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CLS or FLEX or PLXS
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Celestica Inc. (CLS) vs. Flex Ltd. (FLEX) vs. Plexus Corp. (PLXS) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CLS boasts the strongest one-year return at over 369%, driven by AI infrastructure demand, outpacing FLEX (159%) and PLXS (113%).
- PLXS leads year-to-date gains at 80%, with recent quarterly earnings beats supporting momentum in healthcare and industrial sectors.
- FLEX offers the most attractive forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio at 24.94, appealing to value-oriented investors amid data center growth.
- All three stocks in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) space have seen robust recent momentum, with gains exceeding broader market indices over the past month.
- CLS holds the largest market cap at $48B, reflecting scale advantages, while smaller PLXS ($7B) shows higher relative volatility-adjusted returns.
Introduction
Electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers like CLS, FLEX, and PLXS play critical roles in the global supply chain for technology hardware, supporting sectors from AI data centers to healthcare devices. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, business drivers, and market positioning amid rising demand for advanced manufacturing. Traders seeking exposure to tech infrastructure growth and investors evaluating relative value in the EMS space will find insights into momentum, valuations, and sector tailwinds here.
CLS Overview and Recent Performance
Celestica Inc. (CLS) delivers supply chain solutions, including design, manufacturing, and after-market services across advanced technology and connectivity segments. Focused on hyperscalers and AI platforms, the company reported strong quarterly revenue and benefits from collaborations like its AMD-powered Helios rack-scale AI system. In recent market activity, CLS shares have surged, with year-to-date gains near 40% and a one-year return exceeding 369%, reflecting robust sentiment tied to AI-driven demand. Analyst upgrades, including price target hikes to $480 and Buy ratings, have bolstered momentum, though high trailing P/E of 50.78 signals premium valuation sensitivity. Beta of 1.48 indicates elevated volatility relative to the market.
FLEX Overview and Recent Performance
Flex Ltd. (FLEX) specializes in design, engineering, and manufacturing for data centers, automotive, healthcare, and industrial applications through its Agility and Reliability Solutions segments. Recent quarters highlighted record adjusted operating margins ahead of targets, fueled by data center surges and partnerships like Teradyne for automation. Shares have climbed over 50% year-to-date and 159% over one year, with past-month gains around 22% outperforming peers in relative performance. Trading at a forward P/E of 24.94, FLEX appears more reasonably valued than rivals, supported by beta of 1.20 and steady cash flow growth.
PLXS Overview and Recent Performance
Plexus Corp. (PLXS) offers end-to-end EMS, including design and supply chain management for aerospace, healthcare, and industrial markets. Recent fiscal second-quarter results exceeded expectations on earnings and revenue, with adjusted EPS rising significantly and a strong program pipeline. The stock has delivered 80% year-to-date appreciation and 113% over one year, with one-month advances near 29%, driven by sector diversification and earnings momentum. Lower beta of 0.88 suggests relative stability, though trailing P/E around 39 reflects growth pricing in recent market positioning.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
All three operate in EMS, providing manufacturing and supply chain for tech hardware, but differ in scale and focus: CLS emphasizes AI/cloud hyperscalers, FLEX balances data centers with automotive/healthcare, and PLXS leans into healthcare/industrials. Growth drivers include AI infrastructure for CLS and FLEX, versus diversified ramps for PLXS. Recent momentum favors CLS' explosive returns, but FLEX trades at a discount on forward multiples. Risk factors involve supply chain volatility; PLXS' lower beta offers stability, while higher betas in CLS and FLEX amplify upside/downside. Market sentiment tilts positive across the board, with analyst upgrades prominent for all amid EMS sector strength.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors CLS based on superior trend consistency, outsized relative performance, and positioning in high-growth AI supply chains. While FLEX offers better valuation and PLXS stability, CLS' catalysts like analyst momentum suggest higher probability of continued outperformance in the near term.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CLS’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileFLEX’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s), and PLXS’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- CLS’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- FLEX’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- PLXS’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CLS’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while FLEX’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s), and PLXS’s TA Score reflects 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CLS’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- FLEX’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 3 bearish.
- PLXS’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
CLS (@Electronic Components) experienced а -10.44% price change this week, while FLEX (@Electronic Components) price change was +44.83% , and PLXS (@Electronic Components) price fluctuated -0.23% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Components industry was +3.08%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +12.23%, and the average quarterly price growth was +38.94%.
Reported Earning Dates
CLS is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
FLEX is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
PLXS is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Components (+3.08% weekly)The Electronic Components industry produces electronic equipment for industries and consumer electronics products, such as mobile devices, televisions, and circuit boards. TE Connectivity Ltd, for example, is a company that designs and manufactures connectivity and sensor products for harsh environments in various industries, such as automotive, industrial equipment, aerospace, and oil & gas. Another major player, Corning Inc., makes advanced optics including end-to-end fiber and wireless solutions for communications networks along with various other technologies catering to industrial and scientific applications.
| CLS | FLEX | PLXS | |
| Capitalization | 43.1B | 51.4B | 7.08B |
| EBITDA | 1.36B | 1.89B | 297M |
| Gain YTD | 26.542 | 131.198 | 79.925 |
| P/E Ratio | 45.34 | 59.95 | 38.72 |
| Revenue | 13.8B | 26.8B | 4.31B |
| Total Cash | 378M | 3.06B | 303M |
| Total Debt | 772M | 5.02B | 260M |
CLS | FLEX | PLXS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 80 | 27 | 74 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 72 Overvalued | 67 Overvalued | 58 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | 2 | 13 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 19 | 51 | 61 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 37 | 34 | 37 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 15 | 5 | 17 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
PLXS's Valuation (58) in the Electronic Components industry is in the same range as FLEX (67) and is in the same range as CLS (72). This means that PLXS's stock grew similarly to FLEX’s and similarly to CLS’s over the last 12 months.
FLEX's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Electronic Components industry is in the same range as CLS (8) and is in the same range as PLXS (13). This means that FLEX's stock grew similarly to CLS’s and similarly to PLXS’s over the last 12 months.
CLS's SMR Rating (19) in the Electronic Components industry is in the same range as FLEX (51) and is somewhat better than the same rating for PLXS (61). This means that CLS's stock grew similarly to FLEX’s and somewhat faster than PLXS’s over the last 12 months.
FLEX's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Electronic Components industry is in the same range as CLS (37) and is in the same range as PLXS (37). This means that FLEX's stock grew similarly to CLS’s and similarly to PLXS’s over the last 12 months.
FLEX's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Electronic Components industry is in the same range as CLS (15) and is in the same range as PLXS (17). This means that FLEX's stock grew similarly to CLS’s and similarly to PLXS’s over the last 12 months.
| CLS | FLEX | PLXS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 71% | 1 day ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 82% | N/A | 3 days ago 61% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 82% | N/A | N/A |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 69% | N/A | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 69% | 1 day ago 76% | 1 day ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 85% | 1 day ago 76% | 1 day ago 68% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 84% | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 68% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 72% | 16 days ago 62% | 7 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 70% | 1 day ago 54% | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 88% | 1 day ago 79% | 1 day ago 58% |
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CLS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CLS has been closely correlated with FLEX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CLS jumps, then FLEX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To CLS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLS | 100% | -1.82% | ||
| FLEX - CLS | 69% Closely correlated | -3.71% | ||
| FN - CLS | 69% Closely correlated | -2.32% | ||
| TTMI - CLS | 66% Loosely correlated | +0.23% | ||
| JBL - CLS | 63% Loosely correlated | -3.95% | ||
| GLW - CLS | 60% Loosely correlated | -4.41% | ||
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FLEX and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FLEX has been closely correlated with JBL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if FLEX jumps, then JBL could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FLEX | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLEX | 100% | -3.71% | ||
| JBL - FLEX | 74% Closely correlated | -3.95% | ||
| GLW - FLEX | 60% Loosely correlated | -4.41% | ||
| BHE - FLEX | 58% Loosely correlated | -3.62% | ||
| TTMI - FLEX | 57% Loosely correlated | +0.23% | ||
| PLXS - FLEX | 55% Loosely correlated | -2.68% | ||
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PLXS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PLXS has been closely correlated with BHE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PLXS jumps, then BHE could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To PLXS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLXS | 100% | -2.68% | ||
| BHE - PLXS | 74% Closely correlated | -3.62% | ||
| FLEX - PLXS | 71% Closely correlated | -3.71% | ||
| KN - PLXS | 67% Closely correlated | -2.79% | ||
| LFUS - PLXS | 67% Closely correlated | -2.03% | ||
| JBL - PLXS | 60% Loosely correlated | -3.95% | ||
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