WallStSmart

Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsVistra Energy Corp (VST)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Vistra Energy Corp generates 246% more annual revenue ($17.74B vs $5.12B). VST leads profitability with a 5.3% profit margin vs 4.5%. VST appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.27. 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

VST

Buy

53

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 3.3Profit: 6.0Value: 4.7Quality: 2.5
Piotroski: 2/9Altman Z: 0.73
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
VSTSignificantly Overvalued (-980.6%)

Margin of Safety

-980.6%

Fair Value

$14.82

Current Price

$151.51

$136.69 premium

UndervaluedFair: $14.82Overvalued

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

VST1 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Market CapQuality
$51.70B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

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

VST4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Price/BookValuation
19.5x4/10

Trading at 19.5x book value

Profit MarginProfitability
5.3%3/10

5.3% margin — thin

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

P/E RatioValuation
70.1x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

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 : VST

The strongest argument for VST centers on Market Cap. Revenue growth of 13.6% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 1.27 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

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 : VST

The primary concerns for VST are Price/Book, Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score. A P/E of 70.1x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 3.36 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

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

VST carries more volatility with a beta of 1.45 — 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 53/100) and 33.1% revenue growth. Both earn "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.

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Vistra Energy Corp

UTILITIES · UTILITIES - INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS · USA

Vistra Corp. The company is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

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