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CIEN vs. UI: Ciena vs. Ubiquiti Stock Comparison

How do Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI) 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 Ubiquiti (UI) 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 Ubiquiti (UI)
Profile ItemCIENUI
NameCiena Corp.Ubiquiti 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 USD35.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 7, 1997October 14, 2011
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CIEN
UI
GSPC
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI), 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 Ubiquiti (UI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Total Return (1Y)36.49%8.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)84.56%85.98%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)35.01%18.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)81.12%53.12%
Beta (5Y)1.391.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.19%-69.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.83M133.04K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CIEN and UI 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 Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.400.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.560.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Ubiquiti (UI) at 91.09% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Ciena (CIEN) at 22.40% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

91.09%

UI
91.09%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ubiquiti (UI) at 29.33% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Ciena (CIEN) at 10.87% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.33%

UI
29.33%
Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ubiquiti (UI) at 36.27% 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%

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

36.27%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
ROE (TTM)22.40%91.09%
ROA (TTM)7.73%40.44%
Net Margin (TTM)10.87%29.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.08%36.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.07%46.16%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ciena (CIEN) at 18.79% and Ubiquiti (UI) at 27.22% 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. Ubiquiti (UI): 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 Ubiquiti (UI) at 34.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CIEN.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Revenue Growth (YoY)18.79%27.22%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.50%19.05%
EPS Growth (YoY)46.55%34.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.27%32.98%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ubiquiti (UI) at 2.93 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

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.93

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
UI
2.93
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ubiquiti (UI) at 0.06 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

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.06

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
UI
0.06
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): 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 Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.802.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.06
Net Debt / EBITDA0.64-0.44

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Ciena (CIEN) nor Ubiquiti (UI) 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%

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
UI
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): 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 Ubiquiti (UI) reports a payout of 20.19%, 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%

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.19%

Max
32.27%
UI
20.19%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%20.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ubiquiti (UI) at 33.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ciena (CIEN) at 54.45 sits in the richer quartile — CIEN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

33.47

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
UI
33.47
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ciena (CIEN) at 5.73 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ubiquiti (UI) at 10.95 sits in the pricier quartile — UI costs more per dollar of 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

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.95

Max
11.30
UI
10.95
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Ciena (CIEN) at 11.30 and Ubiquiti (UI) at 24.91 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark 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

UI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.91

UI
24.91
Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Ciena (CIEN) vs. Ubiquiti (UI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ciena (CIEN) and Ubiquiti (UI)
MetricCIENUI
P/E Ratio (TTM)54.4533.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.7310.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.3024.91
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.84%1.98%