CIEN vs. RKLB
CIEN (Ciena Corporation) and RKLB (Rocket Lab USA, Inc.) are both stocks. CIEN operates in Communication Equipment (Technology), while RKLB operates in Aerospace & Defense (Industrials). Over the past 3 years, CIEN returned 119.10%/yr vs 158.32%/yr for RKLB. At a 0.39 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CIEN vs. RKLB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CIEN achieves a 90.70% return, which is significantly higher than RKLB's 46.77% return.
CIEN
- 1D
- 0.17%
- 1M
- -22.83%
- YTD
- 90.70%
- 6M
- 104.17%
- 1Y
- 501.62%
- 3Y*
- 119.10%
- 5Y*
- 49.92%
- 10Y*
- 35.80%
RKLB
- 1D
- -10.79%
- 1M
- -17.53%
- YTD
- 46.77%
- 6M
- 66.51%
- 1Y
- 287.84%
- 3Y*
- 158.32%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
CIEN vs. RKLB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CIEN Ciena Corporation | 90.70% | 175.76% | 88.42% | -11.71% | -33.77% | 37.79% |
RKLB Rocket Lab USA, Inc. | 46.77% | 173.89% | 360.58% | 46.68% | -69.30% | 8.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between CIEN and RKLB is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 24, 2021 | 0.39 |
Fundamentals
CIEN:
$65.25B
RKLB:
$61.99B
CIEN:
$3.01
RKLB:
-$0.33
CIEN:
11.65
RKLB:
83.69
CIEN:
22.56
RKLB:
27.38
CIEN:
$5.57B
RKLB:
$679.58M
CIEN:
$2.40B
RKLB:
$248.43M
CIEN:
$670.55M
RKLB:
-$177.36M
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Return for Risk
CIEN vs. RKLB — Risk / Return Rank
CIEN
RKLB
CIEN vs. RKLB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ciena Corporation (CIEN) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CIEN | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +4.46 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.75 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.72 | 1.38 | +0.34 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 16.49 | 6.74 | +9.75 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 76.44 | 15.44 | +61.01 |
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Drawdowns
CIEN vs. RKLB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CIEN drawdown since its inception was -99.51%, which is greater than RKLB's maximum drawdown of -82.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CIEN and RKLB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CIEN | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.51% | -82.96% | -16.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.68% | -43.01% | +12.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -45.51% | -55.49% | +9.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -49.54% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.54% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -57.38% | -31.84% | -25.54% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -87.08% | -51.29% | -35.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.61% | 18.75% | -12.14% |
Volatility
CIEN vs. RKLB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Ciena Corporation (CIEN) is 24.81%, while Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) has a volatility of 31.54%. This indicates that CIEN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than RKLB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CIEN | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 24.81% | 31.54% | -6.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 56.12% | 73.47% | -17.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 66.74% | 93.03% | -26.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 48.55% | 81.62% | -33.07% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 44.35% | 81.62% | -37.27% |
Dividends
CIEN vs. RKLB - Dividend Comparison
Neither CIEN nor RKLB has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
CIEN vs. RKLB - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Ciena Corporation and Rocket Lab USA, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
CIEN vs. RKLB - Profitability Comparison
CIEN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Ciena Corporation reported a gross profit of 691.55M and revenue of 1.57B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.0%.
RKLB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported a gross profit of 76.49M and revenue of 200.35M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 38.2%.
CIEN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Ciena Corporation reported an operating income of 237.87M and revenue of 1.57B, resulting in an operating margin of 15.1%.
RKLB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported an operating income of -55.97M and revenue of 200.35M, resulting in an operating margin of -27.9%.
CIEN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Ciena Corporation reported a net income of 218.22M and revenue of 1.57B, resulting in a net margin of 13.9%.
RKLB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported a net income of -45.02M and revenue of 200.35M, resulting in a net margin of -22.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CIEN and RKLB have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
RKLB has higher volatility (31.54%) compared to CIEN (24.81%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CIEN dropped -99.51% vs RKLB's -82.96%.
CIEN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.58 vs 3.12), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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