Celestica Surges 139% in 6 Months: How to Play the Stock

Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. (CLS) shares have surged 139% in the past six months, outperforming the Electronics - Manufacturing Services industry growth of 64.9% and the Zacks Computer & Technology sector as well as the S&P 500 during the same period [1][8] - The company has outperformed peers such as Jabil, Inc. (JBL) and Sanmina Corporation (SANM), whose shares have risen 45.1% and 54.2%, respectively [2][8] Growth Drivers - Celestica's growth is driven by strong demand in the Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment, particularly in its Hardware Platform Solutions business, with a transition from 400G to 800G switches accelerating revenue growth [3][8] - The company is capitalizing on AI investments, which are driving demand for its data center interconnects, edge solutions, and servers and storage-related products [3][8] - Strategic collaborations with Broadcom and AMD are enhancing Celestica's product offerings, such as the DS4100 switch and SC6100 storage controller, positioning the company competitively against peers [4][8] Financial Management - Celestica demonstrates strong capital discipline, with capital expenditure at 1.1% of revenues in Q2, below the projected range of 1.5-2% [5][8] - The company is focusing on higher utilization of manufacturing facilities, with only 40 basis points of capex allocated to maintenance, indicating a strong emphasis on growth programs [5][8] - Inventory balance increased to $1.92 billion in Q2 from $130 million in Q1, with cash cycle days improving to 66 days from 69 days, suggesting anticipation of strong demand [6][8] Supply Chain Resilience - Celestica operates in 16 countries, benefiting from a diversified manufacturing network that mitigates geopolitical and tariff-related uncertainties [9][8] - Investments in expanding capacity and capabilities in the U.S., Thailand, and Malaysia, along with design centers in India and the U.S., have minimized supply chain disruptions [9][8] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for Celestica for 2025 and 2026 have increased over the past 60 days, indicating positive market sentiment [10][8] Valuation Metrics - Celestica's shares are currently trading at a premium with a price/earnings ratio of 33.33 compared to the industry average of 21.56 [11][8] Long-term Outlook - The company's diverse manufacturing strategy and efficient capital management are expected to support long-term growth, particularly in the CCS segment driven by AI applications [12][8]