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Side-by-side financial comparison of CIENA CORP (CIEN) and QWEST CORP (CTBB). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
CIENA CORP is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($1.2B vs $1.1B, roughly 1.1× QWEST CORP). CIENA CORP runs the higher net margin — 4.1% vs -187.5%, a 191.6% gap on every dollar of revenue. QWEST CORP produced more free cash flow last quarter ($160.0M vs $134.6M). Over the past eight quarters, CIENA CORP's revenue compounded faster (3.9% CAGR vs -8.6%).
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).
Qwest Corporation, doing business as CenturyLink QC, is a Regional Bell Operating Company owned by Lumen Technologies. It was originally named Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, later becoming known as Mountain Bell, then US West Communications, Inc. from 1991 to 2000. It includes the former operations of Malheur Bell, Northwestern Bell and Pacific Northwest Bell as well.
CIEN vs CTBB — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q3 FY2025 vs Q4 FY2025
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1.2B | $1.1B |
| Net Profit | $50.3M | $-2.1B |
| Gross Margin | 41.3% | 67.9% |
| Operating Margin | 6.0% | -183.2% |
| Net Margin | 4.1% | -187.5% |
| Revenue YoY | — | -15.0% |
| Net Profit YoY | — | -627.9% |
| EPS (diluted) | $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.
| Q4 25 | — | $1.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.2B | $1.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.1B | $1.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.1B | $1.2B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.1B | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | $942.3M | $1.3B | ||
| Q2 24 | $910.8M | $1.3B | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.0B | $1.3B |
| Q4 25 | — | $-2.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $50.3M | $176.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $9.0M | $277.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $44.6M | $284.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $37.0M | $391.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $14.2M | $365.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-16.8M | $378.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $49.5M | $353.0M |
| Q4 25 | — | 67.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 41.3% | 65.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 40.2% | 68.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 44.0% | 69.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 40.9% | 71.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | 42.9% | 69.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 42.7% | 71.6% | ||
| Q1 24 | 45.0% | 71.9% |
| Q4 25 | — | -183.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.0% | 22.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.9% | 33.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.5% | 33.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.3% | 40.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.8% | 38.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | -0.4% | 40.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 8.2% | 37.6% |
| Q4 25 | — | -187.5% | ||
| Q3 25 | 4.1% | 16.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.8% | 24.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.2% | 24.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 30.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.5% | 28.2% | ||
| Q2 24 | -1.8% | 28.7% | ||
| Q1 24 | 4.8% | 26.8% |
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.35 | — | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.06 | — | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.31 | — | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.26 | — | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.10 | — | ||
| Q2 24 | $-0.12 | — | ||
| Q1 24 | $0.34 | — |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $1.3B | $39.0M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $1.7B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $2.8B | $10.9B |
| Total Assets | $5.7B | $15.8B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 0.15× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | — | $39.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.3B | $36.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.3B | $25.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.2B | $40.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.3B | $26.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.1B | $22.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.3B | $18.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $1.4B | $14.0M |
| Q4 25 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $1.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $1.9B | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $1.9B |
| Q4 25 | — | $10.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.8B | $13.0B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.8B | $12.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.8B | $12.5B | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.8B | $12.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.9B | $11.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $2.9B | $11.5B | ||
| Q1 24 | $2.9B | $11.1B |
| Q4 25 | — | $15.8B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.7B | $17.9B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.7B | $17.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $5.6B | $17.6B | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.6B | $17.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $5.6B | $17.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $5.6B | $16.6B | ||
| Q1 24 | $5.6B | $16.4B |
| Q4 25 | — | 0.15× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 0.13× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 0.13× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 0.13× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 0.14× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 0.14× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 0.17× | ||
| Q1 24 | — | 0.17× |
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 | $174.3M | $402.0M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $134.6M | $160.0M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 11.0% | 14.5% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.3% | 22.0% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 3.47× | — |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $605.5M | $938.0M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | — | $402.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $174.3M | $427.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $156.9M | $480.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $103.7M | $453.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $349.4M | $548.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-159.4M | $627.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $58.5M | $548.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $266.1M | $471.0M |
| Q4 25 | — | $160.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $134.6M | $252.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $128.2M | $276.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $76.8M | $250.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $265.8M | $277.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-179.0M | $396.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $41.6M | $280.0M | ||
| Q1 24 | $249.5M | $194.0M |
| Q4 25 | — | 14.5% | ||
| Q3 25 | 11.0% | 23.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 11.4% | 24.2% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.2% | 21.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 23.6% | 21.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | -19.0% | 30.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 4.6% | 21.3% | ||
| Q1 24 | 24.0% | 14.7% |
| Q4 25 | — | 22.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.3% | 16.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.6% | 17.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.5% | 17.6% | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.4% | 20.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.1% | 17.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.9% | 20.4% | ||
| Q1 24 | 1.6% | 21.0% |
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.47× | 2.43× | ||
| Q2 25 | 17.50× | 1.73× | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.33× | 1.60× | ||
| Q4 24 | 9.44× | 1.40× | ||
| Q3 24 | -11.20× | 1.72× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 1.45× | ||
| Q1 24 | 5.37× | 1.33× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
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% |
CTBB
| Nonrelated Party | $665.0M | 60% |
| Other | $436.0M | 40% |
