CLS vs. FLEX: Celestica vs. Flex Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Celestica (CLS) 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

Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX) are both classified in the Electronic Manufacturing Services sub-industry within the broader Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Profile Item	CLS	FLEX
Name	Celestica Inc.	Flex Ltd.
Country/Region	Canada	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-Industry	Electronic Manufacturing Services	Electronic Manufacturing Services
Market Capitalization	26.06 billion USD	25.78 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 30, 1998	March 18, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CLS

FLEX

GSPC

Celestica (CLS) 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 Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Total Return (1Y)	-30.98%	24.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	108.72%	59.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	80.82%	42.37%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CLS

FLEX

GSPC

Celestica (CLS) 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 Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	80.89%	76.21%
Beta (5Y)	2.16	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.47%	-58.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.61M	4.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CLS 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 Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.44	0.27
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.59	0.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Celestica (CLS) at 30.23% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Flex (FLEX) at 19.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CLS.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

30.23%

Max: 42.47%
CLS: 30.23%
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%

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Celestica (CLS) at 6.83% 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.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.83%

Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
CLS: 6.83%
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%

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Celestica (CLS) at 7.91% and Flex (FLEX) at 5.05% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.91%

Max: 36.27%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
CLS: 7.91%
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%

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
ROE (TTM)	30.23%	19.13%
ROA (TTM)	8.72%	4.39%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.83%	3.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.91%	5.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)	11.46%	9.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Celestica (CLS) at 28.46% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Flex (FLEX) at 8.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CLS.

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

EPS Growth

Celestica (CLS) at 98.34% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Flex (FLEX) at 10.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CLS.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	28.46%	8.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	19.56%	-0.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)	98.34%	10.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	82.39%	10.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Celestica (CLS) at 1.61 and Flex (FLEX) at 1.34 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.61

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
CLS: 1.61
Q1: 1.32
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

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Celestica (CLS) at 0.17 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Flex (FLEX) at 1.03 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.17

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
CLS: 0.17
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

Celestica (CLS) 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 Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.61	1.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.17	1.03
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.72	1.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Celestica (CLS) nor Flex (FLEX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
CLS: 0.00%
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%

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Celestica (CLS) nor Flex (FLEX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
CLS: 0.00%
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%

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Celestica (CLS) at 19.50 and Flex (FLEX) at 25.10 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.50

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
CLS: 19.50
Q1: 19.36
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

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Flex (FLEX) at 0.83 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Celestica (CLS) at 1.43 prices around its industry’s middle — FLEX costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.43

Max: 11.30
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
CLS: 1.43
Q1: 1.05
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

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Celestica (CLS) at 4.19 and Flex (FLEX) at 4.44 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CLS

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.19

Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
CLS: 4.19
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

Celestica (CLS) vs. Flex (FLEX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Celestica (CLS) and Flex (FLEX)
Metric	CLS	FLEX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.50	25.10
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.43	0.83
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.19	4.44
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.08%	2.41%