CIEN vs. ZBRA
CIEN (Ciena Corporation) and ZBRA (Zebra Technologies Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Communication Equipment industry within the Technology sector. Over the past 10 years, CIEN returned 35.80%/yr vs 15.25%/yr for ZBRA. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
CIEN vs. ZBRA - 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 ZBRA's -5.93% return. Over the past 10 years, CIEN has outperformed ZBRA with an annualized return of 35.80%, while ZBRA has yielded a comparatively lower 15.25% annualized 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%
ZBRA
- 1D
- 2.69%
- 1M
- -7.43%
- YTD
- -5.93%
- 6M
- -14.89%
- 1Y
- -21.96%
- 3Y*
- -6.94%
- 5Y*
- -14.79%
- 10Y*
- 15.25%
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CIEN Ciena Corporation | 90.70% | 175.76% | 88.42% | -11.71% | -33.77% | 45.64% | 23.80% | 25.89% | 62.02% | -14.26% |
ZBRA Zebra Technologies Corporation | -5.93% | -37.13% | 41.30% | 6.60% | -56.92% | 54.87% | 50.46% | 60.42% | 53.40% | 21.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between CIEN and ZBRA is 0.21, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 1997 | 0.36 |
The correlation between CIEN and ZBRA shifts across timeframes, from 0.21 (1 year) to 0.48 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CIEN:
$65.25B
ZBRA:
$11.57B
CIEN:
$3.01
ZBRA:
$8.16
CIEN:
148.07
ZBRA:
27.99
CIEN:
11.65
ZBRA:
2.10
CIEN:
22.56
ZBRA:
3.33
CIEN:
$5.57B
ZBRA:
$5.58B
CIEN:
$2.40B
ZBRA:
$2.65B
CIEN:
$670.55M
ZBRA:
$1.02B
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Return for Risk
CIEN vs. ZBRA — Risk / Return Rank
CIEN
ZBRA
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ciena Corporation (CIEN) and Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA). 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 | ZBRA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +8.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +5.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.72 | 0.94 | +0.79 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 16.49 | -0.53 | +17.02 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 76.44 | -0.90 | +77.35 |
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Drawdowns
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CIEN drawdown since its inception was -99.51%, which is greater than ZBRA's maximum drawdown of -73.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CIEN and ZBRA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CIEN | ZBRA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.51% | -73.42% | -26.09% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -30.68% | -41.62% | +10.94% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -45.51% | -52.67% | +7.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -49.54% | -67.78% | +18.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.54% | -67.78% | +18.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -57.38% | -62.83% | +5.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -87.08% | -27.71% | -59.37% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.61% | 24.36% | -17.75% |
Volatility
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Volatility Comparison
Ciena Corporation (CIEN) has a higher volatility of 24.81% compared to Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA) at 14.63%. This indicates that CIEN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ZBRA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CIEN | ZBRA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 24.81% | 14.63% | +10.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 56.12% | 31.30% | +24.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 66.74% | 42.22% | +24.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 48.55% | 40.49% | +8.06% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 44.35% | 39.38% | +4.97% |
Dividends
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Dividend Comparison
Neither CIEN nor ZBRA has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
CIEN vs. ZBRA - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Ciena Corporation and Zebra Technologies Corporation. 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. ZBRA - 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%.
ZBRA - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Zebra Technologies Corporation reported a gross profit of 742.00M and revenue of 1.50B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 49.6%.
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%.
ZBRA - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Zebra Technologies Corporation reported an operating income of 215.00M and revenue of 1.50B, resulting in an operating margin of 14.4%.
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%.
ZBRA - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Zebra Technologies Corporation reported a net income of 135.00M and revenue of 1.50B, resulting in a net margin of 9.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CIEN and ZBRA have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CIEN has higher volatility (24.81%) compared to ZBRA (14.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CIEN dropped -99.51% vs ZBRA's -73.42%.
CIEN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.58 vs -0.52), 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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