MARKET WIRE NEWS

Ciena Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Source: Business Wire

Summary

  • Fiscal second quarter 2026 revenue was $1.57 billion, up 40% year-over-year
  • Fiscal second quarter 2026 adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) was $1.64, an increase of 290% compared to fiscal second quarter 2025
  • Providing revenue guidance for fiscal third quarter 2026 of $1.625 billion plus or minus $50 million
  • Raising revenue guidance for fiscal year 2026 to $6.3 billion plus or minus $100 million, a 32% increase YoY at the midpoint

Ciena ® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) today announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended May 2, 2026.

"Today's results reflect the strength of our portfolio, the power of our business model, and disciplined execution in a dynamic supply environment," said Gary Smith, president and CEO, Ciena. "Our long-term strategy to be the global leader in high-speed connectivity - both across the WAN and in and around the data center - is tightly aligned to the structural, multi-year opportunities created by AI-driven demand, positioning us to capitalize on market dynamics and drive sustained, profitable growth."

"We delivered strong fiscal second quarter results, marked by significant year-over-year revenue growth, adjusted gross margin expansion, and nearly fourfold growth in adjusted earnings per share," said Marc Graff, Ciena’s Chief Financial Officer. "Our demonstrated ability to drive operating leverage gives us confidence in continued earnings expansion and long-term value creation for customers and shareholders."

Performance Summary for Fiscal Second Quarter Ended May 2, 2026

Revenue:

  • $1.57 billion in the fiscal second quarter 2026, compared to $1.13 billion in the fiscal second quarter 2025

Net Income per diluted share:

  • $1.49 GAAP and $1.64 adjusted (non-GAAP) for the fiscal second quarter 2026, compared to $0.06 and $0.42 for fiscal second quarter 2025, respectively

The tables below (in millions, except percentage data) provide comparisons of certain quarterly results. Appendices A and B set forth reconciliations between the GAAP and adjusted (non-GAAP) measures contained in this release.

GAAP Results (unaudited)

Non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Period

Quarter Ended

Period

May 2,

May 3,

Change

May 2,

May 3,

Change

2026

2025

Y-T-Y*

2026

2025

Y-T-Y*

Revenue

$

1,570.7

$

1,125.9

39.5

%

$

1,570.7

$

1,125.9

39.5

%

Gross margin

44.0

%

40.2

%

3.8

%

44.9

%

41.0

%

3.9

%

Operating expense

$

453.7

$

420.0

8.0

%

$

397.8

$

369.5

7.7

%

Operating margin

15.1

%

2.9

%

12.2

%

19.5

%

8.2

%

11.3

%

EBITDA

$

283.1

$

66.7

324.4

%

$

341.8

$

116.7

192.9

%

* Denotes % change, or in the case of margin, absolute change

Business Outlook

Ciena expects fiscal third quarter 2026 to include:

  • Revenue of $1.625B billion plus or minus $50 million
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin in the range of 45% plus or minus 50 bps
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense in the range of $410 million plus or minus $10 million
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin between 19% and 20%

Ciena expects fiscal year 2026 to include:

  • Revenue of $6.3 billion plus or minus $100 million
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin between 44.5% and 45%
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense in the range of $1.61 billion plus or minus $20 million
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin in the range of 19% plus or minus 50bps

Statements relating to business outlook are forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially. These statements should be read in the context of the "Key assumptions underlying our outlook" in our accompanying Earnings Presentation and each of the "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Measurements" found in the Notes to Investors below.

Financial Highlights for the Fiscal Second Quarter 2026

  • Two customers represented 10%-plus of revenue for a total of 34.0% of revenue.
  • Average days' sales outstanding (DSOs) were 71.
  • Inventory turns were 3.6.
  • Repurchased approximately 0.2 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $83.1 million under the $1 billion share repurchase program.

Financial Performance by Segment

Revenue by Segment (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

May 2, 2026

May 3, 2025

Revenue

%**

Revenue

%**

Networking Platforms

Optical Networking

$

1,099.8

70.0

$

773.6

68.7

Routing and Switching

174.2

11.1

92.7

8.2

Total Networking Platforms

1,274.0

81.1

866.3

76.9

Platform Software and Services

93.9

6.0

85.4

7.5

Blue Planet Automation Software and Services

23.4

1.5

28.0

2.5

Global Services

Maintenance, Support, and Learning

89.3

5.7

79.4

7.1

Implementation

79.7

5.1

58.2

5.2

Advisory and Enablement

10.4

0.6

8.6

0.8

Total Global Services

179.4

11.4

146.2

13.1

Total

$

1,570.7

100.0

$

1,125.9

100.0

** Denotes % of total revenue

Supplemental Materials and Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Results

Today, Thursday, June 4, 2026, in conjunction with this announcement, Ciena has posted to the Quarterly Results page of the Investor Relations section of its website certain related supporting materials for its unaudited fiscal second quarter 2026 results.

Ciena's management will also host a discussion today with investors and financial analysts that will include the Company's outlook. The live audio web broadcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern will be accessible via www.ciena.com. An archived replay of the live broadcast will be available shortly following its conclusion on the Investor Relations page of Ciena's website.

Notes to Investors

Forward-Looking Statements. You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, recent news, financial results, supplemental financial information, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, assumptions and other information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this release include the "Business Outlook" section of this press release and "Today's results reflect the strength of our portfolio, the power of our business model, and disciplined execution in a dynamic supply environment. Our long-term strategy to be the global leader in high-speed connectivity - both across the WAN and in and around the data center - is tightly aligned to the structural, multi-year opportunities created by AI-driven demand, positioning us to capitalize on market dynamics and drive sustained, profitable growth. We delivered strong fiscal second quarter results, marked by significant year-over-year revenue growth, adjusted gross margin expansion, and nearly fourfold growth in adjusted earnings per share. Our demonstrated ability to drive operating leverage gives us confidence in continued earnings expansion and long-term value creation for customers and shareholders."

Ciena's actual results, performance or events may differ materially from these forward-looking statements made or implied due to a number of risks and uncertainties relating to Ciena's business, including: the effect of broader economic and market conditions on our business and that of our customers, including their spending; the development and use of artificial intelligence and its impact on overall networking technology spending; our ability to execute our business and growth strategies; supply chain constraints or disruptions including increased costs and lead times; the introduction of new technologies by us or our competitors; the timing and size of customer orders, their delivery dates and our ability to fulfill and recognize revenue relating to such sales; the level of competitive pressure we encounter; the product, customer and geographic mix of sales within the period; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; factors beyond our control such as natural disasters, climate change, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical tensions or events, and public health emergencies, epidemics, or pandemics; changes in tax or trade regulations, including the imposition of tariffs, duties or efforts to withdraw from or materially modify international trade agreements; cyberattacks, data breaches or other security incidents involving our enterprise network environment or our products; regulatory changes, litigation involving our intellectual property or government investigations; and the other risk factors disclosed in Ciena’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 and included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 to be filed with the SEC. Ciena assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this press release.

Non-GAAP Presentation of Quarterly and Annual Results. This release includes non-GAAP measures of Ciena's gross profit, operating expense, income from operations, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA, and measures of net income and net income per share. In evaluating the operating performance of Ciena's business, management excludes certain charges and credits that are required by GAAP. These items share one or more of the following characteristics: they are unusual and Ciena does not expect them to recur in the ordinary course of its business; they do not involve the expenditure of cash; they are unrelated to the ongoing operation of the business in the ordinary course; or their magnitude and timing is largely outside of Ciena's control. Management believes that the non-GAAP measures below provide management and investors useful information and meaningful insight to the operating performance of the business. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to Ciena's GAAP results and these measures are not intended to be a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Ciena's non-GAAP measures and the related adjustments may differ from non-GAAP measures used by other companies and should only be used to evaluate Ciena's results of operations in conjunction with our corresponding GAAP results. To the extent not previously disclosed in a prior Ciena financial results press release, Appendices A and B to this press release set forth a complete GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures contained in this release.

With respect to Ciena’s expectations under “Business Outlook” above, Ciena is not able to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin, adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense, and adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin guidance measures to the corresponding gross margin, operating expense, and operating margin GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Ciena cannot provide meaningful estimates of the non-recurring charges and credits excluded from these non-GAAP measures due to the forward-looking nature of these estimates and their inherent variability and uncertainty. For the same reasons, Ciena is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

About Ciena. Ciena is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most advanced networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, X, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com .

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Six Months Ended

May 2,

May 3,

May 2,

May 3,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Revenue:

Products

$

1,311,488

$

898,581

$

2,491,358

$

1,753,366

Services

259,251

227,297

506,423

444,772

Total revenue

1,570,739

1,125,878

2,997,781

2,198,138

Cost of goods sold:

Products

736,107

549,984

1,402,681

1,040,788

Services

143,078

123,056

278,026

232,691

Total cost of goods sold

879,185

673,040

1,680,707

1,273,479

Gross profit

691,554

452,838

1,317,074

924,659

Operating expenses:

Research and development

237,905

214,868

459,363

407,531

Selling and marketing

150,039

139,683

298,906

276,187

General and administrative

61,221

56,952

120,464

110,854

Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

805

1,948

2,303

3,492

Amortization of intangible assets

3,713

6,545

8,449

13,090

Acquisition and integration costs

306

Total operating expenses

453,683

419,996

889,791

811,154

Income from operations

237,871

32,842

427,283

113,505

Interest and other income, net

14,111

7,871

27,068

19,449

Interest expense

(20,922

)

(21,697

)

(42,176

)

(44,615

)

Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt

(729

)

Income before income taxes

231,060

19,016

412,175

87,610

Provision for income taxes

12,840

10,047

43,672

34,069

Net income

$

218,220

$

8,969

$

368,503

$

53,541

Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share

$

1.54

$

0.06

$

2.60

$

0.38

Diluted net income per potential common share

$

1.49

$

0.06

$

2.52

$

0.37

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

141,949

142,503

141,834

142,704

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding 1

146,314

144,972

146,078

145,470

1 Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating GAAP diluted net income per potential common share includes the following number of shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards: (i) 4.4 million and 4.2 million for the second quarter and first six months ended fiscal 2026, respectively; and (ii) 2.5 million and 2.8 million for the second quarter and first six months ended fiscal 2025, respectively.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

May 2,

November 1,

2026

2025

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,045,126

$

1,091,952

Short-term investments

157,708

216,148

Accounts receivable, net

1,052,569

975,856

Inventories, net

808,447

826,235

Prepaid expenses and other

504,314

455,316

Total current assets

3,568,164

3,565,507

Long-term investments

200,106

57,142

Equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, net

445,082

386,779

Operating lease right-of-use assets

38,459

38,613

Goodwill

520,401

521,204

Other intangible assets, net

202,190

224,210

Deferred tax asset, net

873,979

884,889

Other long-term assets

191,068

186,323

Total assets

$

6,039,449

$

5,864,667

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

606,599

$

542,841

Accrued liabilities and other short-term obligations

439,626

531,081

Deferred revenue

238,380

208,936

Operating lease liabilities

12,396

13,956

Current portion of long-term debt

11,580

11,580

Total current liabilities

1,308,581

1,308,394

Long-term deferred revenue

102,107

94,850

Other long-term obligations

185,001

175,426

Long-term operating lease liabilities

31,996

32,516

Long-term debt, net

1,519,539

1,524,158

Total liabilities

3,147,224

3,135,344

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock – par value $0.01; 20,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding

Common stock – par value $0.01; 290,000,000 shares authorized; 141,597,550 and 141,016,300 shares issued and outstanding

1,416

1,410

Additional paid-in capital

5,732,496

5,953,057

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(40,081

)

(55,035

)

Accumulated deficit

(2,801,606

)

(3,170,109

)

Total stockholders’ equity

2,892,225

2,729,323

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

6,039,449

$

5,864,667

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended

May 2,

May 3,

2026

2025

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

Net income

$

368,503

$

53,541

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements

67,021

49,771

Share-based compensation expense

105,300

88,767

Amortization of intangible assets

22,020

17,555

Deferred taxes

(10,563

)

(10,470

)

Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence

42,481

23,431

Provision for warranty

16,685

10,714

Other

603

(6,355

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(71,555

)

(20,857

)

Inventories

(24,690

)

(76,904

)

Prepaid expenses and other

(34,047

)

84,144

Operating lease right-of-use assets

5,349

5,580

Accounts payable, accruals and other obligations

(27,945

)

(16,755

)

Deferred revenue

35,442

66,493

Short and long-term operating lease liabilities

(7,257

)

(7,986

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

487,347

260,669

Cash flows used in investing activities:

Payments for equipment, furniture, and fixtures

(114,933

)

(55,622

)

Purchases of investments

(226,731

)

(159,102

)

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments

143,880

164,837

Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts, net

(31

)

2,441

Net cash used in investing activities

(197,815

)

(47,446

)

Cash flows used in financing activities:

Proceeds for modification of debt, net

19,175

Cash paid for extinguishment of debt

(19,175

)

Payment of long term debt

(5,790

)

(5,790

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(12

)

Payment of finance lease obligations

(2,371

)

(2,110

)

Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of stock unit awards

(179,420

)

(42,266

)

Repurchases of common stock - repurchase program, net

(164,920

)

(168,197

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

17,226

17,132

Net cash used in financing activities

(335,275

)

(201,243

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(1,093

)

2,937

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(46,836

)

14,917

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

1,092,197

935,026

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,045,361

$

949,943

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

Cash paid during the period for interest, net

$

40,979

$

43,200

Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net

$

48,830

$

55,466

Operating lease payments

$

8,413

$

8,812

Non-cash investing and financing activities

Purchase of equipment in accounts payable

$

12,966

$

12,545

Repurchase of common stock in accrued liabilities from repurchase program, net

$

1,320

$

2,023

Operating right-of-use assets subject to lease liability

$

6,003

$

16,351

APPENDIX A - Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Measurements

(in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

May 2,

May 3,

2026

2025

Gross Profit Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP gross profit

$

691,554

$

452,838

Share-based compensation-products

2,010

2,033

Share-based compensation-services

4,504

3,980

Amortization of intangible assets

6,787

2,232

Total adjustments related to gross profit

13,301

8,245

Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit

$

704,855

$

461,083

Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage

44.9

%

41.0

%

Operating Expense Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP operating expense

$

453,683

$

419,996

Share-based compensation-research and development

18,586

17,021

Share-based compensation-sales and marketing

16,486

13,649

Share-based compensation-general and administrative

13,887

11,341

Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

805

1,948

Amortization of intangible assets

3,713

6,545

Holdback arrangement

2,411

Total adjustments related to operating expense

55,888

50,504

Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense

$

397,795

$

369,492

Income from Operations Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP income from operations

$

237,871

$

32,842

Total adjustments related to gross profit

13,301

8,245

Total adjustments related to operating expense

55,888

50,504

Total adjustments related to income from operations

69,189

58,749

Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations

$

307,060

$

91,591

Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage

19.5

%

8.2

%

Net Income Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP net income

$

218,220

$

8,969

Exclude GAAP provision for income taxes

12,840

10,047

Income before income taxes

231,060

19,016

Total adjustments related to income from operations

69,189

58,749

Adjusted income before income taxes

300,249

77,765

Non-GAAP tax provision on adjusted income before income taxes

60,050

17,108

Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income

$

240,199

$

60,657

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

141,949

142,503

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding 1

146,314

144,972

Net Income per Common Share

GAAP diluted net income per potential common share

$

1.49

$

0.06

Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share

$

1.64

$

0.42

1 Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share includes the following number of shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards: (i) 4.4 million for the second quarter ended fiscal 2026; and (ii) 2.5 million for the second quarter ended fiscal 2025.

APPENDIX B - Calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands) (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

May 2,

May 3,

2026

2025

Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)

Net income (GAAP)

$

218,220

$

8,969

Add: Interest expense

20,922

21,697

Less: Interest and other income, net

14,111

7,871

Add: Provision for income taxes

12,840

10,047

Add: Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements

34,712

25,092

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

10,500

8,777

EBITDA

$

283,083

$

66,711

Add: Share-based compensation expense

55,473

48,024

Add: Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

805

1,948

Add: Holdback arrangement

2,411

Adjusted EBITDA

$

341,772

$

116,683

The adjusted (non-GAAP) measures above and their reconciliation to Ciena's GAAP results for the periods presented reflect adjustments relating to the following items:

  • Share-based compensation - a non-cash expense incurred in accordance with share-based compensation accounting guidance.
  • Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs - non-recurring costs primarily reflecting expenses associated with actions Ciena has taken to restructure our business, including reductions in force, facility optimization, and the redesign of business processes.
  • Amortization of intangible assets - a non-cash expense arising from the acquisition of intangible assets, principally developed technologies and customer-related intangibles, that Ciena is required to amortize over an expected useful life.
  • Holdback arrangement - reflects a one-time holdback of a portion of the merger consideration otherwise payable at closing to certain key employee shareholders of Nubis Communications, Inc. who became employees of Ciena, which is treated as contingent compensation for GAAP reporting purposes. These transaction-related amounts are not part of Ciena's standard compensation and benefits.
  • Non-GAAP tax provision - consists of current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the level of adjusted income before income taxes and utilizes a current, blended U.S. and foreign statutory annual tax rate of 20% for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and 22% for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. This rate may be subject to change in the future, including as a result of changes in tax policy or tax strategy.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603804542/en/

Press Contact:
Jamie Moody
Ciena Corporation
+1 (410) 694-5761
pr@ciena.com

Investor Contact:
Gregg Lampf
Ciena Corporation
+1 (410) 694-5700
ir@ciena.com

Ciena Corporation

NASDAQ: CIEN

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