CSCO vs. CIEN
CSCO (Cisco Systems, Inc.) and CIEN (Ciena Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Communication Equipment industry within the Technology sector. Over the past 10 years, CSCO returned 17.69%/yr vs 34.99%/yr for CIEN. Their 0.45 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
CSCO vs. CIEN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CSCO achieves a 52.77% return, which is significantly lower than CIEN's 61.22% return. Over the past 10 years, CSCO has underperformed CIEN with an annualized return of 17.69%, while CIEN has yielded a comparatively higher 34.99% annualized return.
CSCO
- 1D
- 2.14%
- 1M
- 3.31%
- 6M
- 49.46%
- YTD
- 52.77%
- 1Y
- 76.41%
- 3Y*
- 33.59%
- 5Y*
- 19.23%
- 10Y*
- 17.69%
- ALL TIME*
- 23.57%
CIEN
- 1D
- 1.34%
- 1M
- -10.75%
- 6M
- 49.74%
- YTD
- 61.22%
- 1Y
- 325.42%
- 3Y*
- 107.88%
- 5Y*
- 45.34%
- 10Y*
- 34.99%
- ALL TIME*
- 4.10%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $806.95M | $796.48M | $1.31B | |
| $2.18B | $2.38B | $2.92B |
CSCO vs. CIEN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc. | 52.77% | 33.47% | 21.00% | 9.30% | -22.46% | 45.76% | -3.49% | 13.81% | 16.57% | 31.27% |
CIEN Ciena Corporation | 61.22% | 175.76% | 88.42% | -11.71% | -33.77% | 45.64% | 23.80% | 25.89% | 62.02% | -14.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between CSCO and CIEN is 0.35, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.41 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.50 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.51 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 1997 | 0.45 |
The correlation between CSCO and CIEN shifts across timeframes, from 0.35 (1 year) to 0.51 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
CSCO:
$457.17B
CIEN:
$53.37B
CSCO:
$3.00
CIEN:
$3.01
CSCO:
38.69
CIEN:
125.18
CSCO:
7.62
CIEN:
9.85
CSCO:
9.46
CIEN:
19.07
CSCO:
$60.75B
CIEN:
$5.57B
CSCO:
$39.08B
CIEN:
$2.40B
CSCO:
$13.98B
CIEN:
$670.55M
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Return for Risk
CSCO vs. CIEN — Risk / Return Rank
CSCO
CIEN
CSCO vs. CIEN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) and Ciena Corporation (CIEN). 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.
| CSCO | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.83 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.49 | -0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.85 | 6.52 | -1.67 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.72 | 22.70 | -10.98 |
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Drawdowns
CSCO vs. CIEN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CSCO drawdown since its inception was -89.26%, smaller than the maximum CIEN drawdown of -99.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CSCO and CIEN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CSCO | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -89.26% | -99.51% | +10.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.33% | -47.31% | +31.98% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.16% | -47.31% | +27.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.68% | -49.54% | +12.86% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.95% | -49.54% | +7.59% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.44% | -63.97% | +53.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -40.01% | -86.96% | +46.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.33% | 13.56% | -7.23% |
Volatility
CSCO vs. CIEN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) is 10.19%, while Ciena Corporation (CIEN) has a volatility of 24.88%. This indicates that CSCO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CIEN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CSCO | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.19% | 24.88% | -14.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 29.00% | 56.38% | -27.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 32.79% | 72.06% | -39.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.35% | 50.12% | -24.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 26.07% | 45.05% | -18.98% |
Dividends
CSCO vs. CIEN - Dividend Comparison
CSCO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.43%, while CIEN has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CIEN Ciena Corporation | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
CSCO Cisco Systems, Inc. | 1.43% | 2.12% | 2.69% | 3.07% | 3.17% | 2.32% | 3.20% | 2.88% | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3.28% | 3.02% |
Financials
CSCO vs. CIEN - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Cisco Systems, Inc. and Ciena 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
CSCO vs. CIEN - Profitability Comparison
CSCO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Cisco Systems, Inc. reported a gross profit of 10.08B and revenue of 15.84B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 63.6%.
CIEN - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 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%.
CSCO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Cisco Systems, Inc. reported an operating income of 3.96B and revenue of 15.84B, resulting in an operating margin of 25.0%.
CIEN - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Ciena Corporation reported an operating income of 237.87M and revenue of 1.57B, resulting in an operating margin of 15.1%.
CSCO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Cisco Systems, Inc. reported a net income of 3.37B and revenue of 15.84B, resulting in a net margin of 21.3%.
CIEN - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Ciena Corporation reported a net income of 218.22M and revenue of 1.57B, resulting in a net margin of 13.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CSCO and CIEN have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CIEN has higher volatility (24.88%) compared to CSCO (10.19%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CSCO dropped -89.26% vs CIEN's -99.51%.
CIEN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.28 vs 2.27), 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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