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 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]

Core Insights - Celestica, Inc. (CLS) reported quarterly revenues of $3.19 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 27.8%, surpassing management's guidance and the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $170 million [1][8] Group 1: Company Performance - The growth in revenue was driven by strong demand in the Connectivity and Cable Solution portfolio, which saw net sales surge 43.2% year over year to $2.41 billion, primarily due to the demand for 800G and 400G switching products [3][8] - Celestica's management is optimistic about future revenue growth, projecting revenues between $3.325 billion and $3.575 billion for the next quarter, indicating a potential 36% year-over-year growth [4][8] - The company's shares have increased by 215.6% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 93.7% [7] Group 2: Market Opportunities - The global data center networking market is valued at $38.49 billion in 2024, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 17.2% from 2025 to 2033, presenting a substantial growth opportunity for Celestica [4] - Celestica is actively collaborating with industry leaders like AMD and Broadcom to enhance its product offerings in the expanding AI infrastructure market [2] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors such as Jabil, Inc. and Flex Ltd. are also performing well, with Jabil reporting revenues of $8.3 billion, up from $6.96 billion year over year, and Flex generating $6.8 billion, up 4% year over year [5][6] - Jabil's growth was driven by demand in Capital Equipment and AI-related Cloud and Data Center Infrastructure, while Flex's diversified portfolio across multiple industries remains a key strength [5][6] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Celestica trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 37.68, higher than the industry average of 24.13 [9] - Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased by 6.3% to $5.90, and for 2026, they have risen by 20.9% to $8.20 over the past 60 days [10]

Core Insights - Flex Ltd. is experiencing robust business performance, primarily due to increasing demand in its data center and technology-driven sectors, while facing challenges in the automotive sector within its Reliability Solutions segment [1] Financial Performance - In the last reported quarter, revenues from the Reliability Solutions Group grew by 3% to $3 billion, representing 45% of net sales, driven by strong growth in Power and moderate gains in Health Solutions and Core Industrial, despite ongoing automotive sector weakness [2] - The adjusted operating margin for the Reliability Solutions division increased to 6.5%, up 105 basis points from the previous year, attributed to a favorable mix from the Power business, effective cost management, and disciplined execution [4] - Flex anticipates Reliability Solutions revenues to grow in the low- to mid-single digits, supported by strong power demand and accelerating growth in medical devices in fiscal 2026, although concerns remain regarding the automotive and renewables sectors [5] Market Dynamics - The durability of data center demand is crucial for Flex to continue offsetting pressures from the automotive sector, with revenues expected to rise at least 35% this year in the data center segment, providing significant mix benefits [6] - Flex's diversification across mission-critical industrial and healthcare verticals reduces reliance on any single end market, including automotive [6] Competitive Landscape - Jabil is positioned to benefit from AI-driven data center expansion and higher demand for advanced cooling solutions, but faces challenges in consumer-driven products and volatile automotive demand [7][8] - Celestica is capitalizing on AI investments driving demand for its data communications and processing infrastructure products, although it faces concerns in its ATS segment and customer concentration risks [9][10] Stock Performance and Valuation - Flex's shares have increased by 19.5% in the past month, outperforming the Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry, which grew by 10.1% [11] - Flex trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21.09, below the industry average of 25.53 [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flex's earnings for fiscal 2026 has been revised upward over the past 60 days, indicating positive sentiment [14]

Industry Overview - The electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry is rapidly evolving and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.06% due to factors such as digital transformation, AI data center expansion, consumer electronics, IoT markets, 5G adoption, and automotive innovation [1] Company Profiles Sanmina Corporation - Sanmina is a global provider of electronics contract manufacturing services, focusing on engineering and fabricating complex components and offering complete end-to-end supply chain solutions [2] - The company emphasizes strengthening technology leadership and a customer-focused approach as key elements of its long-term growth strategy [4] - Sanmina's comprehensive portfolio includes product design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and aftermarket support, allowing customers to rely on a single partner throughout the product lifecycle [5] - The company has a strong liquidity position, with a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-capital ratio of 10.6%, which is significantly lower than the EMS industry average of 37.9% [8][15] Celestica Inc. - Celestica primarily serves original equipment manufacturers and cloud-based service providers, offering a wide range of manufacturing and supply-chain solutions [3] - The company is experiencing strong growth in the AI data center market, with a 43.2% year-over-year sales increase in the Connectivity & Cloud Solutions segment [11][12] - However, Celestica's Advanced Technology segment saw a decline of 4.1% year-over-year, primarily due to elevated inventory levels in industrial end markets [13] - Celestica's current ratio is 1.47, indicating it is well-positioned to meet short-term obligations, but its quick ratio of 0.88 suggests potential challenges in fulfilling these obligations without selling inventory [15] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Sanmina generated $1.247 billion in revenues from Industrial & Energy, Medical, Defense & Aerospace, and Automotive markets, a slight decrease from $1.253 billion [7] - Celestica generated $126.2 million in cash from operations, up from $122.8 million year-over-year, with free cash flow increasing by 15.7% [14] - Sanmina's full-year sales are expected to grow by 72.24%, while Celestica's sales are projected to grow by 26.34% [16][18] Market Position and Valuation - Over the past year, Celestica's share price has increased by 280.1%, while Sanmina's has risen by 105% [18] - From a valuation perspective, Sanmina appears more attractive, trading at a price/earnings ratio of 16.45 compared to Celestica's 42.36 [19] - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong demand across multiple verticals and resilience amid macroeconomic challenges [21]

Core Insights - Celestica Inc. (CLS) and AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) are significant players in the technology sector, with Celestica specializing in electronics manufacturing services and AST SpaceMobile focusing on space-based cellular broadband networks [1][2] Group 1: Celestica Inc. (CLS) - Celestica has over two decades of manufacturing experience and offers cloud-optimized data storage and networking solutions, driven by the demand for AI-based applications [4] - The company is diversifying its product offerings and expanding into high-value markets, which enhances business resilience by reducing dependence on a single industry [5] - Despite its strengths, Celestica faces margin pressures due to high research and development costs and stiff competition from industry giants like Foxconn and Flex [6] - Celestica's sales and EPS are expected to grow by 20.6% and 43% year-over-year in 2025, respectively, with a positive trend in EPS estimates [12] - The company has experienced a remarkable stock performance, gaining 424% over the past year, significantly outperforming the sector's growth of 30.1% [15][18] - Celestica's valuation metrics are more attractive, with a price/sales ratio of 2.13 compared to AST SpaceMobile's 69.34 [16] Group 2: AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) - AST SpaceMobile is developing the first global cellular broadband network in space, utilizing a constellation of satellites to provide service directly to smartphones [2][10] - The company has launched five commercial satellites, with plans to deploy 45 to 60 more by Q1 2026, aiming to enhance cellular coverage in areas lacking terrestrial networks [7][10] - AST SpaceMobile's sales are projected to grow by an extraordinary 1,120% in 2025, but its EPS is expected to decline by 48.5% [12] - The company faces challenges from unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and competition from established players like SpaceX's Starlink, which may pressure its financial performance [11] - AST SpaceMobile's stock has gained 29.8% over the past year, but this is significantly lower than Celestica's performance [15]