GDS vs. JBL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at GDS and JBL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
GDS trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, JBL is a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | GDS Holdings Limited | Jabil Inc. |
| Country | China | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry | IT Services | Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components |
| Market Capitalization | 6.88 billion USD | 23.51 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGM | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 2, 2016 | May 3, 1993 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of GDS and JBL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -1.84% | -0.64% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 29.01% | 35.45% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 42.30% | 32.18% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -19.97% | 114.74% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.79% | -1.83% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 54.47% | 52.24% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 6.51M | 1.23M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 8.73M | 1.42M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 60.94% | 32.78% |
| Beta | 1.56 | 1.26 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
GDS
19.12%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 29.51%
- Q3
- 16.98%
- Median
- 13.47%
- Q1
- 7.93%
- Min
- -3.97%
In the upper quartile for the IT Services industry, GDS’s Return on Equity of 19.12% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
JBL
38.64%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 29.99%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- 9.05%
- Q1
- 5.63%
- Min
- -9.55%
JBL’s Return on Equity of 38.64% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
GDS
41.75%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 19.82%
- Q3
- 11.49%
- Median
- 6.67%
- Q1
- 3.61%
- Min
- -4.62%
GDS’s Net Profit Margin of 41.75% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the IT Services industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
JBL
2.02%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 25.55%
- Q3
- 12.80%
- Median
- 7.58%
- Q1
- 3.09%
- Min
- -8.70%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, JBL’s Net Profit Margin of 2.02% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
GDS
21.69%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 21.69%
- Q3
- 14.50%
- Median
- 10.06%
- Q1
- 6.98%
- Min
- 0.06%
An Operating Profit Margin of 21.69% places GDS in the upper quartile for the IT Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
JBL
4.08%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 30.04%
- Q3
- 16.04%
- Median
- 9.75%
- Q1
- 4.27%
- Min
- -12.63%
JBL’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.08% is in the lower quartile for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 19.12% | 38.64% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.88% | 3.25% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 41.75% | 2.02% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.69% | 4.08% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.12% | 8.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.47
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.42
- Q3
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.44
GDS’s Current Ratio of 1.47 aligns with the median group of the IT Services industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
JBL
0.98
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 4.43
- Q3
- 2.88
- Median
- 2.05
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.64
JBL’s Current Ratio of 0.98 falls into the lower quartile for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.75
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.15
- Min
- 0.00
GDS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the IT Services industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.75. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
JBL
2.24
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 1.14
- Q3
- 0.54
- Median
- 0.34
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.24, JBL operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
GDS
0.66
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 144.50
- Q3
- 84.49
- Median
- 13.76
- Q1
- 2.59
- Min
- -28.13
GDS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 0.66 is a critical concern. A value below 1.0 means operating earnings are insufficient to cover interest expenses, indicating severe financial strain and high default risk.
JBL
11.12
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 101.00
- Q3
- 43.88
- Median
- 13.27
- Q1
- 3.73
- Min
- -18.73
JBL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 11.12 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.47 | 0.98 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.29 | 0.47 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.75 | 2.24 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 0.66 | 11.12 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
GDS
0.00%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 2.80%
- Q3
- 1.74%
- Median
- 0.62%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GDS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
JBL
0.16%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 4.86%
- Q3
- 2.53%
- Median
- 1.28%
- Q1
- 0.16%
- Min
- 0.00%
JBL’s Dividend Yield of 0.16% is consistent with its peers in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
GDS
0.00%
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 147.75%
- Q3
- 63.58%
- Median
- 24.63%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GDS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
JBL
6.59%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 161.37%
- Q3
- 67.12%
- Median
- 34.46%
- Q1
- 3.82%
- Min
- 0.00%
JBL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 6.59% is within the typical range for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 6.59% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
GDS
11.54
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 41.55
- Q3
- 31.54
- Median
- 23.25
- Q1
- 18.12
- Min
- 6.57
In the lower quartile for the IT Services industry, GDS’s P/E Ratio of 11.54 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
JBL
40.82
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 73.87
- Q3
- 41.11
- Median
- 25.31
- Q1
- 18.58
- Min
- 8.59
JBL’s P/E Ratio of 40.82 is within the middle range for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
GDS
4.82
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 6.61
- Q3
- 4.37
- Median
- 2.02
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.19
GDS’s P/S Ratio of 4.82 is in the upper echelon for the IT Services industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
JBL
0.83
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 6.74
- Q3
- 3.49
- Median
- 2.03
- Q1
- 1.16
- Min
- 0.11
In the lower quartile for the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry, JBL’s P/S Ratio of 0.83 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
GDS
1.40
IT Services Industry
- Max
- 11.19
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.47
- Q1
- 2.31
- Min
- 0.96
GDS’s P/B Ratio of 1.40 is in the lower quartile for the IT Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
JBL
14.04
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components Industry
- Max
- 6.45
- Q3
- 3.49
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.31
- Min
- 0.35
At 14.04, JBL’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | GDS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 11.54 | 40.82 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.82 | 0.83 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.40 | 14.04 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | -- | 20.23 |