Celestica, Inc.
is a leading provider of hardware platform and supply chain solutions within the technology sector. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and servicing complex electronic products for a diverse array of enterprise-level original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Of course. Here is a comprehensive analysis of CLS stock.
CLS presents a conflicting picture of strong operational performance against a premium valuation and high volatility. Fundamentally, the company is healthy, showing solid revenue growth, prudent debt management, and good profitability. Operationally, it efficiently utilizes capital, as seen in its respectable return on equity.
However, the stock carries significant risk. Its price is exceptionally high relative to current earnings and assets, suggesting much of its future growth is already priced in. Furthermore, its high beta indicates it is considerably more volatile than the broader market, which was confirmed by a steep maximum drawdown last year.
CLS is a stock for investors with a high-risk tolerance. While the underlying business is robust, the current valuation demands near-perfect execution of growth expectations. The recent pullback might offer a more attractive entry point, but buying at these levels carries substantial valuation risk. Investors should wait for a more significant price correction or clearer signs that earnings will accelerate to justify the premium multiples before committing new capital.
*This is not investment advice, for reference only.*
Of course. Here is a 12-month outlook for CLS stock based on the provided analysis.
12-Month Outlook for CLS
The outlook for CLS is cautious, weighted heavily by its significant valuation risk. Key catalysts will be the company's ability to meet or exceed high growth expectations embedded in its current price, alongside demonstrating sustained operational efficiency to justify its premium valuation. The primary risks are its high volatility (beta) and the potential for a sharp correction if quarterly earnings fail to support the lofty valuation, making it vulnerable to broader market sentiment shifts. Given the lack of an analyst target and the current "HOLD" recommendation, a definitive target price range is challenging; performance will likely hinge on whether the company can grow into its valuation or if a further price correction occurs to create a more attractive entry point.
*This is not investment advice, for reference only.*
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about CLS's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $310.04, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, CLS has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
CLS has demonstrated strong long-term appreciation despite recent volatility, with significant outperformance against the market over the past three months. The stock's high beta of 1.463 indicates notably elevated volatility compared to the broader market.
The stock declined 6.5% over the past month but gained 26.48% over three months, substantially outperforming the market by 23.11% during the latter period. This suggests recent weakness may represent a temporary pullback within a stronger medium-term uptrend.
Trading at $328.56, CLS currently sits approximately 9.6% below its 52-week high, indicating it remains in the upper portion of its annual range. Given the substantial 54% maximum drawdown experienced over the past year alongside recent strong gains, the stock appears to be in a moderately elevated position rather than severely overbought or oversold.
| Period | CLS Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +1.1% | +1.3% |
| 3m | +27.2% | +5.7% |
| 6m | +92.7% | +10.6% |
| 1y | +188.4% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +2.5% | +1.1% |
Revenue & Profitability CLS demonstrated strong revenue growth with Q3 revenue increasing 9.2% sequentially to $3.16 billion. However, profitability metrics showed mixed trends as the gross profit margin declined from 12.8% to 11.6% quarter-over-quarter, while the net profit margin improved to 8.4% driven by significant other income. The company maintained solid operating income of $212 million, though the operating margin compressed to 6.7% from 9.4% in Q2.
Financial Health The company maintains a conservative debt profile with a low debt ratio of 13.9% and manageable debt-to-equity of 0.45. Interest coverage remains strong at 16.8x, indicating comfortable debt servicing capacity. However, cash position appears constrained with a cash ratio of just 0.09, though operating cash flow per share of $1.08 provides some liquidity support.
Operational Efficiency CLS demonstrates solid operational efficiency with ROE of 13.1% and ROA of 4.0%, indicating effective capital utilization. Asset turnover of 0.48 suggests moderate efficiency in generating revenue from assets. The company maintains reasonable working capital management with an 81-day cash conversion cycle, supported by inventory turnover of 1.36 and receivable turnover of 1.30.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardCLS appears significantly overvalued based on its current metrics. The trailing P/E ratio of 64.07 is extremely high, and while the forward P/E of approximately 27 suggests anticipated earnings growth, it remains elevated. The price-to-book ratio of 17.85 and price-to-sales ratio of 4.14 further indicate the market is pricing the stock at a substantial premium to its current asset and revenue base. Notably, the EV/EBITDA of over 80 is exceptionally high, signaling that the enterprise value is rich compared to its operational cash flow, though the PEG ratio just below 1.0 implies the growth expectations may be somewhat aligned with the current price.
Without specific industry average data provided for a direct comparison, a definitive peer assessment cannot be made. However, the excessively high P/E, PB, and EV/EBITDA ratios strongly suggest that CLS is trading at a significant premium relative to typical market or sector norms. This indicates that investors should exercise caution and seek industry-specific benchmarks to confirm whether this premium valuation is justified by superior growth prospects or represents overvaluation.
Volatility Risk: CLS exhibits significantly elevated volatility risk, with a beta of 1.463 indicating it is roughly 46% more volatile than the broader market. This high sensitivity to market swings is corroborated by an exceptionally severe one-year maximum drawdown of -53.96%, highlighting substantial potential for loss during market downturns.
Other Risks: The stock's risk profile is notable for a complete absence of reported short interest, which typically removes the threat of a short squeeze but may also suggest limited negative sentiment or analyst coverage. While not a current concern, the lack of short interest does not mitigate other potential risks such as liquidity constraints or idiosyncratic company-specific challenges.
Bullish - CLS appears attractive for growth-oriented investors despite near-term volatility. The stock benefits from strong AI/data center demand tailwinds and has demonstrated exceptional momentum with 260% annual gains, supported by recent analyst upgrades. However, its elevated valuation metrics and high beta (1.46) require tolerance for volatility, making it suitable primarily for aggressive growth investors comfortable with risk.
Based on the provided metrics, CLS stock appears overvalued. Key valuation ratios such as its trailing P/E of 64.07 and P/B of 17.85 are exceptionally high, suggesting the stock is trading at a significant premium both to its earnings and asset base compared to typical market or industry norms. While the forward P/E (26.7) and PEG ratio (0.98) indicate that strong growth is expected to partially justify the high price, the current valuation levels imply that these optimistic growth and profit margin expansion expectations are already fully priced in, leaving little margin for error.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding CLS:
1. Market Volatility Risk: The stock is highly sensitive to market swings, with a beta of 1.463 and a severe maximum drawdown of -53.96%, posing a substantial risk of significant loss during market downturns. 2. Profitability Margin Compression Risk: Despite revenue growth, the company faces pressure on its core profitability, as evidenced by a sequential decline in both the gross and operating profit margins. 3. Liquidity Risk: The company's constrained cash position, indicated by a very low cash ratio of 0.09, presents a vulnerability to meeting short-term obligations or unforeseen expenses.
Based on the fundamental analysis provided, the 2026 forecast for CLS is characterized by moderate growth potential tempered by valuation and execution risks.
My base case target for 2026 is in the range of $350-$400, while a bull case could see the stock reach $425-$475, driven by consistent revenue growth, margin stabilization, and expanding returns on equity. Key growth assumptions include the company maintaining its ~9% annual revenue growth trajectory while successfully managing operating costs to prevent further margin compression. The primary uncertainty is whether CLS can consistently meet the high earnings expectations implied by its current valuation, making the stock highly sensitive to quarterly results and broader market sentiment.
* Please note:** This forecast is based on a limited analysis provided by the user and is for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice. A comprehensive forecast would require deeper analysis of industry trends, competitive dynamics, and management guidance.