Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc., commonly known as Avnet, is a global distributor of electronic components and technology solutions, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with a planned move to Tempe, Arizona in mid-2026. Founded in 1921 by Charles Avnet, the company became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1961, later moving to Nasdaq under the ticker AVT in 2018. As of late 2025 and early 2026, Avnet has approximately 14,869 to 15,462 employees globally, with annual revenues around $22 billion to $26 billion, and a market capitalization of roughly $7 billion USD.

Avnet's operations focus on connecting innovators with manufacturers, offering an end-to-end ecosystem that guides technology projects from idea and design to prototype and production. The company primarily operates through two segments: Electronic Components, which distributes semiconductors, passive, interconnect, and electromechanical components to large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers; and Farnell, which serves lower-volume customers, engineers, and makers with electronic components, kits, tools, and test and measurement products through an e-commerce channel. Avnet provides extensive design, supply chain, programming, logistics, and post-sales services across various markets including automotive, industrial, healthcare, communications, and consumer electronics.

In terms of patent litigation, Avnet, Inc. appears to operate as a defendant operating company. The company has been involved in one tracked case as a defendant and zero as a plaintiff. This single case, Netlist Inc. v. Samsung et al., is notable for its presence in the Eastern District of Texas, a venue frequently utilized by patent assertion entities. Avnet's role in this litigation reflects a posture of defending against intellectual property claims rather than initiating them.