AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs Ciena (CIEN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ciena (CIEN) has outperformed AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) over the past year, gaining 194.7% versus a loss of 18.9%. Over five years, CIEN leads with a +754.4% price change compared with +494.0% for ASTS. Ciena is the larger company by market cap ($63.31 billion vs $23.60 billion), about 2.7 times the size, while AST SpaceMobile is growing revenue faster (+1511.8% vs +18.8%).
Ciena converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.6% versus -482.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASTS | CIEN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $60.65 | $446.45 |
| Market cap | $23.60B | $63.31B |
| 1-day change | -3.91% | +0.63% |
| YTD return | -16.49% | +90.90% |
| 1-year return | -18.86% | +194.73% |
| 5-year return | +494.03% | +754.45% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 99.88 |
| Forward P/E | — | 37.74 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-2.13 | $4.47 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $70.92M | $4.77B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1511.77% | +18.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-341.94M | $123.34M |
| Gross margin | — | 42.04% |
| Operating margin | — | 4.14% |
| Net margin | -482.16% | 2.59% |
| 52-week high | $133.86 | $637.51 |
| 52-week low | $49.31 | $153.27 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -54.69% | -29.97% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +28.51% | +14.90% |
| Average volume | 12.11M | 2.38M |
| Shares outstanding | 299.79M | 141.81M |
| Employees | 1,126 | 8,898 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Utilities |
| Industry | Telecommunications Equipment | Telecommunications Equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ciena is about 2.7 times larger than AST SpaceMobile by market value ($63.31B vs $23.60B).
- CIEN has outperformed ASTS by 213.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Ciena is more profitable, keeping 2.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -482.2 cents for AST SpaceMobile.
- AST SpaceMobile grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+1511.77% vs +18.79%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: AST SpaceMobile in Consumer Discretionary and Ciena in Utilities.
About AST SpaceMobile
ASTS stock →AST SpaceMobile, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs and develops the constellation of BlueBird satellites in the United States. The company provides a cellular broadband network in space to be accessible directly by smartphones for commercial use and other applications, as well as for government use.
Consumer Discretionary · Telecommunications Equipment · 1,126 employees
About Ciena
CIEN stock →Ciena Corporation, a network technology company, provides hardware, software, and services for various network operators in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Japan, and India. It operates through Networking Platforms, Platform Software and Services, Blue Planet Automation Software and Services, and Global Services segments.
Utilities · Telecommunications Equipment · 8,898 employees
ASTS vs CIEN FAQ
Which is bigger, AST SpaceMobile or Ciena?
Ciena (CIEN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $63.31B compared with $23.60B for AST SpaceMobile (ASTS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASTS or CIEN?
CIEN returned +194.73% over the past 12 months, compared with -18.86% for ASTS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are AST SpaceMobile and Ciena in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Telecommunications Equipment industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.