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                                                                      EXHIBIT 11

                KENT ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE

                                 (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                               Thirteen Weeks Ended                    
                               -----------------------------------------------------   
                                   December 28, 1996           December 30, 1995       
                               -------------------------   -------------------------   
                                                Fully                       Fully      
                                 Primary       Diluted       Primary       Diluted     
                               -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
<S>                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Net earnings ...............   $ 6,635,000   $ 6,635,000   $ 8,253,000   $ 8,253,000   
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   
                                                                                       
Weighted average number of                                                             
  common shares outstanding     23,929,300    23,929,300    23,778,000    23,778,000   
                                                                                       
Excess of shares issuable                                                              
  upon exercise of stock                                                               
  options over shares deemed                                                           
  retired utilizing                                                                    
  the treasury stock method      1,475,000     1,548,400     1,320,800     1,529,400   
                               -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
                                25,404,300    25,477,700    25,098,800    25,307,400   
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   
Earnings per share .........   $       .26   $       .26   $       .33   $       .33   
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   

<CAPTION>
                                            Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended                    
                               -----------------------------------------------------   
                                   December 28, 1996           December 30, 1995       
                               -------------------------   -------------------------   
                                                Fully                       Fully      
                                 Primary       Diluted       Primary       Diluted     
                               -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
<S>                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Net earnings ...............   $22,136,000   $22,136,000   $18,950,000   $18,950,000
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
                               
Weighted average number of     
  common shares outstanding     23,930,100    23,930,100    21,052,800    21,052,800
                               
Excess of shares issuable      
  upon exercise of stock       
  options over shares deemed   
  retired utilizing            
  the treasury stock method      1,412,900     1,456,300     1,173,100     1,349,400
                               -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                25,343,000    25,386,400    22,225,900    22,402,200
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
Earnings per share .........   $       .87   $       .87   $       .85   $       .85
                               ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
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