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Side-by-side financial comparison of Agilent Technologies (A) and CIENA CORP (CIEN). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Agilent Technologies is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($1.8B vs $1.2B, roughly 1.5× CIENA CORP). Agilent Technologies runs the higher net margin — 17.0% vs 4.1%, a 12.8% gap on every dollar of revenue. Agilent Technologies produced more free cash flow last quarter ($175.0M vs $134.6M). Over the past eight quarters, Agilent Technologies's revenue compounded faster (6.9% CAGR vs 3.9%).
Agilent Technologies, Inc. provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emissi...
Ciena Corporation is an American optical networking systems and software company based in Hanover, Maryland. The company has been described as a vital player in optical connectivity. The company reported revenues of $4.8 billion and more than 9,000 employees, as of November 2025. Gary Smith serves as president and chief executive officer (CEO).
A vs CIEN — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q3 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1.8B | $1.2B |
| Net Profit | $305.0M | $50.3M |
| Gross Margin | 52.6% | 41.3% |
| Operating Margin | 19.6% | 6.0% |
| Net Margin | 17.0% | 4.1% |
| Revenue YoY | 7.0% | — |
| Net Profit YoY | -4.1% | — |
| EPS (diluted) | $1.07 | $0.35 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q1 26 | $1.8B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.9B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.7B | $1.2B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.7B | $1.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.7B | $1.1B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.7B | $1.1B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.6B | $942.3M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.6B | $910.8M |
| Q1 26 | $305.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $434.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $336.0M | $50.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $215.0M | $9.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $318.0M | $44.6M | ||
| Q4 24 | $351.0M | $37.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $282.0M | $14.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $308.0M | $-16.8M |
| Q1 26 | 52.6% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 53.2% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 51.1% | 41.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 51.9% | 40.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 53.5% | 44.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 53.9% | 40.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 54.2% | 42.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 54.4% | 42.7% |
| Q1 26 | 19.6% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 23.8% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 20.7% | 6.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 18.0% | 2.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 22.4% | 7.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 24.0% | 5.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 21.1% | 2.8% | ||
| Q2 24 | 23.1% | -0.4% |
| Q1 26 | 17.0% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 23.3% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 19.3% | 4.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 12.9% | 0.8% | ||
| Q1 25 | 18.9% | 4.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 20.6% | 3.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 17.9% | 1.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 19.6% | -1.8% |
| Q1 26 | $1.07 | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.53 | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.18 | $0.35 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.75 | $0.06 | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.11 | $0.31 | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.23 | $0.26 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.97 | $0.10 | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.05 | $-0.12 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $1.8B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | $3.0B | — |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $6.9B | $2.8B |
| Total Assets | $12.8B | $5.7B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | 0.44× | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $1.8B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.8B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.5B | $1.3B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.5B | $1.3B | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.5B | $1.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.3B | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.8B | $1.1B | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.7B | $1.3B |
| Q1 26 | $3.0B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $3.0B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $3.4B | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $3.3B | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.3B | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $3.3B | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.1B | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $2.1B | — |
| Q1 26 | $6.9B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $6.7B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $6.4B | $2.8B | ||
| Q2 25 | $6.1B | $2.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $6.0B | $2.8B | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.9B | $2.8B | ||
| Q3 24 | $5.9B | $2.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $6.2B | $2.9B |
| Q1 26 | $12.8B | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $12.7B | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $12.2B | $5.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | $12.2B | $5.7B | ||
| Q1 25 | $11.9B | $5.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $11.8B | $5.6B | ||
| Q3 24 | $11.0B | $5.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $10.9B | $5.6B |
| Q1 26 | 0.44× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 0.45× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.53× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.55× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 0.56× | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.57× | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.36× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 0.34× | — |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $268.0M | $174.3M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $175.0M | $134.6M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 9.7% | 11.0% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 5.2% | 3.3% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 0.88× | 3.47× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $993.0M | $605.5M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | $268.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $545.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $362.0M | $174.3M | ||
| Q2 25 | $221.0M | $156.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | $431.0M | $103.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $481.0M | $349.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $452.0M | $-159.4M | ||
| Q2 24 | $333.0M | $58.5M |
| Q1 26 | $175.0M | — | ||
| Q4 25 | $452.0M | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $259.0M | $134.6M | ||
| Q2 25 | $107.0M | $128.2M | ||
| Q1 25 | $334.0M | $76.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $388.0M | $265.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $360.0M | $-179.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $230.0M | $41.6M |
| Q1 26 | 9.7% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 24.3% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 14.9% | 11.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 6.4% | 11.4% | ||
| Q1 25 | 19.9% | 7.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 22.8% | 23.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 22.8% | -19.0% | ||
| Q2 24 | 14.6% | 4.6% |
| Q1 26 | 5.2% | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 5.0% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 5.9% | 3.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 6.8% | 2.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | 5.8% | 2.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.5% | 7.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 5.8% | 2.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | 6.5% | 1.9% |
| Q1 26 | 0.88× | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.26× | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.08× | 3.47× | ||
| Q2 25 | 1.03× | 17.50× | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.36× | 2.33× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.37× | 9.44× | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.60× | -11.20× | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.08× | — |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
A
| Service Other | $525.0M | 29% |
| Chemicaland Energy Market | $422.0M | 23% |
| Agilent Cross Lab | $273.0M | 15% |
| Environmentaland Forensics Market | $177.0M | 10% |
| Food Market | $166.0M | 9% |
| Academiaand Government Market | $130.0M | 7% |
| Applied Markets | $98.0M | 5% |
CIEN
| Optical Networking | $815.5M | 67% |
| Routing And Switching | $125.9M | 10% |
| Platform Softwareand Services Segment | $90.0M | 7% |
| Maintenance Support And Training | $80.7M | 7% |
| Installation And Deployment | $65.9M | 5% |
| Blue Planet Automation Softwareand Services Segment | $27.8M | 2% |
| Consulting And Network Design | $13.6M | 1% |
