CIEN vs. CSCO: Ciena vs. Cisco Systems Stock Comparison
This page compares Ciena (CIEN) with Cisco Systems (CSCO) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 501.62% | 90.30% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 66.85% | 30.97% |
| Beta | 1.30 | 1.01 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.84M | 23.68M |
Company Profile
Ciena (CIEN) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) are both classified in the Communications Equipment sub-industry within the broader Communications Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ciena Corporation | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Communications Equipment | Communications Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Communications Equipment | Communications Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 63.13 billion USD | 477.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | February 7, 1997 | February 16, 1990 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 40.37 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ciena (CIEN) at 149.16 sits in the richer quartile — CIEN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
149.16
- Max
- 171.43
- CIEN
- 149.16
- Q3
- 83.19
- Median
- 39.13
- Q1
- 23.68
- Min
- 9.35
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
40.37
- Max
- 171.43
- Q3
- 83.19
- CSCO
- 40.37
- Median
- 39.13
- Q1
- 23.68
- Min
- 9.35
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.86 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ciena (CIEN) at 11.34 sits in the pricier quartile — CIEN costs more per dollar of sales.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
11.34
- Max
- 19.39
- CIEN
- 11.34
- Q3
- 9.05
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.00
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.86
- Max
- 19.39
- Q3
- 9.05
- CSCO
- 7.86
- Median
- 4.10
- Q1
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.00
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 9.77 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ciena (CIEN) at 21.83 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
21.83
- CIEN
- 21.83
- Max
- 17.76
- Q3
- 9.32
- Median
- 4.56
- Q1
- 2.09
- Min
- -3.27
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
9.77
- Max
- 17.76
- CSCO
- 9.77
- Q3
- 9.32
- Median
- 4.56
- Q1
- 2.09
- Min
- -3.27
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 149.16 | 40.37 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 11.34 | 7.86 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 21.83 | 9.77 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 1.11% | 1.95% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 25.23% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ciena (CIEN) at 15.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSCO.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
15.46%
- Max
- 44.16%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- CIEN
- 15.46%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
25.23%
- Max
- 44.16%
- CSCO
- 25.23%
- Q3
- 19.25%
- Median
- 10.96%
- Q1
- 0.71%
- Min
- -25.92%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 19.69% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ciena (CIEN) at 7.87%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
7.87%
- Max
- 30.43%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- CIEN
- 7.87%
- Median
- 4.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
19.69%
- Max
- 30.43%
- CSCO
- 19.69%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 4.45%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -14.09%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 24.99% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ciena (CIEN) at 15.20%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
15.20%
- Max
- 35.67%
- Q3
- 15.55%
- CIEN
- 15.20%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -18.45%
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
24.99%
- Max
- 35.67%
- CSCO
- 24.99%
- Q3
- 15.55%
- Median
- 6.62%
- Q1
- 1.55%
- Min
- -18.45%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 15.46% | 25.23% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 6.66% | 7.34% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 7.87% | 19.69% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.20% | 24.99% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 43.05% | 64.30% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 18.79% | 5.30% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 9.50% | 3.19% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 46.55% | 2.76% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -5.27% | -2.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ciena (CIEN) at 2.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CSCO.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.73
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- CIEN
- 2.73
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.40
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.93
- Max
- 5.80
- Q3
- 3.18
- Median
- 1.90
- Q1
- 1.28
- CSCO
- 0.93
- Min
- 0.40
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Ciena (CIEN) at 0.55 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.55
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- CIEN
- 0.55
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.02
- Q3
- 0.88
- CSCO
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.31
- Q1
- 0.05
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.73 | 0.93 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.55 | 0.68 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.48 | 0.96 |
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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports a yield of 1.39%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 1.30%
- Q3
- 0.54%
- CIEN
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
1.39%
- CSCO
- 1.39%
- Max
- 1.30%
- Q3
- 0.54%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports a payout of 55.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CIEN
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 37.10%
- Q3
- 15.46%
- CIEN
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
55.00%
- CSCO
- 55.00%
- Max
- 37.10%
- Q3
- 15.46%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | CIEN | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.39% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 55.00% |