Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. and Corning Incorporated are significant players in the global tech hardware ecosystem, with Corning focusing on advanced glass technologies and optical connectivity, while Celestica provides electronics manufacturing services and supply chain solutions [1][7] Market Overview - The global AI infrastructure market was valued at $35.42 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $223.45 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 30.4%, driven by the expansion of AI workloads [2] Celestica's Performance - Celestica's Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment saw a 43% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by demand for advanced networking products like 400G and 800G switches, as well as enterprise-level data communications infrastructure [3][5] - The company is expanding its partnerships and launched the SC6110 storage controller, which is designed for AI infrastructure and high-performance computing [4] - Celestica's recent introduction of 1.6TbE data center switches indicates a focus on supporting high-bandwidth AI applications, which is expected to drive long-term growth [5] Corning's Performance - Corning is experiencing growth in its Optical Communications and Specialty Materials segments, benefiting from the increasing use of mobile and IoT devices and the demand for robust network architecture in AI data centers [7][8] - The company is innovating with advanced fiber and cable systems that enhance connectivity capacity in data centers without significant infrastructure changes [9] - Corning's consumer electronics segment is also a major growth driver, with collaborations with leading manufacturers and expansion into the automotive market [10] Competitive Landscape - Both companies face competition, with Corning competing against Amphenol Corporation in the communication components market, but its innovative product launches are expected to provide a competitive edge [12] - Celestica's revenue is significantly dependent on a few major customers, with 59% of its total revenues coming from three customers, posing a concentration risk [6][21] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Celestica's 2025 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 26.31% and 52.06%, respectively, while Corning's sales are expected to grow by 12.99% with an EPS projected at $2.52 [13][15] - Over the past year, Celestica's stock has gained 205.3%, compared to Corning's 85.3% growth, but Corning appears more attractive from a valuation perspective with a lower price/earnings ratio [16] Investment Outlook - Celestica holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), while Corning has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable investment outlook for Corning [17][22] - Both companies are expected to benefit from margin expansion in the AI infrastructure domain, but Corning's broader market exposure reduces its risk compared to Celestica's reliance on AI infrastructure investments [18][21][22]

Core Viewpoint - Celestica Inc. has transitioned from being a low-margin contract assembler to a key engineering partner for hyperscalers developing AI data centers, emphasizing its leadership in high-bandwidth networking and rapid production timelines [1] Group 1: Company Positioning - Celestica is now recognized as a highly embedded engineering partner rather than just a contract assembler, indicating a shift in its business model and value proposition [1] - The company focuses on high-bandwidth networking, which is critical for AI data centers, showcasing its strategic alignment with industry trends [1] Group 2: Market Strategy - The emphasis on fast time-to-production highlights Celestica's competitive advantage in meeting the demands of hyperscalers, which is essential in the rapidly evolving tech landscape [1]

Group 1 - Celestica Inc. will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results after market close on January 28, 2026 [1] - A conference call will be hosted at 8:00am ET on January 29, 2026 [1] - Participants can join a live webcast, and a recorded version will be available approximately two hours after the call [1]

分组1 - Credo Technology (CRDO) has a high momentum rating despite a recent drop, with a current rating of B compared to A+ six months ago. The stock has shown significant performance over various periods, including a 101% increase over 12 months versus the sector's 0.36% [6][7][8] - Merck (MRK) is preferred over Pfizer (PFE) due to slightly better momentum and total returns, despite Pfizer having better valuation metrics. Merck's momentum is rated B- compared to Pfizer's C, and it has outperformed Pfizer in returns over the last month, three months, and six months [13][15] - Comfort Systems (FIX) is rated as a hold due to a poor valuation grade (F), despite strong growth (A+) and profitability (A-). The stock's trailing PE is 42 times compared to the sector's 21 times, indicating it is expensive [22][24][25] 分组2 - Energy stocks are sensitive to oil prices, which can lead to changes in fundamentals and ratings. For example, Energy Transfer (ET) has seen its rating drop from strong buy to hold due to declining oil prices [17][20] - The quant analysis system used evaluates stocks based on factors such as value, growth, profitability, momentum, and EPS revisions. Each factor has underlying metrics that are weighted based on their predictive value [31][34] - The top 10 stocks for 2026 have shown strong past performance, with returns significantly outperforming the S&P 500 over various periods. For instance, stocks held from 2024 to December 2025 yielded a return of 356% compared to the S&P's 47% [40][41]

Group 1 - The article highlights the successful stock timing of Celestica Inc. (CLS) by the chief investment analyst, indicating a positive outlook for the stock [1] - The analyst operates a family office with a diverse investment portfolio, emphasizing the importance of navigating vast amounts of information to identify critical investment ideas [1] - The investing group, Beyond the Wall Investing, provides access to high-quality analysis and insights similar to those utilized by institutional market participants [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in CLS shares, indicating confidence in the stock's future performance [2] - The article expresses the analyst's personal opinions and does not involve compensation from any company mentioned, ensuring an unbiased perspective [2]

Group 1: Market Trends and Predictions - Veteran investor Louis Navellier warns against chasing the recent "junk rally" in low-quality stocks, advocating a return to quality stocks with strong earnings growth as the 2026 financial year begins [1] - Navellier predicts a "big flip" in January where quality companies with accelerating sales and earnings will regain market leadership, following a fourth-quarter mean reversion [2] - He highlights an increase in institutional buying pressure in data center stocks as an early sign of this trend [3] Group 2: Company Earnings and Growth Projections - Navellier is positioning his portfolio for the upcoming corporate earnings season, referring to it as "judgment day" for earnings [4] - Nvidia Corp. is identified as a top pick, expected to report a 66.7% increase in sales and a 71% jump in earnings, driven by new chip sales to China [4] - Palantir Technologies is forecasted to see a 64.1% earnings surge due to its role in AI implementation for government contracts [5] - Seagate Technology and Celestica are also highlighted as beneficiaries of the data center boom, with earnings expected to rise 37.6% and 58.1%, respectively [5] Group 3: Economic Outlook - Navellier expresses concern over the broader economy, predicting that deflation will be the primary story for 2026, rather than inflation [6] - He cites falling rental costs, declining condo prices, and low energy prices as indicators that the Federal Reserve should cut rates by at least 100 basis points to prevent a deeper economic slowdown [7] Group 4: Market Performance - In 2025, the S&P 500 increased by 16.65%, while the Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones gained 20.54% and 13.38%, respectively [8] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF showed positive premarket movements, with SPY up 0.24% at $684.82 and QQQ up 0.52% to $616.29 [8]

Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. (CLS) has seen a stock increase of 21.6% over the past three months, slightly underperforming the Electronics - Manufacturing Services industry's growth of 22.4, while outperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the S&P 500 during the same period [1][8] Financial Performance - The company has outperformed peers such as Jabil, Inc. (JBL) and Flex Ltd (FLEX), with Jabil's shares rising 10.3% and Flex's shares increasing by 7.9% [2] - In the third quarter, revenues from the Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) segment surged 43.2% year over year to $2.41 billion, driven by strong demand for 800G networking switches [3][8] - Management anticipates a continued revenue growth of 40% year over year in the CCS segment, supported by the increasing demand for robust networking architecture due to AI data center buildouts [4] Market Trends - The AI data center market is projected to reach $236.44 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 31.6% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the digital transformation across various industries [5] - Major hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are expected to accelerate AI data center buildouts, presenting growth opportunities for Celestica's 400G and 800G switch products [5] Capital Management - As of September 30, 2025, Celestica had $305.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, with a current ratio of 1.47, indicating a strong position to meet short-term obligations compared to the industry's 1.17 [6] Challenges - The company's revenue growth is heavily reliant on AI data center capital expenditures, which may be affected by macroeconomic headwinds and tariff-related uncertainties [9] - Persistent weakness in the ATS segment and elevated inventory levels in industrial markets are hindering net sales growth [10] - Customer concentration risk is significant, with 59% of total revenues derived from three customers, making the company vulnerable to changes in demand from these major clients [10] Valuation Metrics - Celestica's shares are currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 35.51 for forward 12-month earnings, which is higher than the industry average of 24.54 [15] Strategic Positioning - The company's strong focus on innovation and strategic collaborations with industry leaders like AMD and Broadcom is expected to yield long-term benefits [17]

Core Viewpoint - Veteran investor Louis Navellier warns against the recent "junk rally" in low-quality stocks and advises a shift back to quality stocks with strong earnings growth as the 2026 financial year begins [1][2] Group 1: Market Trends - Navellier highlights a fourth-quarter mean reversion where previously underperforming stocks led the market, which he deems unsustainable [2] - He anticipates a "big flip" in January, where quality companies with accelerating sales and earnings will regain market leadership [2] Group 2: Stock Picks - Navellier's top pick is Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA), expecting a 66.7% increase in sales and a 71% jump in earnings due to new chip sales to China [4] - He is also bullish on Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), forecasting a 64.1% earnings surge as a leading "AI implementer" for government contracts [4] - Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (NASDAQ: STX) and Celestica Inc. (NYSE: CLS) are highlighted as beneficiaries of the data center boom, with earnings expected to rise 37.6% and 58.1%, respectively [5] Group 3: Economic Outlook - Navellier expresses concern over the broader economy, predicting deflation as the primary story for 2026, citing falling rental costs, declining condo prices, and low energy prices [6] - He argues that the Federal Reserve needs to cut rates by at least 100 basis points to prevent a deeper economic slowdown [6] Group 4: Market Performance - In 2025, the S&P 500 increased by 16.65%, while the Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones gained 20.54% and 13.38%, respectively [7] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) was up 0.24% at $684.82, and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ: QQQ) advanced 0.52% to $616.29 in premarket trading [7]

Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. (CLS) reported an operating cash flow of $126.2 million for the third quarter, an increase from $122.8 million year-over-year, with total cash flow for the first nine months of 2025 reaching $408.9 million, up from $330.5 million in 2024 [2][9] - The company experienced a 43% increase in revenues from the Connectivity & Cable Solutions (CCS) segment, driven by demand for advanced networking products, particularly 400G and 800G switches, fueled by AI investments [3][9] - Celestica raised its free cash flow guidance for 2025 to $425 million, up from $400 million, supported by strong revenue growth and a stable cash cycle [5][9] Financial Performance - The inventory balance for Celestica was $2.05 billion, an increase of $226 million year-over-year and $129 million from the previous quarter, with cash cycle days improving to 68 days from 70 days in the second quarter of 2025 [4] - Free cash flow for the third quarter was $88.9 million, compared to $76.8 million in the same quarter last year, with capital expenditure at $37 million, representing 1.2% of revenues, below the expected range of 1.5-2% [5] Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as Sanmina Corporation reported a significant increase in cash flow, generating $199.1 million from operating activities in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to $51.9 million the previous year, driven by growth in Communications Networks and Cloud Infrastructure [6] - Jabil, Inc. also showed strong performance with $323 million in net cash from operating activities in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, up from $312 million a year ago, and a free cash flow of $272 million compared to $226 million the previous year [7] Valuation and Estimates - Celestica's shares have increased by 223.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 105.1% [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.51, significantly higher than the industry average of 24.37 [10] - Earnings estimates for 2025 have remained stable over the past 60 days, while estimates for 2026 have seen a decrease [11]

Industry Overview - The electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry is currently ranked in the top 3% of the Zacks Industry Rank, indicating strong performance and potential for growth [1] - The industry has delivered a remarkable 98.1% return over the past year and an astonishing 105.9% year-to-date return, suggesting it is expected to outperform the market in the next three to six months [2] Company Highlights Celestica Inc. (CLS) - Celestica is one of the largest EMS companies globally, focusing on high-value markets and product diversification, which is supported by strong R&D capabilities [7][8] - The company is experiencing robust growth in its Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment, particularly in its Hyperscaler Portfolio Solutions and optical programs, driven by increasing demand for 800G and 400G network switches [9] - For 2025, Celestica anticipates revenues of approximately $12.2 billion, up from a previous estimate of $11.55 billion, with expected non-GAAP adjusted earnings of $5.90 per share [12] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Celestica are 31.4% and 39%, respectively, for the next year, with a 15.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings [13] Jabil Inc. (JBL) - Jabil is a leading global supplier of EMS solutions, benefiting from strong momentum in capital equipment, AI-powered data center infrastructure, and digital commerce [14][15] - The company plans to invest $500 million to expand its manufacturing capabilities for the AI data center vertical, enhancing its position in the AI hardware supply chain [17] - Jabil's projected revenues for fiscal 2026 are $32.4 billion, with expected non-GAAP earnings per share of $11.55 and over $1.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow [22] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Jabil are 8.8% and 18.5%, respectively, for the current year, with a 4.5% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year's earnings [23] Sanmina Corp. (SANM) - Sanmina is a global provider of electronics contract manufacturing services, focusing on complex components and end-to-end supply chain solutions across various industries [24] - The company is benefiting from strong demand in communications networks, cloud, and AI infrastructure, with a vertically integrated manufacturing process that streamlines operations and reduces costs [25][26] - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Sanmina expects revenues between $2.05 billion and $2.15 billion, with non-GAAP earnings per share estimated between $1.95 and $2.25 [28] - The expected revenue and earnings growth rates for Sanmina are 72.2% and 59.6%, respectively, for the current year, with a 38.9% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year's earnings [29]