CIEN vs. DELL: Ciena vs. Dell Stock Comparison

June 13, 2026

This page compares Ciena (CIEN) with Dell (DELL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

CIEN

DELL

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
1-Year Return	501.62%	254.13%

Risk

Drawdown

CIEN

DELL

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
1-Year Volatility	66.85%	66.00%
Beta	1.30	1.33
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.84M	9.02M

Company Profile

Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CIEN is classified in Communications Equipment while DELL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.

Company profile comparison for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Profile Item	CIEN	DELL
Name	Ciena Corporation	Dell Technologies 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	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization	63.13 billion USD	256.37 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 7, 1997	August 17, 2016
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 31.54 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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

31.54

Max: 171.43
Q3: 83.19
Median: 39.13
DELL: 31.54
Q1: 23.68
Min: 9.35

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 1.91 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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.91

Max: 19.39
Q3: 9.05
Median: 4.10
DELL: 1.91
Q1: 1.42
Min: 0.00

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Dell (DELL) reports a negative P/B ratio of -182.88, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Ciena (CIEN) reports 21.83, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-182.88

Max: 17.76
Q3: 9.32
Median: 4.56
Q1: 2.09
Min: -3.27
DELL: -182.88

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	149.16	31.54
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	11.34	1.91
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	21.83	-182.88
Free Cash Flow Yield	1.11%	2.12%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ciena (CIEN) earns 15.46% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Dell (DELL) has no ROE this period.

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%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

Max: 44.16%
Q3: 19.25%
Median: 10.96%
Q1: 0.71%
Min: -25.92%
DELL: --

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CIEN is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Ciena (CIEN) at 7.87% and Dell (DELL) at 6.28% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.28%

Max: 30.43%
Q3: 12.35%
DELL: 6.28%
Median: 4.45%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -14.09%

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Ciena (CIEN) at 15.20% and Dell (DELL) at 8.86% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.86%

Max: 35.67%
Q3: 15.55%
DELL: 8.86%
Median: 6.62%
Q1: 1.55%
Min: -18.45%

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
Return on Equity (TTM)	15.46%	--
Return on Assets (TTM)	6.66%	7.00%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	7.87%	6.28%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	15.20%	8.86%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	43.05%	19.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
1-Year Revenue Growth	18.79%	18.80%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	9.50%	3.54%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
1-Year EPS Growth	46.55%	36.05%
3-Year EPS CAGR	-5.27%	38.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ciena (CIEN) at 2.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Dell (DELL) at 0.95 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for DELL.

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.95

Max: 5.80
Q3: 3.18
Median: 1.90
Q1: 1.28
DELL: 0.95
Min: 0.40

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Ciena (CIEN) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55 against its industry range, while Dell (DELL) reports no figure this period.

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

Max: 2.02
Q3: 0.88
Median: 0.31
Q1: 0.05
Min: 0.00
DELL: --

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CIEN is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.73	0.95
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.55	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.48	1.45

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 Dell (DELL) reports a yield of 0.64%, 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%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.64%

Max: 1.30%
DELL: 0.64%
Q3: 0.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): 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 Dell (DELL) reports a payout of 17.57%, 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%

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

17.57%

Max: 37.10%
DELL: 17.57%
Q3: 15.46%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ciena (CIEN) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Dell (DELL)
Metric	CIEN	DELL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.64%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	17.57%