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CIEN vs. LITE: Ciena vs. Lumentum Stock Comparison

How do Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE) 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 Lumentum (LITE) are both classified in the Communications Equipment sub-industry within the broader Communications Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
Profile ItemCIENLITE
NameCiena Corp.Lumentum Holdings Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization34.51 billion USD48.84 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 7, 1997July 23, 2015
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CIEN
LITE
GSPC
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE), 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 Lumentum (LITE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Total Return (1Y)36.49%150.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)84.56%147.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)35.01%45.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)81.12%101.27%
Beta (5Y)1.391.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.19%-66.48%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.83M5.27M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CIEN and LITE 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 Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.401.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.562.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lumentum (LITE) reports a negative ROE of -245.79%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Ciena (CIEN) reports 22.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-245.79%

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
LITE
-245.79%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Lumentum (LITE) reports a negative net margin of -175.78%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Ciena (CIEN) reports 10.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-175.78%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
LITE
-175.78%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lumentum (LITE) at 27.95% 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%

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.95%

Max
36.27%
LITE
27.95%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
ROE (TTM)22.40%-245.79%
ROA (TTM)7.73%9.19%
Net Margin (TTM)10.87%-175.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.08%27.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.07%47.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lumentum (LITE) at 83.22% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Ciena (CIEN) at 18.79%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): 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 Lumentum (LITE) at -25,224.32% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Revenue Growth (YoY)18.79%83.22%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.50%19.48%
EPS Growth (YoY)46.55%-25,224.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.27%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Lumentum (LITE) at 1.61 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

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.61

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
LITE
1.61
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Lumentum (LITE) at 0.31 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

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.31

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
LITE
0.31
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): 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 Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.801.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.31
Net Debt / EBITDA0.64-0.48

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Ciena (CIEN) nor Lumentum (LITE) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Ciena (CIEN) nor Lumentum (LITE) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

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%

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Ciena (CIEN) trades at 54.45 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Lumentum (LITE) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
LITE
--
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): LITE does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; CIEN is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ciena (CIEN) at 5.73 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Lumentum (LITE) at 13.05 clears its benchmark range — LITE looks notably rich on sales.

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

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

13.05

LITE
13.05
Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Lumentum (LITE) at 10.67 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

LITE

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.67

Max
10.75
LITE
10.67
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Lumentum (LITE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Lumentum (LITE)
MetricCIENLITE
P/E Ratio (TTM)54.45--
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.7313.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.3010.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.84%0.29%