 / 1,902.3 = 23.8 (2022), 59,310 / 1,928.0 = 30.8 (2023), 83,730 / 2,424.0 = 34.5 (2024), 165,420 / 4,270.3 = 38.7 (2025), 205,020 / 5,143.4 = 39.9 (September 2026); Amphenol / TE Connectivity 205.02 / 63.28 = 3.2 times; value added since 2024 (205.02 - 83.73) / 205.02 = 59%; forward earnings 83.14 / 28.48 = about $2.92, 2.92 / 2.00 - 1 = +46%. More: distributor sales 4,297.2 / 2,092.5 = 2.05 times (2023-2025); SG&A ratio 12.19% - 11.02% = 1.2 points; goodwill 17,554.7 / 44,806.6 = 39% of total assets; Harsh Environment sales 5,881.7 / 2,286.0 = 2.6 times; operating income H1 2026 Communications Solutions 1,389.4 + 1,808.3 = 3,197.7, 3,197.7 / 3,746.6 = 85%; dividend payments 307 against remaining term loan 400.0 = 1.3 quarters; sales growth 2020-2025 23,094.7 / 8,598.9 = 2.7 times; 2019 average quarterly sales 8,225.4 / 4 = about 2,056 against IT datacom Q2 2026 about 3,800; 2025 buyback price 665.2 / 7.4 = about $90 pre-split, $45 post-split; CommScope H1 net income 190.2 / 2,702.2 = 7%; capital spending H1 2026 647.1 / 16,378.2 = 4.0%; industrial 0.25 x 10,876.3 = about 2,720 (2021); Harsh Environment Q2 United States 990.5 / 772.3 - 1 = +28.3%; Interconnect and Sensor Q2 United States 442.9 / 384.5 - 1 = +15.2%, other foreign 826.0 / 677.8 - 1 = +21.9%, China 248.8 / 233.0 - 1 = +6.8%; Communications Solutions Q2 United States 1,980.4 / 780.5 - 1 = +153.7%, other foreign 2,705.2 / 1,614.1 - 1 = +67.6%; United States share Q2 2025 1,937.3 / 5,650.3 = 34.3%; Interconnect and Sensor sales 5,157.0 / 2,256.7 = 2.3 times. Additional: Communications Solutions Q2 2026 less Q1 2026 sales 5,383.6 - 4,534.7 = 848.9 and operating income 1,808.3 - 1,389.4 = 418.9, 418.9 / 848.9 = 49%; Interconnect and Sensor Q2 less Q1 1,517.7 - 1,392.3 = 125.4; Interconnect and Sensor China 959.4 / 986.0 - 1 = -2.7% (2025), segment 5,157.0 / 4,481.5 - 1 = +15.1%; Harsh Environment 2023 3,530.8 / 3,107.2 - 1 = +13.6%; Harsh Environment operating income 1,541.4 / 556.8 = 2.8 times, Interconnect and Sensor 1,005.1 / 348.6 = 2.9 times (2020-2025); China share of long-lived assets 343.1 / 1,195.7 = 28.7% (2019), 455.5 / 1,616.2 = 28.2% (2023); goodwill increase H1 2026 17,554.7 - 10,575.4 = 6,979.3; Q2 2026 sales 8,758.1 / 7,620.1 - 1 = +14.9%; industrial Q2 2026 0.20 x 8,758.1 = about 1,750; China Q2 2026 by segment 698.0 / 1,113.0 = 62.7%; effective tax rate 1,295.4 / 5,600.7 = 23.1% (2025), 570.3 / 3,011.9 = 18.9% (2024); June-quarter buyback price 141 / 2 = 70.50; long-lived assets 2,864.6 / 36,236.9 = 7.9% of total assets; Norwitt salary 1,565,000 / 22,351,288 = 7%; market value 205.02 / 16.10 = 12.7 times since 2015; P/S at end-2015 16,100 / 5,568.7 = 2.9; net debt 2024 3,550.7 / operating income 3,156.9 = 1.1 times; dividends 802.2 / 4,270.3 = 19% of net income; distributor sales 4,297.2 / 2,778.2 - 1 = +54.7%, direct 18,797.5 / 12,444.5 - 1 = +51.0%; CommScope H2 need 4,600 - 2,100.9 = about 2,500; orders 25.4 / 23.09 = 1.1 times sales; EBITDA implied by net leverage 13.4 / 1.3 = about 10.3bn, net debt at 1.0 times about 10.3bn, 13.4 - 10.3 = about 3.1bn less, or 13.4 / 10.3 - 1 = about 30% more earnings; deals per year 970 / 10 = 97, 937 / 9 = 104; Cable Products and Solutions 2021 22.8 / 445.4 = 5.1%; H1 2026 Communications Solutions 4,534.7 + 5,383.6 = 9,918.3; CommScope purchases 2,022.7 + 10,500 = about 12,500 against 12,376.1 for 2015-2025; November notes 7,500; sales 2020 8,598.9 / 8,225.4 - 1 = +4.5%, 2021 10,876.3 / 8,598.9 - 1 = +26.5% - segments, geography, people and taxes. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Amphenol's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, quarterly results releases, earnings calls, XBRL filings and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  5. Moat Explorer calcCommunications Solutions earned 21.5% on sales in 2020, 21.2% in 2021, 22.0% in 2022 and 21.6% in 2023, then 24.8% in 2024 and 31.1% in 2025.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Amphenol's reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years; per-share figures adjusted for the two-for-one splits of March 2021, June 2024 and September 2026). Sales growth: 2025 23,094.7 / 15,222.7 - 1 = +51.7%; 2024 15,222.7 / 12,554.7 - 1 = +21.3%; 2023 12,554.7 / 12,623.0 - 1 = -0.5%; 2019 8,225.4 / 8,202.0 - 1 = +0.3%; 2025 increase 23,094.7 - 15,222.7 = 7,872.0, about $7.9bn; 2015-2025 23,094.7 / 5,568.7 = 4.1 times. Operating margin (operating income / net sales): 2015 1,104.7 / 5,568.7 = 19.8%; 2016 1,205.2 / 6,286.4 = 19.2%; 2017 1,427.6 / 7,011.3 = 20.4%; 2018 1,686.9 / 8,202.0 = 20.6%; 2019 1,619.2 / 8,225.4 = 19.7%; 2020 1,638.4 / 8,598.9 = 19.1%; 2021 2,105.1 / 10,876.3 = 19.4%; 2022 2,585.8 / 12,623.0 = 20.5%; 2023 2,559.6 / 12,554.7 = 20.4%; 2024 3,156.9 / 15,222.7 = 20.7%; 2025 5,868.6 / 23,094.7 = 25.4%; average 2015-2024 about 20.0%; Q2 2025 1,418.8 / 5,650.3 = 25.1%; operating income growth 2025 5,868.6 / 3,156.9 - 1 = +85.9%, Q2 2026 2,584.6 / 1,418.8 - 1 = +82.2%. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: sales 23,094.7 - 10,461.3 + 16,378.2 = 29,011.6; net income 4,270.3 - 1,829.1 + 2,702.2 = 5,143.4; operating income 5,868.6 - 2,443.6 + 4,416.4 = 7,841.4, margin 7,841.4 / 29,011.6 = 27.0%; at a 20% margin 29,011.6 x 0.20 = about 5,800, 26% below 7,841.4. Gross margin: 4,084.1 / 12,554.7 = 32.5% (2023); 5,139.7 / 15,222.7 = 33.8% (2024); 8,517.7 / 23,094.7 = 36.9% (2025); 3,548.0 / 8,758.1 = 40.5% (Q2 2026); tariff benefit 80 / 8,758.1 = 0.9 points. Segment margins (segment operating income / external sales): Communications Solutions 871.2 / 4,056.2 = 21.5% (2020), 1,023.3 / 4,832.1 = 21.2%, 1,245.7 / 5,652.4 = 22.0%, 1,063.5 / 4,912.8 = 21.6%, 1,569.6 / 6,323.8 = 24.8%, 3,746.6 / 12,056.0 = 31.1% (2025); Harsh Environment Solutions 556.8 / 2,286.0 = 24.4%, 708.2 / 2,752.2 = 25.7%, 801.6 / 3,107.2 = 25.8%, 943.9 / 3,530.8 = 26.7%, 1,093.2 / 4,417.4 = 24.7%, 1,541.4 / 5,881.7 = 26.2%; Interconnect and Sensor Systems 348.6 / 2,256.7 = 15.4%, 588.1 / 3,292.0 = 17.9%, 716.5 / 3,863.4 = 18.5%, 753.7 / 4,111.1 = 18.3%, 825.9 / 4,481.5 = 18.4%, 1,005.1 / 5,157.0 = 19.5%. Communications Solutions share of segment operating income: 871.2 / 1,776.6 = 49.0% (2020); 1,023.3 / 2,319.6 = 44.1%; 1,245.7 / 2,763.8 = 45.1%; 1,063.5 / 2,761.1 = 38.5%; 1,569.6 / 3,488.7 = 45.0%; 3,746.6 / 6,293.1 = 59.5% (2025); Q2 2026 1,808.3 / (1,808.3 + 559.3 + 318.9 = 2,686.5) = 67.3%; Q2 2025 890.7 / 1,506.7 = 59.1%. Segment operating income growth Q2 2026: Harsh Environment 559.3 / 363.7 - 1 = +53.8%; Interconnect and Sensor 318.9 / 252.3 - 1 = +26.4%. Segment sales growth 2020-2025: Communications Solutions 12,056.0 / 4,056.2 = 2.97 times, 24.3% a year; Harsh Environment 5,881.7 / 2,286.0 = 2.57 times, 20.8% a year; Interconnect and Sensor 5,157.0 / 2,256.7 = 2.29 times, 18.0% a year; Communications Solutions operating income 3,746.6 / 871.2 = 4.3 times; Communications Solutions 2023 4,912.8 / 5,652.4 - 1 = -13.1%; Interconnect and Sensor 2021 3,292.0 / 2,256.7 - 1 = +45.9%, 2023 4,111.1 / 3,863.4 - 1 = +6.4%; Communications Solutions share of net sales 4,056.2 / 8,598.9 = 47% (2020), Q2 2026 5,383.6 / 8,758.1 = 61.5%. Segment costs and geography 2025: gap between segment and consolidated operating income 6,293.1 - 5,868.6 = 424.5, 424.5 / 6,293.1 = 6.7%; 2024 3,488.7 - 3,156.9 = 331.8, 9.5%; 2023 2,761.1 - 2,559.6 = 201.5, 7.3%; depreciation and amortisation 486.9 / (486.9 + 166.5 + 150.0 = 803.4) = 60.6%, 486.9 / 12,056.0 = 4.0%, 166.5 / 5,881.7 = 2.8%, 150.0 / 5,157.0 = 2.9%; Harsh Environment United States 3,211.0 / 5,881.7 = 54.6%, China 508.5 / 5,881.7 = 8.6%, distributors 1,595.8 / 5,881.7 = 27.1%; Interconnect and Sensor China 959.4 / 5,157.0 = 18.6%; Communications Solutions China 2,205.2 / 12,056.0 = 18.3% and 2,205.2 / 3,673.1 = 60.0% of China sales; Q2 2026 Communications Solutions China 698.0 / 515.2 - 1 = +35.5%. Geography: China share of net sales 2,067.3 / 7,011.3 = 29.5% (2017); 2,594.0 / 8,202.0 = 31.6% (2018); 2,306.4 / 8,225.4 = 28.0% (2019); 2,597.5 / 8,598.9 = 30.2% (2020); 3,044.4 / 10,876.3 = 28.0% (2021); 3,265.0 / 12,623.0 = 25.9% (2022); 2,884.0 / 12,554.7 = 23.0% (2023); 3,399.9 / 15,222.7 = 22.3% (2024); 3,673.1 / 23,094.7 = 15.9% (2025); Q2 2026 1,113.0 / 8,758.1 = 12.7%, Q2 2025 882.2 / 5,650.3 = 15.6%; China Q2 growth 1,113.0 / 882.2 - 1 = +26.2%; United States share 2,524.7 / 8,225.4 = 30.7% (2019), 7,987.7 / 23,094.7 = 34.6% (2025), Q2 2026 3,413.8 / 8,758.1 = 39.0%, United States Q2 growth 3,413.8 / 1,937.3 - 1 = +76.2%; long-lived assets in China 1,050.4 / 617.9 - 1 = +70.0% (2025); China cash taxes 579.5 / 1,084.1 = 53.5%; China tax charges 100.0 + 130.0 + 160.0 = 390.0, 390.0 / 5,143.4 = 7.6% of trailing net income. People: employees outside the United States 170,000 - 15,000 = 155,000 (2025), 125,000 - 12,000 = 113,000 (2024); United States share 12,000 / 125,000 = 10% and 15,000 / 170,000 = 9%; employees 170,000 / 74,000 = 2.3 times; net sales per employee 8,225.4 / 74,000 = about $111,000 (2019), 23,094.7 / 170,000 = about $136,000 (2025); net sales per general manager 8,598.9 / 120 = 71.7 (2020), 10,876.3 / 130 = 83.7, 12,623.0 / 130 = 97.1, 12,554.7 / 130 = 96.6, 15,222.7 / 140 = 108.7, 23,094.7 / 140 = 165.0 (2025); people added by CommScope deals about 4,000 + 20,000 = 24,000; SG&A 2,545.7 / 23,094.7 = 11.0% (2025), 1,855.4 / 15,222.7 = 12.2%, 1,489.9 / 12,554.7 = 11.9%, SG&A growth 2,545.7 / 1,855.4 - 1 = +37.2%; Norwitt 8,219,557 x 2 = about 16.4 million shares, x $83.14 = about $1.37bn. Acquisitions: payments 2015-2025 199.8 + 1,305.1 + 265.5 + 158.9 + 937.4 + 50.4 + 2,225.4 + 288.2 + 970.4 + 2,156.4 + 3,818.6 = 12,376.1, plus 10,684.0 in H1 2026 = about $23.1bn; goodwill 17,554.7 / 4,867.1 = 3.6 times; goodwill and intangibles 17,554.7 + 5,288.9 = 22,843.6, 22,843.6 / 44,806.6 = 51.0% (June 2026), 10,575.4 + 2,241.4 = 12,816.8, 12,816.8 / 36,236.9 = 35.4% (December 2025); property 2,932.2 / 44,806.6 = 6.5%; acquisition payments / operating cash flow 937.4 / 1,502.3 = 62.4% (2019), 50.4 / 1,592.0 = 3.2%, 2,225.4 / 1,540.1 = 144.5%, 288.2 / 2,174.6 = 13.3%, 970.4 / 2,528.7 = 38.4%, 2,156.4 / 2,814.7 = 76.6%, 3,818.6 / 5,374.7 = 71.0% (2025); 2025 uses of cash 996.6 capex + 3,818.6 acquisitions + 802.2 dividends + 665.2 buybacks = 6,282.6, above operating cash flow of 5,374.7; dividends and buybacks 802.2 + 665.2 = 1,467.4; price / expected sales CIT 1,995.3 / 900 = 2.2 times, Andrew 2,022.7 / 1,200 = 1.7 times, CommScope CCS 10,500 / 3,754.5 = 2.8 times and 10,500 / 545.9 = 19 times net income; CCS operating margin 739.6 / 3,754.5 = 19.7%; CCS sales growth 3,754.5 / 2,823.2 - 1 = +33.0%; CCS allocation (6,958.0 + 3,289.0) / 10,735.8 = 95%, other net assets 10,735.8 - 6,958.0 - 3,289.0 - 317.0 = 171.8; CCS operating income 739.6 / 10,500 = about 7% of price; CommScope since acquisition 190.2 / 2,100.9 = 9.1% net margin, Amphenol H1 2026 2,702.2 / 16,378.2 = 16.5%, CommScope share of H1 sales 2,100.9 / 16,378.2 = 12.8%; H1 2026 purchase costs 272.4 + 132.0 + 179.0 = 583.4, 583.4 / 190.2 = 3.1 times; acquisition-related expenses 103.4 / 23,094.7 = 0.4% of sales; accretion $0.30 pre-split / 2 = $0.15; acquired and currency growth Q2 2026 55% - 30% = 25 points, industrial 56% - 18% = 38 points; CommScope purchases 2,022.7 + 10,500 = about $12.5bn. Cash and capital: free cash flow / net income 2,159.9 / 1,928.0 = 112.0% (2023), 2,156.9 / 2,424.0 = 89.0% (2024), 4,392.9 / 4,270.3 = 102.9% (2025); operating cash flow 5,374.7 / 1,030.5 = 5.2 times (2015-2025); capital spending / sales 172.1 / 5,568.7 = 3.1% (2015), 360.4 / 10,876.3 = 3.3% (2021), 383.8 / 12,623.0 = 3.0%, 372.8 / 12,554.7 = 3.0% (2023), 665.4 / 15,222.7 = 4.4%, 996.6 / 23,094.7 = 4.3% (2025), 355.5 / 8,758.1 = 4.1% (Q2 2026); long-lived assets 2,864.6 / 2,096.2 - 1 = +36.7%; buybacks 2015-2025 248.9 + 325.8 + 618.0 + 935.2 + 601.7 + 641.3 + 661.7 + 730.5 + 585.1 + 689.3 + 665.2 = 6,702.7; buybacks net of option proceeds 585.1 - 394.5 = 190.6 (2023), 689.3 - 447.4 = 241.9 (2024), 665.2 - 553.0 = 112.2 (2025); diluted shares 316.5 x 8 = 2,532 million (2015), 1,289.2 x 2 = 2,578 million (Q2 2026), +1.8%, 1,272.2 x 2 = 2,544 million (Q2 2025); diluted EPS 2.41 / 8 = $0.30 (2015), 3.34 / 2 = $1.67 (2025), 1.37 / 2 = $0.685 (Q2 2026); net debt 6,886.1 - 3,335.4 = 3,550.7 (2024), 15,502.0 - 11,434.2 = 4,067.8 (2025); November 2025 notes 500 + 750 + 750 + 1,000 + 1,250 + 1,600 + 1,650 = 7,500; interest H1 2026 421.6 / 157.4 = 2.7 times; interest cover 5,868.6 / 367.8 = 16 times (2025), 4,416.4 / 421.6 = 10.5 times (H1 2026); interest / operating income 139.5 / 2,559.6 = 5.5% (2023), 421.6 / 4,416.4 = 9.5% (H1 2026); invested capital 30,639.2 / 18,303.5 = 1.67 times. Markets: IT datacom sales 0.19 x 8,225.4 = about 1,560 (2019), 0.24 x 15,222.7 = about 3,650 (2024), 0.36 x 23,094.7 = about 8,310 (2025), 2025 increase about 4,660 of 7,872.0; industrial 0.19 x 23,094.7 = about 4,390 (2025); mobile devices 0.15 x 8,598.9 = about 1,290 (2020), 0.06 x 23,094.7 = about 1,390 (2025); communications networks = mobile networks + broadband 8 + 4 = 12% (2019), 6 + 4 = 10% (2020), 5 + 4 = 9% (2021), 5 + 5 = 10% (2022), 4 + 4 = 8% (2023), 3 + 3 = 6% (2024); sales outside IT datacom Q2 2026 8,758.1 - 3,800 = about 4,960, Q2 2025 5,650.3 - 3,800 / 1.89 = about 3,640; distributor share 2,092.5 / 12,554.7 = 16.7% (2023), 2,778.2 / 15,222.7 = 18.3% (2024), 4,297.2 / 23,094.7 = 18.6% (2025); end customers and contract manufacturers 18,797.5 / 23,094.7 = 81.4%; backlog 8.9 / 1.720 = 5.2 times (2018-2025), 8.9 / 6.1 - 1 = +45.9%, 8.9 / 23.09 = 38.5% of 2025 sales; market share 23,094.7 / about 500,000 = 4.6%. Valuation: market value / net income 16,100 / 763.5 = 21.1 (2015), 26,810 / 650.5 = 41.2 (2017), 24,410 / 1,205.0 = 20.3 (2018), 39,120 / 1,203.4 = 32.5 (2020), 45,310 / 1,902.3 = 23.8 (2022), 59,310 / 1,928.0 = 30.8 (2023), 83,730 / 2,424.0 = 34.5 (2024), 165,420 / 4,270.3 = 38.7 (2025), 205,020 / 5,143.4 = 39.9 (September 2026); Amphenol / TE Connectivity 205.02 / 63.28 = 3.2 times; value added since 2024 (205.02 - 83.73) / 205.02 = 59%; forward earnings 83.14 / 28.48 = about $2.92, 2.92 / 2.00 - 1 = +46%. More: distributor sales 4,297.2 / 2,092.5 = 2.05 times (2023-2025); SG&A ratio 12.19% - 11.02% = 1.2 points; goodwill 17,554.7 / 44,806.6 = 39% of total assets; Harsh Environment sales 5,881.7 / 2,286.0 = 2.6 times; operating income H1 2026 Communications Solutions 1,389.4 + 1,808.3 = 3,197.7, 3,197.7 / 3,746.6 = 85%; dividend payments 307 against remaining term loan 400.0 = 1.3 quarters; sales growth 2020-2025 23,094.7 / 8,598.9 = 2.7 times; 2019 average quarterly sales 8,225.4 / 4 = about 2,056 against IT datacom Q2 2026 about 3,800; 2025 buyback price 665.2 / 7.4 = about $90 pre-split, $45 post-split; CommScope H1 net income 190.2 / 2,702.2 = 7%; capital spending H1 2026 647.1 / 16,378.2 = 4.0%; industrial 0.25 x 10,876.3 = about 2,720 (2021); Harsh Environment Q2 United States 990.5 / 772.3 - 1 = +28.3%; Interconnect and Sensor Q2 United States 442.9 / 384.5 - 1 = +15.2%, other foreign 826.0 / 677.8 - 1 = +21.9%, China 248.8 / 233.0 - 1 = +6.8%; Communications Solutions Q2 United States 1,980.4 / 780.5 - 1 = +153.7%, other foreign 2,705.2 / 1,614.1 - 1 = +67.6%; United States share Q2 2025 1,937.3 / 5,650.3 = 34.3%; Interconnect and Sensor sales 5,157.0 / 2,256.7 = 2.3 times. Additional: Communications Solutions Q2 2026 less Q1 2026 sales 5,383.6 - 4,534.7 = 848.9 and operating income 1,808.3 - 1,389.4 = 418.9, 418.9 / 848.9 = 49%; Interconnect and Sensor Q2 less Q1 1,517.7 - 1,392.3 = 125.4; Interconnect and Sensor China 959.4 / 986.0 - 1 = -2.7% (2025), segment 5,157.0 / 4,481.5 - 1 = +15.1%; Harsh Environment 2023 3,530.8 / 3,107.2 - 1 = +13.6%; Harsh Environment operating income 1,541.4 / 556.8 = 2.8 times, Interconnect and Sensor 1,005.1 / 348.6 = 2.9 times (2020-2025); China share of long-lived assets 343.1 / 1,195.7 = 28.7% (2019), 455.5 / 1,616.2 = 28.2% (2023); goodwill increase H1 2026 17,554.7 - 10,575.4 = 6,979.3; Q2 2026 sales 8,758.1 / 7,620.1 - 1 = +14.9%; industrial Q2 2026 0.20 x 8,758.1 = about 1,750; China Q2 2026 by segment 698.0 / 1,113.0 = 62.7%; effective tax rate 1,295.4 / 5,600.7 = 23.1% (2025), 570.3 / 3,011.9 = 18.9% (2024); June-quarter buyback price 141 / 2 = 70.50; long-lived assets 2,864.6 / 36,236.9 = 7.9% of total assets; Norwitt salary 1,565,000 / 22,351,288 = 7%; market value 205.02 / 16.10 = 12.7 times since 2015; P/S at end-2015 16,100 / 5,568.7 = 2.9; net debt 2024 3,550.7 / operating income 3,156.9 = 1.1 times; dividends 802.2 / 4,270.3 = 19% of net income; distributor sales 4,297.2 / 2,778.2 - 1 = +54.7%, direct 18,797.5 / 12,444.5 - 1 = +51.0%; CommScope H2 need 4,600 - 2,100.9 = about 2,500; orders 25.4 / 23.09 = 1.1 times sales; EBITDA implied by net leverage 13.4 / 1.3 = about 10.3bn, net debt at 1.0 times about 10.3bn, 13.4 - 10.3 = about 3.1bn less, or 13.4 / 10.3 - 1 = about 30% more earnings; deals per year 970 / 10 = 97, 937 / 9 = 104; Cable Products and Solutions 2021 22.8 / 445.4 = 5.1%; H1 2026 Communications Solutions 4,534.7 + 5,383.6 = 9,918.3; CommScope purchases 2,022.7 + 10,500 = about 12,500 against 12,376.1 for 2015-2025; November notes 7,500; sales 2020 8,598.9 / 8,225.4 - 1 = +4.5%, 2021 10,876.3 / 8,598.9 - 1 = +26.5% - segments, geography, people and taxes. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Amphenol's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, quarterly results releases, earnings calls, XBRL filings and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  6. ReportedIn the June 2026 quarter it earned 33.6%.
    Amphenol second-quarter 2026 results release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - net sales, orders, segment sales and operating income, cash flow, CommScope outlook and third-quarter guidance - highlights, orders, CommScope outlook and third-quarter guidance. — Q2 2026 · publ. 29 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedThe competitive basis Amphenol names includes "delivery time", and in a shortage the supplier with capacity wins whatever its price.
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1 business, competition: named competitors and the grounds of competition. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedIt focuses on product areas with "the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period", supported by about 6,400 employees in research, development and engineering.
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1 business, markets and customers: end markets, applications and customer types. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedIt focuses on product areas with "the potential for broad market applications and significant sales within a one- to three-year period", supported by about 6,400 employees in research, development and engineering.
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1 business, markets and customers: end markets, applications and customer types. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedIt does not claim patents as a barrier; it says its position would not be "materially impacted by the loss of any single patent or group of related patents".
    Amphenol Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 (year ended 31 December 2025) - Item 1 business, strategy and operations: general managers, manufacturing, research, employees. — FY2025 · publ. 11 February 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026