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CDW vs. FLEX: CDW vs. Flex Stock Comparison

How do CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX) both belong to the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, though CDW is classified under Technology Distributors while FLEX falls under Electronic Manufacturing Services.

Company profile comparison for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
Profile ItemCDWFLEX
NameCDW CorporationFlex Ltd.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryElectronic Equipment, Instruments & ComponentsElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology DistributorsElectronic Manufacturing Services
Market Capitalization19.60 billion USD25.78 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 27, 2013March 18, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CDW
FLEX
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Total Return (1Y)16.85%24.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.46%59.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.35%42.37%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CDW
FLEX
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.60%76.21%
Beta (5Y)0.901.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.37%-58.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.60M4.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDW and FLEX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.370.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 42.47% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Flex (FLEX) at 19.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CDW.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.47%

CDW
42.47%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.13%

Max
42.47%
FLEX
19.13%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 4.48% and Flex (FLEX) at 3.35% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.48%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
CDW
4.48%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

3.35%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
FLEX
3.35%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 8.14% and Flex (FLEX) at 5.05% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.14%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
CDW
8.14%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.05%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
FLEX
5.05%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
ROE (TTM)42.47%19.13%
ROA (TTM)6.47%4.39%
Net Margin (TTM)4.48%3.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.14%5.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.00%9.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CDW (CDW) at 6.79% and Flex (FLEX) at 8.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CDW (CDW) at 1.38% and Flex (FLEX) at 10.43% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.79%8.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.89%-0.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.38%10.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.21%10.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Flex (FLEX) at 1.34 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while CDW (CDW) at 1.27 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CDW.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.27

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CDW
1.27
Min
0.17

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.34

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
FLEX
1.34
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but CDW is more stretched: Flex (FLEX) at 1.03 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and CDW (CDW) at 2.98 is above its industry benchmark range.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.98

CDW
2.98
Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.03

Max
1.76
FLEX
1.03
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.271.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.981.03
Net Debt / EBITDA3.011.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Flex (FLEX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CDW (CDW) reports a yield of 1.59%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.59%

CDW
1.59%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
FLEX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Flex (FLEX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CDW (CDW) reports a payout of 29.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.40%

Max
32.27%
CDW
29.40%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
FLEX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.59%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)29.40%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 18.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Flex (FLEX) at 25.10 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CDW, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.32

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
CDW
18.32
Min
6.07

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

25.10

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
FLEX
25.10
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 0.80 and Flex (FLEX) at 0.83 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
CDW
0.80
Min
0.00

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.83

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
FLEX
0.83
Min
0.00
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Flex (FLEX) at 4.44 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CDW (CDW) at 7.45 carries an above-peer premium to book — CDW is pricier on assets.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.45

Max
10.75
CDW
7.45
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33

FLEX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.44

Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
FLEX
4.44
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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CDW (CDW) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CDW (CDW) and Flex (FLEX)
MetricCDWFLEX
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.3225.10
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.800.83
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.454.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.43%2.41%