Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsWilliams Companies Inc (WMB)
CIEN
Ciena Corp
$437.70
+1.94%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $60.74B
WMB
Williams Companies Inc
$73.81
-0.87%
ENERGY · Cap: $90.96B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Williams Companies Inc generates 131% more annual revenue ($11.83B vs $5.12B). WMB leads profitability with a 22.1% profit margin vs 4.5%. CIEN appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.60. WMB earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
CIEN
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
WMB
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-299.5%
Fair Value
$74.41
Current Price
$437.70
$363.29 premium
Margin of Safety
+29.0%
Fair Value
$100.15
Current Price
$73.81
$26.34 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Revenue surging 33.1% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 41.2%
Earnings expanding 50.8% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
2.3% earnings growth
4.5% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CIEN
The strongest argument for CIEN centers on Revenue Growth, Market Cap. Revenue growth of 33.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : WMB
The strongest argument for WMB centers on Operating Margin, EPS Growth, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 22.1% and operating margin at 41.2%.
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 : 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 1.09 — 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
WMB scores higher overall (67/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 22.1% margins. 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 →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.
Compare with Other COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?