Ciena (CIEN) vs AT&T (T)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Ciena (CIEN) has outperformed AT&T (T) over the past year, gaining 194.7% versus a loss of 6.5%. Over five years, CIEN leads with a +754.4% price change compared with +26.1% for T. AT&T is the larger company by market cap ($167.68 billion vs $63.31 billion), about 2.6 times the size, while Ciena is growing revenue faster (+18.8% vs +2.7%).
On valuation, AT&T trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 37.7x for Ciena). AT&T pays a dividend yielding 4.54%, while Ciena does not currently pay one. AT&T converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 17.5% versus 2.6%.
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 | CIEN | T |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $446.45 | $24.47 |
| Market cap | $63.31B | $167.68B |
| 1-day change | +0.63% | +0.16% |
| YTD return | +90.90% | -1.49% |
| 1-year return | +194.73% | -6.46% |
| 5-year return | +754.45% | +26.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 99.88 | 8.08 |
| Forward P/E | 37.74 | 9.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.47 | $3.03 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 4.54% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.11 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.77B | $125.65B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +18.79% | +2.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $123.34M | $21.95B |
| Gross margin | 42.04% | — |
| Operating margin | 4.14% | 19.23% |
| Net margin | 2.59% | 17.47% |
| 52-week high | $637.51 | $29.44 |
| 52-week low | $152.54 | $19.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -29.97% | -16.88% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.90% | +17.57% |
| Average volume | 2.35M | 48.82M |
| Shares outstanding | 141.81M | 6.85B |
| Employees | 8,898 | 133,030 |
| Sector | Utilities | Telecommunications |
| 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
- AT&T is about 2.6 times larger than Ciena by market value ($167.68B vs $63.31B).
- CIEN has outperformed T by 201.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Ciena trades at a higher earnings multiple (99.9x vs 8.1x trailing P/E).
- AT&T offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.54% vs 0.00%).
- AT&T is more profitable, keeping 17.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.6 cents for Ciena.
- Ciena grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+18.79% vs +2.71%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ciena in Utilities and AT&T in Telecommunications.
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
About AT&T
T stock →AT&T Inc. provides telecommunications and technology services worldwide.
Telecommunications · Telecommunications Equipment · 133,030 employees
CIEN vs T FAQ
Which is bigger, Ciena or AT&T?
AT&T (T) is larger, with a market capitalization of $167.68B compared with $63.31B for Ciena (CIEN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CIEN or T?
CIEN returned +194.73% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.46% for T (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CIEN or T?
T has the lower trailing P/E at 8.1, versus 99.9 for CIEN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ciena or AT&T?
AT&T pays a dividend yielding 4.54%, while Ciena does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Ciena and AT&T in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Telecommunications Equipment industry within the Utilities sector.