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Amphenol Shares Rise 16% in a Month: Should You Buy the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-11-11 19:01
Core Insights - Amphenol (APH) shares have appreciated 16.1% over the past month, significantly outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 3.8% and matching the growth of the Zacks Electronics Connectors industry [1] - The company has also outperformed key competitors TE Connectivity (TEL) and ITT Inc. (ITT), which gained 13% and 11.5% respectively during the same period [2] Financial Performance - Amphenol's strong third-quarter performance highlights its long-term investment appeal, driven by solid top-line growth, margin expansion, robust cash flow, and a substantial dividend increase [3] - The company expects fourth-quarter 2025 earnings to be between 89 cents and 91 cents per share, indicating growth of 62-65% year over year, with revenues anticipated to be between $6 billion and $6.1 billion, suggesting growth of 39-41% [7][17] - Amphenol reported $3.89 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter, up from $3.23 billion in the prior quarter, showcasing its strong liquidity position [19] - The company generated $1.47 billion in operating cash flow in the third quarter, up from $1.4 billion in the previous quarter, along with $1.2 billion in free cash flow, indicating efficient operations [20] Strategic Acquisitions - Amphenol's disciplined acquisition strategy continues to enhance its market reach and technology capabilities, with recent acquisitions including Rochester Sensors, adding approximately $100 million in annual sales, and Trexon for about $1 billion [12][13][14] - The pending acquisition of CommScope's CCS business, expected to close by the first quarter of 2026, further emphasizes Amphenol's active pursuit of complementary assets [14] Valuation - Amphenol is currently trading at a premium valuation, with a forward 12-month Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 37.54X compared to the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's average of 28.61X, supported by steady earnings growth [8] - The company has consistently surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past year, with an average surprise of 17.90% [18] Shareholder Returns - Amphenol returned $354 million to shareholders in the third quarter through $201 million in dividends and $153 million in share repurchases, reflecting confidence in its long-term growth prospects [21] Investment Outlook - APH stock is considered attractive due to strong earnings growth, solid cash flow, and strategic acquisitions that expand its technology portfolio and market reach, making it a compelling buy [22]
RFIL vs. Amphenol: Which Connectivity Stock is a Better Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-26 17:26
Core Insights - RF Industries (RFIL) and Amphenol (APH) are key players in the electronic connectors and interconnect systems market, serving various end-markets, with Amphenol being significantly larger than RFIL [1][2] RF Industries (RFIL) - RF Industries is experiencing a growing adoption of its integrated solutions, with a backlog of $15 million at the end of Q2 2025, supported by bookings of $18.7 million [3][10] - The company is transitioning from a product-oriented model to an integrated solutions provider, which is expected to drive long-term top-line growth [4] - RFIL is expanding its presence in sectors such as wireless, aerospace, public safety, and industrial OEMs, with plans to enter energy, transportation, wireline telecom, and data centers [4] - The adoption of RFIL's small cell solutions is increasing, with 100 opportunities in the sales pipeline for Wireless DAS build-outs [5] - Inventory levels have decreased to $12.6 million in Q2 2025 from $14.7 million in the previous year, aided by a streamlined procurement and supply chain process [5] Amphenol (APH) - Amphenol's order growth surged by 36% year-over-year to $5.523 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of 0.98:1, driven by a strong portfolio and targeted acquisitions [6][10] - The demand for high-speed interconnects is being fueled by rising AI workloads and cloud infrastructure upgrades, supporting growth in the Communications Solutions segment [7] - Amphenol's diverse acquisitions have enhanced its market reach and growth prospects, with a focus on communications, medical, and defense sectors [8] - The company anticipates Q3 2025 earnings between $0.77 and $0.79 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 54% to 58%, with revenues expected between $5.4 billion and $5.5 billion [9][11] Comparative Performance - Year-to-date, RF Industries shares have increased by 74.2%, outperforming Amphenol's 58% rise [13] - In terms of valuation, Amphenol's forward price/sales ratio stands at 5.87X, significantly higher than RF Industries' 0.91X, indicating that both companies are currently overvalued [16] Investment Outlook - Amphenol is viewed as a stronger investment option compared to RF Industries, supported by its expanding portfolio and market traction, despite potential growth challenges for RFIL due to tariffs [19][20]