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CDW vs. CIEN: CDW vs. Ciena Stock Comparison

How do CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CDW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while CIEN is classified in Communications Equipment.

Company profile comparison for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
Profile ItemCDWCIEN
NameCDW CorporationCiena Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryElectronic Equipment, Instruments & ComponentsCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology DistributorsCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization19.60 billion USD34.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 27, 2013February 7, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CDW
CIEN
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Total Return (1Y)16.85%36.49%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.46%84.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.35%35.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CDW
CIEN
GSPC
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.60%81.12%
Beta (5Y)0.901.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.37%-63.19%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.60M2.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDW and CIEN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.370.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 42.47% and Ciena (CIEN) at 22.40% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.47%

CDW
42.47%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

22.40%

Max
42.47%
CIEN
22.40%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 4.48% and Ciena (CIEN) at 10.87% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.48%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
CDW
4.48%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.87%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
CIEN
10.87%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 8.14% and Ciena (CIEN) at 18.08% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.14%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
CDW
8.14%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.08%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
CIEN
18.08%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
ROE (TTM)42.47%22.40%
ROA (TTM)6.47%7.73%
Net Margin (TTM)4.48%10.87%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.14%18.08%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.00%44.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CDW (CDW) at 6.79% and Ciena (CIEN) at 18.79% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ciena (CIEN) at 46.55% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CDW (CDW) at 1.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CIEN.

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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.79%18.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.89%9.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.38%46.55%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.21%-5.27%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ciena (CIEN) at 3.80 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while CDW (CDW) at 1.27 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.27

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CDW
1.27
Min
0.17

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

3.80

Max
5.34
CIEN
3.80
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but CDW is more stretched: Ciena (CIEN) at 1.07 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and CDW (CDW) at 2.98 is above its industry benchmark range.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.98

CDW
2.98
Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.07

Max
1.76
CIEN
1.07
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.273.80
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.981.07
Net Debt / EBITDA3.010.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ciena (CIEN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CDW (CDW) reports a yield of 1.59%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.59%

CDW
1.59%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
CIEN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ciena (CIEN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CDW (CDW) reports a payout of 29.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.40%

Max
32.27%
CDW
29.40%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
CIEN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.59%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)29.40%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 18.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ciena (CIEN) at 54.45 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.32

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
CDW
18.32
Min
6.07

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

54.45

Max
69.48
CIEN
54.45
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 0.80 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Ciena (CIEN) at 5.73 prices around its industry’s middle — CDW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
CDW
0.80
Min
0.00

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.73

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
CIEN
5.73
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: CDW (CDW) at 7.45 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ciena (CIEN) at 11.30 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.45

Max
10.75
CDW
7.45
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33

CIEN

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

11.30

CIEN
11.30
Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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CDW (CDW) vs. Ciena (CIEN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CDW (CDW) and Ciena (CIEN)
MetricCDWCIEN
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.3254.45
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.805.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.4511.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.43%1.84%