Ciena

CIEN

Market cap $34.3B

CIEN shares are up 42.6% in three months as AI-driven bandwidth demand, a $5B backlog and a raised 2026 outlook fuel the rally despite a premium valuation.

Ciena buys Nubis for $270 million to boost AI-ready data center interconnects, aiming for faster, efficient and scalable connectivity.

Micron Technology (MU) leads Steven Cress' Top 10 Stocks for 2026, driven by sector-leading growth, profitability, and a compelling valuation despite a 254% 1-year return. AI remains a central investment theme, with hyperscalers like MU, AMD, and CIEN benefiting from robust CapEx, strong forward EPS growth, and discounted PEG ratios.

MU, MDB, IOT, CIEN and KGC lead a January growth stock list as strong earnings outlooks and AI demand set the tone for 2026.

CIEN, SKIL and PAX made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth stocks list on Jan. 15, 2026.

I am rating Ciena Corporation a strong Buy, driven by a structural shift in AI-era networking demand. CIEN delivered a $1.35Bn quarter, beating EPS by $0.14 and revenue by $60.93Mn, and guided for FY26 revenue of $5.7–$6.1Bn with ~17% margins. AI infrastructure spending is reframing CIEN as a critical commercialization layer, not just legacy telco plumbing.

Ciena Corporation (CIEN) Presents at 28th Annual Needham Growth Conference Transcript

CIEN, SKIL and FET made it to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth stocks list on Jan. 13, 2026.

Ciena Corp. is experiencing a structural demand surge for optical networking in AI data centers, driving robust revenue and margin expansion. Management projects FY26 revenues to accelerate 23.7% to $5.9B, supported by a $5B backlog, meaningfully rising purchase obligations, and new hyperscaler wins. Gross margins are expected to expand by 80bp and operating margins by 500bp, with rapidly falling inventories signaling strong sales momentum.

The networking equipment supplier exited its fiscal 2025 with a bang. It published fourth-quarter results that easily topped analyst estimates.