Is Flex's Integrated AI Infrastructure Model a Major Competitive Edge?

Flex Ltd. FLEX is betting on long-term, secular growth in AI infrastructure, with investments in power and cooling as key enablers. The company is building an integrated platform that combines compute, power, cooling and manufacturing into scalable solutions. This approach is likely to give Flex a competitive edge as hyperscalers and AI infrastructure providers race to deploy capacity. The company continues to deepen its exposure to AI infrastructure through Cloud and Power Infrastructure (CPI), combining compute integration, cooling and power capabilities.

Its planned CPI spin into a new publicly traded company, “SpinCo,” should sharpen focus and align capital with the different growth profiles of the two businesses. Following the planned separation, management expects Flex to retain exposure to healthcare, robotics, warehouse automation, advanced networking and energy infrastructure, preserving diversification across several secular growth markets. In addition, Flex is expanding its partnership with Cerebras to scale up U.S. manufacturing of the advanced CS-3 AI accelerator. Management emphasized that AI is increasingly an infrastructure and power engine, not just compute.

As AI scales, the main constraints are now power, cooling, electrical systems and grid capacity, not just chips. Flex is engaging with hyperscalers in strategic discussions on integrated power, cooling and compute solutions for next-generation silicon, as customers increasingly seek modular, bundled solutions to overcome AI deployment constraints. Its partnership with NVIDIA to develop modular platforms for mini data centers highlights this growing opportunity. Flex has invested in advanced power (400V/800V), liquid cooling (JetCool) and modular infrastructure technologies to address AI's unique demands.

These trends support CPI’s revenue and margin growth, higher investment and strong demand for integrated infrastructure, while repositioning Flex and SpinCo to capture long-term AI-driven growth across digital and electrical infrastructure.

Will Competition Challenge FLEX’s AI Infrastructure Goals?

Jabil Inc. JBL continues to benefit from sustained demand in AI data center infrastructure, capital equipment and warehouse automation. Management aims to maintain a balanced portfolio, reducing earnings volatility while capturing growth across AI infrastructure, healthcare, industrial and automation. It expects AI-related growth to remain at a similar percentage pace in fiscal 2027 despite a much larger revenue base. In June, Jabil partnered with Adani Group to build an integrated AI data center manufacturing platform in India, focusing on AI racks and supporting infrastructure. Management expects fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $9.2–$10 billion, supported by AI-driven Intelligent Infrastructure.

The growing proliferation of AI-based applications and generative AI tools across industries presents a solid growth opportunity for Celestica CLS. AI investments are driving demand for Celestica’s enterprise-level data communications and information processing infrastructure products. To further capitalize on this trend, CLS is steadily expanding its offering through innovation and strategic collaboration. It expects solid demand for its 400G switch products and 800G switch products driven by the growing usage of high bandwidth-intensive AI applications. Backed by robust demand for networking products and growing AI-driven data center investments across industries, Celestica anticipates 2026 revenues of $20.5 billion (up from $19 billion expected earlier).

Flex Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates

Shares of FLEX have gained 141.6% in the past year compared with the Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry’s growth of 70.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FLEX trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.07, below the industry’s 29.82.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FLEX’s fiscal 2027 earnings has been revised upward over the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FLEX currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"

Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.

This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research