WallStSmart

Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsWilliams Companies Inc (WMB)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Williams Companies Inc generates 136% more annual revenue ($12.11B vs $5.12B). WMB leads profitability with a 23.1% profit margin vs 4.5%. CIEN appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.27. WMB earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).

CIEN

Buy

52

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 8.7Profit: 5.5Value: 3.7Quality: 6.5
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 1.18

WMB

Buy

65

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.0Profit: 8.0Value: 4.3Quality: 3.3
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 0.37

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

CIEN3 strengths · Avg: 9.7/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
33.1%10/10

Revenue surging 33.1% year-over-year

EPS GrowthGrowth
232.3%10/10

Earnings expanding 232.3% YoY

Market CapQuality
$76.18B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

WMB4 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Operating MarginProfitability
33.6%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 33.6%

Market CapQuality
$89.22B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Profit MarginProfitability
23.1%9/10

Keeps 23 of every $100 in revenue as profit

EPS GrowthGrowth
25.0%8/10

Earnings expanding 25.0% YoY

Areas to Watch

CIEN4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.274/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Profit MarginProfitability
4.5%3/10

4.5% margin — thin

P/E RatioValuation
345.4x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Price/BookValuation
27.8x2/10

Trading at 27.8x book value

WMB4 concerns · Avg: 3.3/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.484/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

P/E RatioValuation
32.0x4/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
0.372/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull 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 : WMB

The strongest argument for WMB centers on Operating Margin, Market Cap, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 23.1% and operating margin at 33.6%.

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 : WMB

The primary concerns for WMB are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Piotroski F-Score.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

CIEN profiles as a hypergrowth stock while WMB 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.

WMB generates stronger free cash flow (244M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

WMB scores higher overall (65/100 vs 52/100), backed by strong 23.1% margins. 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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Williams Companies Inc

ENERGY · OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM · USA

The Williams Companies, Inc., is an American energy company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its core business is natural gas processing and transportation, with additional petroleum and electricity generation assets.

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