KE vs BHE vs PLXS vs JBL vs CLS

For growth investors, Celestica Inc.

(CLS) is the stronger pick with 30. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) offers the better valuation at 38. 2x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Kimball Electronics, Inc.

(KE) is the cheapest at 38. 2x versus Benchmark Electronics, Inc. at 123. 3x. On forward P/E, Kimball Electronics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Jabil Inc. wins at 0. 37x versus Plexus Corp. 's 3. 47x — 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 +45. 4%, compared to +15. 6% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CLS returned +37. 0% versus KE's +134. 4%. 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), Plexus Corp.

(PLXS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 65β versus Celestica Inc. 's 2. 75β — meaning CLS is approximately 66% more volatile than PLXS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Plexus Corp. (PLXS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 2% for Jabil 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 -13. 3% for Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE). 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 3. 1% for KE. 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, Jabil Inc. (JBL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 37x versus Plexus Corp. 's 3. 47x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Kimball Electronics, Inc. (KE) trades at 18. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 4x for Celestica Inc. — 19. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KE: 23. 3% to $32. 00.

In this comparison, BHE (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. KE, PLXS, JBL, CLS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Jabil Inc.

(JBL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1957% 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 (JBL: +1957%, CLS: +37. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (KE (Industrials) and BHE (Technology) and PLXS (Technology) and JBL (Technology) and CLS (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BHE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PLXS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JBL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CLS is a mid-cap high-growth stock. BHE pays a dividend while KE, PLXS, JBL, CLS do 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.