While it may take some research and a change of perspective to see where the markets are going, some investment opportunities become clearer once you zoom out. As we approach 2026, artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond experimentation and is being deployed at scale across industries ranging from finance and healthcare to natural resources and logistics. And that transition requires infrastructure spending on things like servers, storage systems and networking equipment.
Canadian investors looking ahead to 2026 may want to pay close attention to this change. In this article, I explain how AI infrastructure is becoming a powerful investment trend, and why Celestica (TSX:CLS) is emerging as one of the most interesting stocks related to that rapid growth.
Why AI infrastructure spending is accelerating
To understand why this AI infrastructure trend is important for long-term investors, let’s first look at what large AI systems actually need to operate at scale. In general, training and running advanced AI models requires massive computing power, fast networks, and reliable storage. This is one of the main reasons why many global technology giants are willing to spend billions on data center hardware.
In late October 2025, Celestica highlighted that global IT investments in data centers are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2028. Much of that growth is tied to AI workloads, which require higher bandwidth networks and more advanced system-level designs. As AI implementations expand, infrastructure developers that can deliver complete platform solutions become increasingly valuable. And this trend is likely to accelerate even further in 2026.
A closer look at Celestica’s activities
This is exactly where Celestica fits into the picture. If you’re not already familiar, this Toronto-headquartered company primarily designs and manufactures hardware platforms and provides supply chain solutions for data centers and high technology markets. The activities are divided between the segments connectivity and cloud solutions (CCS) and advanced technology solutions (ATS).
Celestica’s stock recently traded at $415.77 per share, giving it a market cap of about $47.8 billion. Despite some near-term volatility, CLS shares are up more than 196% in the past year.
The company’s CCS segment plays an important role in AI infrastructure. It includes servers, storage platforms, and high-bandwidth networking equipment used in data centers. In the third quarter of 2025, this segment’s revenue rose 43% year-over-year (YoY) to $2.4 billion, mainly due to strong demand from communications and enterprise customers.
Financial trends reflect long-term growth potential
Over the trailing twelve months, Celestica posted revenue growth of approximately 22% and adjusted earnings growth of nearly 48%. Similarly, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) rose more than 31% in the same period.
The company recently raised its full-year guidance for 2025 to $12.2 billion in revenue and $5.90 per share in adjusted earnings. Looking ahead to 2026, Celestica expects revenue to reach $16 billion and adjusted earnings to rise to $8.20 per share. This solid outlook is primarily supported by continued investments in AI data centers from the company’s largest customers.
Ready for the AI-driven future
Meanwhile, Celestica is also investing to stay ahead of technical requirements. In November 2025, the company introduced the SD6300 ultra-dense storage platform, specifically designed for AI data ingestion and archiving workloads. This product highlights how the company is addressing real infrastructure challenges related to AI growth.
With its growing exposure to hyperscalers, growing market share in high-bandwidth networks, and a clear roadmap closely tied to AI infrastructure, Celestica could continue to benefit as this megatrend continues into 2026 and beyond.
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