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Side-by-side financial comparison of CIENA CORP (CIEN) and Fastenal (FAST). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Fastenal is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($2.0B vs $1.2B, roughly 1.7× CIENA CORP). Fastenal runs the higher net margin — 14.5% vs 4.1%, a 10.4% gap on every dollar of revenue. Fastenal produced more free cash flow last quarter ($308.2M vs $134.6M). Over the past eight quarters, CIENA CORP's revenue compounded faster (3.9% CAGR vs 2.9%).
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).
Fastenal Company is an American publicly traded company based in Winona, Minnesota, founded in 1967. Fastenal is a major distributor of industrial and construction supplies, and the largest fastener distributor in North America. Fastenal provides supply chain solutions including bin stock, vending machines, inventory management, and logistics services.
CIEN vs FAST — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q3 FY2025 vs Q1 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1.2B | $2.0B |
| Net Profit | $50.3M | $293.9M |
| Gross Margin | 41.3% | 44.3% |
| Operating Margin | 6.0% | 18.9% |
| Net Margin | 4.1% | 14.5% |
| Revenue YoY | — | 3.5% |
| Net Profit YoY | — | -1.6% |
| EPS (diluted) | $0.35 | $-0.01 |
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 | — | $2.0B | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $2.0B | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.2B | $2.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.1B | $2.1B | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.1B | $2.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.1B | $1.8B | ||
| Q3 24 | $942.3M | $1.9B | ||
| Q2 24 | $910.8M | $1.9B |
| Q1 26 | — | $293.9M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $293.9M | ||
| Q3 25 | $50.3M | $335.5M | ||
| Q2 25 | $9.0M | $330.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $44.6M | $298.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $37.0M | $262.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $14.2M | $298.1M | ||
| Q2 24 | $-16.8M | $292.7M |
| Q1 26 | — | 44.3% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 44.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 41.3% | 45.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 40.2% | 45.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 44.0% | 45.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | 40.9% | 44.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 42.9% | 44.9% | ||
| Q2 24 | 42.7% | 45.1% |
| Q1 26 | — | 18.9% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 18.9% | ||
| Q3 25 | 6.0% | 20.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.9% | 21.0% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.5% | 20.1% | ||
| Q4 24 | 5.3% | 18.9% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.8% | 20.3% | ||
| Q2 24 | -0.4% | 20.2% |
| Q1 26 | — | 14.5% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 14.5% | ||
| Q3 25 | 4.1% | 15.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.8% | 15.9% | ||
| Q1 25 | 4.2% | 15.2% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.3% | 14.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 1.5% | 15.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | -1.8% | 15.3% |
| Q1 26 | — | $-0.01 | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $-0.01 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.35 | $0.29 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.06 | $0.29 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.31 | $0.52 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.26 | $0.45 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.10 | $0.52 | ||
| Q2 24 | $-0.12 | $0.51 |
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 | $276.8M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $125.0M |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $2.8B | $3.9B |
| Total Assets | $5.7B | $5.1B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 0.03× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $276.8M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $276.8M | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.3B | $288.1M | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.3B | $237.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.2B | $231.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.3B | $255.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $1.1B | $292.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.3B | $255.5M |
| Q1 26 | — | $125.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $125.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $195.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $230.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $200.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $200.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $240.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $235.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | $3.9B | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $3.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.8B | $3.9B | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.8B | $3.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.8B | $3.7B | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.8B | $3.6B | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.9B | $3.6B | ||
| Q2 24 | $2.9B | $3.5B |
| Q1 26 | — | $5.1B | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $5.1B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.7B | $5.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.7B | $5.0B | ||
| Q1 25 | $5.6B | $4.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.6B | $4.7B | ||
| Q3 24 | $5.6B | $4.7B | ||
| Q2 24 | $5.6B | $4.6B |
| Q1 26 | — | 0.03× | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 0.03× | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 0.05× | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 0.06× | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 0.05× | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 0.06× | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 0.07× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 0.07× |
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 | $368.2M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $134.6M | $308.2M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 11.0% | 15.2% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 3.3% | 3.0% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 3.47× | 1.25× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $605.5M | $1.2B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $368.2M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $368.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $174.3M | $386.9M | ||
| Q2 25 | $156.9M | $278.6M | ||
| Q1 25 | $103.7M | $262.2M | ||
| Q4 24 | $349.4M | $282.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-159.4M | $296.9M | ||
| Q2 24 | $58.5M | $258.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | $308.2M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $308.2M | ||
| Q3 25 | $134.6M | $326.6M | ||
| Q2 25 | $128.2M | $209.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $76.8M | $206.5M | ||
| Q4 24 | $265.8M | $222.6M | ||
| Q3 24 | $-179.0M | $237.5M | ||
| Q2 24 | $41.6M | $201.9M |
| Q1 26 | — | 15.2% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 15.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 11.0% | 15.3% | ||
| Q2 25 | 11.4% | 10.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 7.2% | 10.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | 23.6% | 12.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | -19.0% | 12.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 4.6% | 10.5% |
| Q1 26 | — | 3.0% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 3.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.3% | 2.8% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.6% | 3.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.5% | 2.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 7.4% | 3.3% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.1% | 3.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.9% | 2.9% |
| Q1 26 | — | 1.25× | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 1.25× | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.47× | 1.15× | ||
| Q2 25 | 17.50× | 0.84× | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.33× | 0.88× | ||
| Q4 24 | 9.44× | 1.08× | ||
| Q3 24 | -11.20× | 1.00× | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 0.88× |
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% |
FAST
| Reportable Segment Aggregation Before Other Operating Segment | $1.8B | 90% |
| Other | $211.2M | 10% |
