Core Industry Insights - The electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry is highly competitive and rapidly evolving, driven by factors such as AI, data center expansion, consumer electronics growth, 5G adoption, IoT proliferation, and automotive innovation [4] - Both Celestica Inc. and Jabil Inc. are strategically positioned in this evolving EMS landscape, with domain-specific expertise in core areas [4] Jabil Inc. Highlights - Jabil is experiencing significant growth in AI-related revenues, projected to reach $8.5 billion by 2025, reflecting a 50% year-over-year growth [5] - The AI data center market is expected to grow from $15.02 billion in 2024 to $93.60 billion in 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.8% [6] - Jabil plans to invest $500 million in the Southeast U.S. to expand manufacturing capabilities and workforce development for the cloud and AI data center infrastructure market [6] - The company generated $326 million in adjusted free cash flow in Q3 and anticipates over $1.2 billion in adjusted free cash flow for the full year 2025, indicating efficient working capital management [7] - Jabil faces challenges from weak demand in renewable energy and EV verticals, as well as competition from Celestica and others [8] Celestica Inc. Highlights - Celestica is witnessing growth in its Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS) segment, driven by strong demand for 400G and 800G switches [9][10] - The company is focusing on product diversification and innovation, with strategic collaborations with industry leaders like AMD and Broadcom expected to yield long-term benefits [10] - Celestica's strong R&D capabilities allow it to produce high-volume electronic products and complex technology infrastructure products [11] - The introduction of innovative products, such as the ES1500 enterprise access switch, positions Celestica for long-term growth [12] - However, the company faces margin pressures due to intensifying competition and significant customer concentration risk [13] Financial Performance and Valuation - Jabil's 2025 sales are estimated to grow by 0.58%, with EPS growth of 10.13%, while Celestica's sales and EPS are expected to grow by 13.15% and 30.15%, respectively [14][16] - Over the past year, Celestica's stock has gained 152.6%, while Jabil's has increased by 85.2% [17] - Jabil's shares trade at a forward P/E ratio of 20.42, which is lower than Celestica's 28.98, making Jabil more attractive from a valuation standpoint [17] Investment Outlook - Jabil holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), while Celestica has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating a stronger investment outlook for Jabil [19][21] - Both companies are expected to benefit from the growing AI proliferation across industries, but Jabil's broader portfolio, robust cash flow, and strategic investments provide it with a competitive edge [21]