WDC vs. CIEN
WDC (Western Digital Corporation) and CIEN (Ciena Corporation) are both stocks. Both are in the Technology sector — WDC in Computer Hardware, CIEN in Communication Equipment. Over the past 10 years, WDC returned 33.87%/yr vs 35.80%/yr for CIEN. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
WDC vs. CIEN - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, WDC achieves a 227.01% return, which is significantly higher than CIEN's 90.70% return. Over the past 10 years, WDC has underperformed CIEN with an annualized return of 33.87%, while CIEN has yielded a comparatively higher 35.80% annualized return.
WDC
- 1D
- 6.35%
- 1M
- 13.96%
- YTD
- 227.01%
- 6M
- 219.46%
- 1Y
- 911.92%
- 3Y*
- 164.18%
- 5Y*
- 58.50%
- 10Y*
- 33.87%
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%
WDC vs. CIEN - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WDC Western Digital Corporation | 227.01% | 283.68% | 13.86% | 65.99% | -51.62% | 17.73% | -10.89% | 77.14% | -51.90% | 19.83% |
CIEN Ciena Corporation | 90.70% | 175.76% | 88.42% | -11.71% | -33.77% | 45.64% | 23.80% | 25.89% | 62.02% | -14.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between WDC and CIEN is 0.54, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.54 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 1997 | 0.36 |
The correlation between WDC and CIEN shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (all time) to 0.54 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
WDC:
$23.29
CIEN:
$3.01
WDC:
24.17
CIEN:
148.07
WDC:
13.31
CIEN:
11.65
WDC:
$11.78B
CIEN:
$5.57B
WDC:
$5.35B
CIEN:
$2.40B
WDC:
$10.88B
CIEN:
$670.55M
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Return for Risk
WDC vs. CIEN — Risk / Return Rank
WDC
CIEN
WDC vs. CIEN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Western Digital Corporation (WDC) 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.
| WDC | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +6.49 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.00 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.95 | 1.72 | +0.22 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 44.74 | 16.49 | +28.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 151.81 | 76.44 | +75.37 |
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Drawdowns
WDC vs. CIEN - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum WDC drawdown since its inception was -96.20%, roughly equal to the maximum CIEN drawdown of -99.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WDC and CIEN.
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Drawdown Indicators
| WDC | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -96.20% | -99.51% | +3.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.59% | -30.68% | +10.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -49.65% | -45.51% | -4.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -59.68% | -49.54% | -10.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -70.49% | -49.54% | -20.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.22% | -57.38% | +52.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -52.07% | -87.08% | +35.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.06% | 6.61% | -0.55% |
Volatility
WDC vs. CIEN - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is 21.76%, while Ciena Corporation (CIEN) has a volatility of 24.81%. This indicates that WDC 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
| WDC | CIEN | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 21.76% | 24.81% | -3.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 53.55% | 56.12% | -2.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 65.47% | 66.74% | -1.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 48.86% | 48.55% | +0.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 48.62% | 44.35% | +4.27% |
Dividends
WDC vs. CIEN - Dividend Comparison
WDC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.09%, 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% |
WDC Western Digital Corporation | 0.09% | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.81% | 2.36% | 5.41% | 2.51% | 2.94% | 3.33% |
Financials
WDC vs. CIEN - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Western Digital Corporation 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
WDC vs. CIEN - Profitability Comparison
WDC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.68B and revenue of 3.34B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 50.2%.
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%.
WDC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported an operating income of 1.14B and revenue of 3.34B, resulting in an operating margin of 34.0%.
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%.
WDC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Western Digital Corporation reported a net income of 3.21B and revenue of 3.34B, resulting in a net margin of 96.0%.
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%.
Frequently Asked Questions
WDC and CIEN have a correlation of 0.54, 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 WDC (21.76%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WDC dropped -96.20% vs CIEN's -99.51%.
WDC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (14.07 vs 7.58), 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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