Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsNasdaq Inc (NDAQ)
CIEN
Ciena Corp
$548.11
+1.74%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $76.18B
NDAQ
Nasdaq Inc
$88.91
-0.10%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $50.28B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Nasdaq Inc generates 6% more annual revenue ($5.42B vs $5.12B). NDAQ leads profitability with a 35.3% profit margin vs 4.5%. CIEN appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.27. NDAQ earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 69/100 (B-).
CIEN
Buy52
out of 100
Grade: C-
NDAQ
Strong Buy69
out of 100
Grade: B-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Revenue surging 33.1% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 232.3% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 35 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 48.4%
Large-cap with strong market position
Earnings expanding 33.8% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
4.5% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 27.8x book value
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CIEN
The strongest argument for CIEN centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 33.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : NDAQ
The strongest argument for NDAQ centers on Profit Margin, Operating Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.3% and operating margin at 48.4%. Revenue growth of 13.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CIEN
The primary concerns for CIEN are PEG Ratio, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 345.4x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.5% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Bear Case : NDAQ
The primary concerns for NDAQ are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CIEN profiles as a hypergrowth stock while NDAQ is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
CIEN carries more volatility with a beta of 1.25 — expect wider price swings.
CIEN is growing revenue faster at 33.1% — sustainability is the question.
NDAQ generates stronger free cash flow (629M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NDAQ scores higher overall (69/100 vs 52/100), backed by strong 35.3% margins and 13.7% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" 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.
Visit Website →Nasdaq Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA
Nasdaq, Inc. is an American multinational financial services corporation that owns and operates stock exchanges in the United States and Europe. It is headquartered in New York City.
Visit Website →Compare with Other COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT Stocks
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