Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. is well-positioned to benefit from the growing AI proliferation in the data center and edge infrastructure market, with the AI hardware market expected to grow at a 22.4% CAGR, reaching $210.5 billion by 2034 from $34.05 billion in 2025 [1] - The company is expanding its offerings through innovation and strategic collaborations to capitalize on emerging market trends [2] - Celestica's extensive 800G Family of Networking Switches is anticipated to be a major growth driver, optimized for AI/ML and Big Data Analytics [3] Company Developments - The DS4100 switch, designed with Broadcom's TH4-12.8T switch chipset, is gaining traction in the data-center networking market [2] - The introduction of the ES1500 switch is tailored for edge AI deployments and IoT expansion in various sectors [3] - Celestica's shares have surged 167.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 96.4% [7][8] Competitive Landscape - Competitors include Jabil, Inc. and Flex Ltd., both of which are also benefiting from demand in AI-related sectors [4] - Jabil announced a $500 million multi-year investment initiative to expand its manufacturing capabilities in the AI data center infrastructure market [5] - Flex is focusing on industrial AI and has improved its data center solutions through the acquisition of JetCool Technologies [6] Valuation Metrics - Celestica trades at a forward P/E ratio of 27.89, which is above the industry average, potentially raising valuation concerns [8][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Celestica's earnings for 2025 and 2026 has remained unchanged over the past 60 days [11]

Key Takeaways CLS revenues rose 20% YoY in Q1 2025, led by strong traction in Connectivity Celestica, Inc. (CLS) reported a substantial 20% top-line improvement year over year to $2.64 billion in the first quarter of 2025. The company witnessed solid growth in Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment (“CCS”), driven by healthy demand in the Communications end market. Revenues from High Performance Solutions (“HPS”) product lines were up 99% year over year, backed by strong sales of 400G switches and growing t ...

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].