New York, January 13, 2026, 13:51 (EST) — Regular session
Plexus Corp (PLXS) shares climbed roughly 7% to $171.65 in afternoon trading Tuesday, after earlier bouncing between $159.41 and $171.79.
The rally followed a broad upswing in electronics manufacturing services stocks: Jabil jumped close to 4%, Flex added around 4.3%, and Sanmina increased roughly 4.7%. Meanwhile, the iShares Semiconductor ETF, often seen as a gauge for chip sentiment, ticked up about 1.2%.
The broader U.S. market barely moved, with the S&P 500-tracking SPY slipping about 0.2% and the tech-heavy QQQ down roughly the same. Investors absorbed a December inflation report that showed prices steady over the year. Consumer prices ticked up 0.3% in December and climbed 2.7% year-on-year, while core inflation, excluding food and energy, came in at 2.6%, according to Reuters. Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth, said the data “should give the Fed some breathing room to cut rates in Q1.”
Plexus is a contract manufacturer specializing in designing, building, and servicing complex products across aerospace and defense, healthcare and life sciences, and industrial sectors, according to its investor site. The company operates within the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry, which depends heavily on customer demand fluctuations and the launch of new programs.
Momentum traders got new ammo Monday. Investor’s Business Daily reported the stock’s “relative strength” rating — tracking 52-week price gains against peers — climbed to 73 from 62. Investors.com
Now, all eyes turn to the upcoming numbers. After a strong run, investors want to see solid execution: margins staying steady, programs launching on schedule, and no signs of faltering demand in regulated markets.
In its October earnings report, Plexus projected fiscal Q1 revenue between $1.05 billion and $1.09 billion, with non-GAAP EPS ranging from $1.66 to $1.81, excluding stock-based compensation. The company noted it had $85 million left on its share buyback authorization at that point.
Analysts expect EPS near $1.77, according to Zacks data, while the average price target stands at roughly $159—below where the stock traded on Tuesday. This gap works both ways: it sets a higher hurdle for the company to meet and challenges analysts to lift targets if the stock keeps climbing.
Sharp rallies in contract manufacturers can reverse quickly if the quarter disappoints or guidance turns cautious. One customer pause, a delayed ramp-up, or margin pressure from costs and product mix can hit this sector hard—and fast.
Plexus is set to release its earnings report around January 28, per Nasdaq. Investors will be closely monitoring the Federal Reserve’s meeting on January 27–28 for clues on rate-cut expectations, especially following Tuesday’s inflation figures.
