CTS
TechnologyCTS Corporation · Hardware, Equipment & Parts · $2B
What is CTS Corporation?
CTS Corporation is a manufacturer of sensors, actuators, and connectivity components serving automotive, industrial, medical, and defense markets across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company has operated for well over a century, building expertise across a wide range of electronic components.
CTS generates revenue by designing and selling precision electronic components to original equipment manufacturers and industrial customers. Its products appear in vehicle systems, telecommunications infrastructure, medical devices, and aerospace applications. The company reaches customers through direct sales engineers, independent manufacturers' representatives, and distribution partners — a multi-channel approach that spans global markets.
CTS Corporation was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois.
- Vehicle sensors and actuators for passenger and commercial applications
- Connectivity components for telecom and high-speed IT infrastructure
- Switches, temperature sensors, and potentiometers for industrial markets
- Fabricated piezoelectric materials for medical, aerospace, and defense use
Is CTS a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates CTS as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed profile across its five evaluation pillars.
The Risk pillar stands out as the clearest positive — CTS carries a Strong rating there, suggesting the balance sheet and financial stability hold up well relative to peers. Valuation also earns a Good label, meaning the stock does not appear stretched on a fundamental basis.
Growth and Moat are both rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and subdued expansion prospects. Quality lands at Neutral, offering little additional support to the overall score.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does CTS pay dividends?
Yes — CTS Corporation pays a dividend.
CTS pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among small-cap technology manufacturers. This reflects a degree of financial discipline and cash generation consistency. Income-oriented investors may find the dividend noteworthy, though the payout should be weighed alongside the company's Weak Growth profile when assessing total return potential.
When does CTS report earnings?
CTS Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company's Neutral Quality rating and Weak Growth label suggest recent results have been steady rather than expansionary. Revenue and profitability trends appear in line with a mature, component-focused manufacturer navigating mixed end-market demand.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit CTS Corporation's investor relations page directly.
CTS Price History
+46.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in CTS Corporation?
Based on CTS Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
CTS Long-term Outlook
The combination of Weak Growth and Weak Moat pillars points to a cautious fundamental outlook. CTS operates in competitive component markets where pricing pressure and customer concentration can limit upside. The Strong Risk rating, however, suggests the company is unlikely to face acute financial distress, providing a degree of stability even in a slower-growth environment.
Growth drivers
- Electrification trends in automotive creating incremental demand for vehicle sensors and actuators
- Defense and aerospace spending supporting piezoelectric materials demand
- Telecom infrastructure investment sustaining connectivity component volumes
Key risks
- Limited competitive moat leaves CTS exposed to pricing pressure from larger component rivals
- Weak Growth profile signals constrained organic expansion in core markets
- Small-cap size limits scale advantages and R&D investment relative to larger peers
CTS vs Peers
CTS competes in the broader electronic components and sensing technology space alongside several other specialized players.
Ouster focuses on lidar sensor technology primarily for autonomous vehicles and robotics, representing a more narrowly focused and growth-oriented sensing play compared to CTS's diversified component portfolio.
Penguin Solutions targets high-performance computing and memory solutions, competing with CTS in connectivity and IT infrastructure markets but from a systems-level rather than component-level angle.
BlackSky operates in geospatial intelligence and satellite imagery, sharing some defense and aerospace end-market exposure with CTS but through a very different technology and business model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CTS Corporation do?
CTS Corporation designs and manufactures sensors, actuators, and connectivity components for automotive, industrial, medical, aerospace, and defense customers. Products include vehicle sensors, piezoelectric materials, temperature sensors, and high-speed connectivity components sold globally through direct sales and distribution channels.
Does CTS pay dividends?
Yes, CTS pays a regular dividend — a relatively uncommon feature among small-cap technology manufacturers. This reflects consistent cash generation, though investors should consider the company's Weak Growth profile when evaluating total return expectations alongside the dividend income.
When does CTS report earnings?
CTS Corporation reports on a quarterly cadence, standard for US-listed companies. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of the CTS Corporation website directly, as our data source does not publish forward earnings dates.
Is CTS a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates CTS as Below Average overall. The Strong Risk and Good Valuation ratings offer some appeal, but Weak Growth and Weak Moat ratings temper the investment case. Investors should review the full pillar breakdown available to UQS Pro members before drawing conclusions.
Is CTS overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for CTS is rated Good, suggesting the stock does not appear significantly overpriced relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation alone does not determine investment quality — the Weak Moat and Growth ratings are important context.
How does CTS compare to its competitors?
CTS differentiates through its diversified component portfolio spanning automotive, industrial, medical, and defense markets. Competitors like Ouster focus more narrowly on lidar sensing, while Penguin Solutions targets computing infrastructure. CTS's breadth provides some stability but may limit the growth profile relative to more focused peers.
What is CTS's market cap bracket?
CTS Corporation is classified as a small-cap company. This means it operates at a smaller scale than large or mega-cap technology manufacturers, which can affect liquidity, analyst coverage, and the company's ability to invest in R&D at the same level as larger rivals.
Who founded CTS Corporation?
CTS Corporation was founded in 1896, making it one of the older companies in the electronic components space. Detailed founding history, including original founders, is publicly available through the company's official corporate history and investor relations materials.
Is CTS a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, CTS's UQS profile is mixed. The Strong Risk rating suggests financial resilience, but Weak Moat and Weak Growth ratings indicate limited competitive durability and expansion potential. Long-term investors should weigh these factors carefully using the full analysis available to Pro members.
What is the main competitive advantage of CTS Corporation?
CTS's breadth across multiple end markets — automotive, medical, defense, and industrial — provides some diversification that single-market component makers lack. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this competitive positioning as Weak, suggesting the company has not established strong pricing power or switching-cost advantages relative to peers.
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Pro Analysis
CTS — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 45.8 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 72.6 | -0.1 |
| May 22, 2026 | 45.9 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 73.8 | -0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 46.0 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 74.1 | -0.2 |
| May 19, 2026 | 46.2 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 75.6 | +0.1 |
| May 16, 2026 | 46.1 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 74.9 | +0.2 |
| May 15, 2026 | 45.9 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 73.5 | -0.1 |
| May 14, 2026 | 46.0 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 74.4 | -0.1 |
| May 13, 2026 | 46.1 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 74.8 | +0.2 |
| May 12, 2026 | 45.9 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 73.3 | +0.1 |
| May 11, 2026 | 45.8 | 40.3 | 27.0 | 24.1 | 88.0 | 73.2 | +0.7 |
CTS — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 40.3/100 (25%)CTS Corporation has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 24.1/100 (20%)CTS Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 88.0/100 (15%)CTS Corporation carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 73.0/100 (15%)CTS Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 27/100 (25%)CTS Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CTS.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the CTS UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for CTS Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses CTS Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether CTS Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.