Key Takeaways CLS stock jumped 24.3% in 3 months, beating FLEX, JBL and the broader industry's 15.4% gain. Celestica is riding GenAI momentum with high-speed switches and scalable AI storage platforms. Earnings estimates for CLS rose 5.7% for 2025 and 2.4% for 2026, signaling bullish sentiment.Celestica Inc. (CLS) has gained 24.3% over the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 15.4%. It has also outperformed peers like Flex Ltd. (FLEX) and Jabil Inc. (JBL) . Flex has gained 17.3% and Ja ...

Core Insights - Celestica Inc. (CLS) has outperformed the industry and peers with a stock gain of 24.3% over the past three months, compared to the industry's 15.4% growth and Flex Ltd. (FLEX) and Jabil Inc. (JBL) gains of 17.3% and 14.7% respectively [1][7]. Company Overview - With over two decades of manufacturing experience, Celestica focuses on next-generation, cloud-optimized data storage and AI networking solutions, operating primarily as a behind-the-scenes partner for electronics businesses [2]. - The company provides a comprehensive range of services in the electronics market, including design, manufacturing, and supply chain management [2]. Growth Drivers - The ongoing generative AI (GenAI) boom has significantly benefited Celestica, driven by strong demand for AI/ML compute and networking products from hyperscale customers [5]. - Key products include the high-performance 800G family of network switches and storage solutions like the SC6100 controller and SD6200 platform, which are essential for AI applications [5][6]. - Celestica's innovative Photonic Fabric solution enhances AI infrastructure, supporting scalable and sustainable business models [5]. Financial Performance - Earnings estimates for Celestica have increased by 5.7% for 2025 to $5.05 and by 2.4% for 2026 to $6.07, indicating positive sentiment regarding the company's growth potential [8][7]. Market Environment - Despite strong demand trends, Celestica expresses skepticism about the macro environment due to trade policy uncertainties, although recent U.S. government exemptions for key IT hardware provide some near-term clarity [9]. - The company is actively collaborating with customers to navigate the evolving policy landscape [9]. Challenges - Celestica faces ongoing margin pressures due to high research and development costs associated with sophisticated products, leading to high operating expenses [10][15]. - The company competes with industry giants like Foxconn, Jabil, Flex, and Sanmina Corporation, as well as smaller regional players, in a highly cyclical semiconductor industry [11]. Future Outlook - As production volumes increase and costs decrease, the potential applications for silicon photonics are expected to expand across various industries, positioning Celestica for sustained growth [14].

Company Overview - Celestica is one of the largest electronics manufacturing services companies globally, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, serving original equipment manufacturers and various service providers across multiple industries [11] - The company offers a wide range of manufacturing and supply-chain solutions, including design and development, engineering services, electronics manufacturing and assembly, and IT asset management [11] Investment Insights - Celestica holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of A, indicating a solid position in the market [12] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of B, with shares increasing by 30.4% over the past four weeks [12] - Recent analyst activity shows three analysts have revised their earnings estimates higher for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.27 to $5.05 per share [12] - Celestica has an average earnings surprise of 7.4%, suggesting potential for positive performance [12] Conclusion - With a strong Zacks Rank and favorable Momentum and VGM Style Scores, Celestica is positioned as a noteworthy option for investors [13]

Core Insights - The article highlights the investment strategies and achievements of Paul Franke, a seasoned investor with 38 years of trading experience, emphasizing his contrarian stock selection style and algorithmic analysis [1] Group 1: Investment Strategies - Paul Franke developed a system called "Victory Formation," which focuses on identifying supply/demand imbalances through specific stock price and volume movements [1] - The "Bottom Fishing Club" articles target deep-value stocks or those showing significant upward technical momentum reversals [1] - "Volume Breakout Report" articles analyze positive trend changes supported by strong price and volume trading actions [1] Group 2: Performance and Recognition - Franke was consistently ranked among the top investment advisors nationally during the 1990s and achieved the 1 position in the Motley Fool® CAPS stock picking contest in 2008 and 2009 out of over 60,000 portfolios [1] - As of September 2024, he is ranked in the Top 3% of bloggers by TipRanks® for 12-month stock picking performance over the last decade [1] Group 3: Risk Management - Franke advises investors to implement stop-loss levels of 10% or 20% on individual stock choices and to maintain a diversified portfolio of at least 50 well-positioned stocks to enhance regular stock market outperformance [1]

Group 1 - Ericsson is part of the Computer and Technology sector, which includes 607 companies and ranks 8 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank model indicates that Ericsson has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with a 21.4% increase in the consensus estimate for full-year earnings over the past 90 days, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [3] - Year-to-date, Ericsson has returned approximately 9.9%, outperforming the Computer and Technology sector average return of -3% [4] Group 2 - Ericsson belongs to the Wireless Equipment industry, which consists of 12 stocks and currently ranks 18 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 3.9% this year [5] - Another stock in the sector, Celestica, has a year-to-date return of 23.5% and is part of the Electronics - Manufacturing Services industry, which has moved +11.2% this year [4][6] - Both Ericsson and Celestica are showing solid performance, making them noteworthy for investors interested in Computer and Technology stocks [6]

Core Viewpoint - Celestica Inc. and Plexus Corp are prominent players in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry, each with distinct strengths and challenges in their respective market segments [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Celestica is one of the largest EMS companies globally, providing a wide range of manufacturing and supply-chain solutions to various industries [1]. - Plexus specializes in electronic contract manufacturing services across multiple sectors, including Healthcare, Industrial, and Aerospace/Defense [2]. Group 2: Competitive Dynamics - Plexus is experiencing growth in the Healthcare/Life Sciences and Aerospace/Defense sectors, driven by strong customer demand and program ramps [4]. - Celestica is capitalizing on the growing AI demand, with products like the SC6100 storage controller and DS4100 switch gaining traction in enterprise applications [7]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - Plexus has a debt-to-capital ratio of 0.13, significantly lower than the industry average of 0.46, indicating strong financial health [5]. - Celestica's debt-to-capital ratio stands at 0.37, also below the industry average, with a current ratio of 1.43, reflecting good liquidity [9]. Group 4: Growth Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Celestica's 2025 sales and EPS to grow by 13.15% and 30.15%, respectively [12]. - For Plexus, the 2025 sales growth is estimated at 2.64%, with EPS growth at 20.98%, although the EPS estimate for 2026 is trending downward [12]. Group 5: Price Performance - Over the past year, Celestica's stock has increased by 112.4%, outperforming the industry growth of 46.7%, while Plexus has gained 15.2% [14]. - Plexus shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of 17.98, lower than Celestica's 20.69, making Plexus appear more attractive from a valuation perspective [16]. Group 6: Investment Outlook - Celestica's focus on AI and cloud technologies has led to impressive revenue and EBITDA growth, positioning it as a more favorable investment option compared to Plexus, which faces challenges [18].

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of delivering alpha-generating investment ideas through a structured and evidence-based approach [1] - The investment strategy involves a generalist approach, analyzing and investing in various sectors with perceived alpha potential compared to the S&P 500 [1] - The typical holding period for investments ranges from a few quarters to multiple years, indicating a long-term investment perspective [1] Group 2 - The author has a beneficial long position in CLS shares, indicating confidence in the stock's performance [2] - The article expresses the author's personal opinions and is not influenced by any compensation from companies mentioned [2] - There is no business relationship with any company whose stock is discussed, ensuring an independent viewpoint [2]

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of $133.02 based on a 20X PE for 2026 [4]. Core Views - The company is a leading manufacturer of ASIC servers and Ethernet switches, benefiting from the growth in AI inference demand, particularly from major cloud service providers in North America [2][3]. - The company is expected to recover from a short-term decline in server revenue due to Google's TPU product transition, with anticipated growth resuming in the second half of 2025 [2]. - The company is actively expanding its customer base for ASIC servers, having become a supplier for Meta and secured a project with a leading commercial AI company [2][3]. Summary by Sections 1. Deep Layout in ASIC Servers and Ethernet Switches - The importance of inference computing power is increasing, and the ASIC industry chain is expected to benefit from this trend [14]. - The company is positioned to benefit from the volume growth of ASIC servers and the expansion of its customer base, particularly with Google and Meta [27][31]. - The Ethernet switch business is poised to grow due to the trend of AI Ethernet networking, with increased demand for high-speed switches [32]. 2. Transition from EMS to ODM - The company is shifting from an EMS model to an ODM model, which is expected to enhance customer binding and improve profitability [47]. - The revenue from the hardware platform solutions (ODM) is projected to grow significantly, contributing to overall revenue growth [50][52]. - The company's gross margin and operating profit margin have been steadily increasing due to the growth of its ODM business [52]. 3. ASIC Industry and Company Alpha - The company is well-positioned in the ASIC server and Ethernet ODM switch market, benefiting from industry trends and new customer acquisitions [3][4]. - The company’s net profit is forecasted to grow significantly over the next few years, with expected profits of $593 million, $765 million, and $871 million for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively [4][8]. - The company is expected to gain market share as it expands its customer base and increases the complexity of its products [31]. 4. Profit Forecast and Investment Recommendations - The company’s revenue is projected to grow from $7.96 billion in 2023 to $15.89 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 14.1% [8]. - The EBITDA is expected to increase from $467 million in 2023 to $1.296 billion in 2027, reflecting strong operational performance [8].

Group 1 - Celestica Inc. is a Toronto-based electronics manufacturer that has positioned itself as a significant player in current technology and industrial trends [1] - The company is recognized as an "AWS Certified AI Practitioner Early Adopter," indicating its involvement in advanced AI technologies [1] - Celestica's expertise includes the buildout, deployment, and maintenance of AI tools and applications, showcasing its deep knowledge in generative AI systems [1] Group 2 - The article highlights the importance of machine learning algorithms, model training, and deployment in Celestica's operations [1] - The company is actively pursuing advanced AWS machine learning certifications to enhance its expertise in AI and machine learning [1] - Celestica's strategic positioning in the technology sector suggests potential growth opportunities as it aligns with industry trends [1]

Group 1 - The stock of Celestica (CLS) has decreased by approximately 9%, despite the strengthening of its fundamentals [1] - The current earnings season for big tech companies is ongoing, which may impact market sentiment towards Celestica [1] Group 2 - The article reflects a bullish thesis on Celestica, indicating a potential misalignment between stock performance and company fundamentals [1]