WallStSmart

Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsLive Ventures Inc (LIVE)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Ciena Corp generates 1059% more annual revenue ($5.12B vs $441.98M). LIVE leads profitability with a 5.0% profit margin vs 4.5%. LIVE trades at a lower P/E of 2.7x. CIEN earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 54/100 (C-).

CIEN

Buy

54

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 6.7Profit: 5.5Value: 4.7Quality: 7.5
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 1.18

LIVE

Hold

44

out of 100

Grade: D

Growth: 4.0Profit: 5.5Value: 8.3Quality: 7.5
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 2.02
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

CIENSignificantly Overvalued (-299.5%)

Margin of Safety

-299.5%

Fair Value

$74.41

Current Price

$437.70

$363.29 premium

UndervaluedFair: $74.41Overvalued
LIVEUndervalued (+39.6%)

Margin of Safety

+39.6%

Fair Value

$32.30

Current Price

$13.51

$18.79 discount

UndervaluedFair: $32.30Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

CIEN2 strengths · Avg: 9.5/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
33.1%10/10

Revenue surging 33.1% year-over-year

Market CapQuality
$60.74B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

LIVE3 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
P/E RatioValuation
2.7x10/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
0.4x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Return on EquityProfitability
26.3%9/10

Every $100 of equity generates 26 in profit

Areas to Watch

CIEN4 concerns · Avg: 3.3/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.604/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

EPS GrowthGrowth
2.3%4/10

2.3% earnings growth

Profit MarginProfitability
4.5%3/10

4.5% margin — thin

P/E RatioValuation
270.1x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

LIVE4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Market CapQuality
$39.93M3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Profit MarginProfitability
5.0%3/10

5.0% margin — thin

Operating MarginProfitability
3.2%3/10

Operating margin of 3.2%

Debt/EquityHealth
1.213/10

Elevated debt levels

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : CIEN

The strongest argument for CIEN centers on Revenue Growth, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 33.1% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bull Case : LIVE

The strongest argument for LIVE centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Return on Equity.

Bear Case : CIEN

The primary concerns for CIEN are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Profit Margin. A P/E of 270.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.5% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Bear Case : LIVE

The primary concerns for LIVE are Market Cap, Profit Margin, Operating Margin.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

CIEN profiles as a hypergrowth stock while LIVE is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.

LIVE carries more volatility with a beta of 1.11 — expect wider price swings.

CIEN is growing revenue faster at 33.1% — sustainability is the question.

CIEN generates stronger free cash flow (154M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

CIEN scores higher overall (54/100 vs 44/100) and 33.1% revenue growth. LIVE offers better value entry with a 39.6% margin of safety. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Ciena Corp

TECHNOLOGY · COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT · USA

Ciena Corporation provides hardware, software, and network services that support the transport, routing, switching, aggregation, service delivery, and management of video, data, and voice traffic on communications networks worldwide. The company is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland.

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Live Ventures Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAIL · USA

Live Ventures Incorporated is engaged in flooring manufacturing, steel fabrication and retail businesses in the United States. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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