CLS vs BHE

For growth investors, Celestica Inc.

(CLS) is the stronger pick with 30. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 1% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (BHE). Celestica Inc. (CLS) offers the better valuation at 56. 8x trailing P/E (41. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Celestica Inc. (CLS) a "Buy" — based on 27 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Celestica Inc.

(CLS) is the cheapest at 56. 8x versus Benchmark Electronics, Inc. at 127. 4x. On forward P/E, Benchmark Electronics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 31. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Celestica Inc. wins at 0. 56x versus Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 's 2. 54x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Celestica Inc.

(CLS) delivered a total return of +49. 7%, compared to +195. 0% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (BHE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CLS returned +39. 7% versus BHE's +369. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 70β versus Celestica Inc. 's 2. 75β — meaning CLS is approximately 62% more volatile than BHE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (BHE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 41% for Celestica Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Celestica Inc.

(CLS) is pulling ahead at 30. 7% versus 0. 1% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (BHE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Celestica Inc. grew EPS 101. 9% year-over-year, compared to -60. 5% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLS leads at 20. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Celestica Inc.

(CLS) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 7% net margin versus 0. 9% for Benchmark Electronics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLS leads at 8. 6% versus 4. 0% for BHE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CLS leads at 11. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Celestica Inc. (CLS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 56x versus Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 's 2. 54x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (BHE) trades at 31. 3x forward P/E versus 41. 2x for Celestica Inc. — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLS: 10. 9% to $459. 00.

In this comparison, BHE (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. CLS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

(BHE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 8% yield, +369. 3% 10Y return). Celestica Inc. (CLS) carries a higher beta of 2. 75 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BHE: +369. 3%, CLS: +39. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CLS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; BHE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. BHE pays a dividend while CLS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.