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CIEN vs. GLW: Ciena vs. Corning Stock Comparison

How do Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
Profile ItemCIENGLW
NameCiena Corp.Corning Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentElectronic Components
Market Capitalization34.51 billion USD91.42 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 7, 1997December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CIEN
GLW
GSPC
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW), 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 Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Total Return (1Y)36.49%35.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)84.56%65.24%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)35.01%27.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CIEN
GLW
GSPC
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW), 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 Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)81.12%76.20%
Beta (5Y)1.391.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.19%-59.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.83M9.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CIEN and GLW 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 Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.400.41
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.560.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ciena (CIEN) at 22.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Corning (GLW) at 17.88% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CIEN.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

17.88%

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
GLW
17.88%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Corning (GLW) at 12.13% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ciena (CIEN) at 10.87%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.13%

Max
27.60%
GLW
12.13%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Corning (GLW) at 18.95% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ciena (CIEN) at 18.08%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.95%

Max
36.27%
GLW
18.95%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
ROE (TTM)22.40%17.88%
ROA (TTM)7.73%5.80%
Net Margin (TTM)10.87%12.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.08%18.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.07%36.48%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ciena (CIEN) at 18.79% and Corning (GLW) at 19.14% 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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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Corning (GLW) at 215.52% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Ciena (CIEN) at 46.55% also sits in the top quartile.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Revenue Growth (YoY)18.79%19.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.50%3.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)46.55%215.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.27%5.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Corning (GLW) at 1.72 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ciena (CIEN) at 3.80 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.72

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
GLW
1.72
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Corning (GLW) at 0.64 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ciena (CIEN) at 1.07 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.64

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
GLW
0.64
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.801.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.64
Net Debt / EBITDA0.641.49

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 Corning (GLW) reports a yield of 1.08%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.08%

GLW
1.08%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): 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 Corning (GLW) reports a payout of 45.34%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

45.34%

GLW
45.34%
Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.08%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%45.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ciena (CIEN) at 54.45 and Corning (GLW) at 42.97 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.97

Max
69.48
GLW
42.97
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Ciena (CIEN) at 5.73 and Corning (GLW) at 5.16 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.16

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
GLW
5.16
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Corning (GLW) at 7.03 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ciena (CIEN) at 11.30 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.03

Max
10.75
GLW
7.03
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Corning (GLW)
MetricCIENGLW
P/E Ratio (TTM)54.4542.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.735.16
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.307.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.84%0.95%