WallStSmart

Ciena Corp (CIEN)vsZebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Zebra Technologies Corporation generates 5% more annual revenue ($5.40B vs $5.12B). ZBRA leads profitability with a 7.8% profit margin vs 4.5%. ZBRA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.44. ZBRA earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 63/100 (C+).

CIEN

Buy

54

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 8.7Profit: 5.5Value: 4.7Quality: 7.5
Piotroski: 6/9Altman Z: 1.18

ZBRA

Buy

63

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 3.3Profit: 6.0Value: 7.3Quality: 5.8
Piotroski: 2/9Altman Z: 2.46
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

CIENSignificantly Overvalued (-304.5%)

Margin of Safety

-304.5%

Fair Value

$73.48

Current Price

$383.89

$310.41 premium

UndervaluedFair: $73.48Overvalued
ZBRASignificantly Overvalued (-359.6%)

Margin of Safety

-359.6%

Fair Value

$54.94

Current Price

$203.62

$148.68 premium

UndervaluedFair: $54.94Overvalued

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
$54.31B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

ZBRA2 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
0.4410/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

Price/BookValuation
2.8x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Areas to Watch

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

Expensive relative to growth rate

Price/BookValuation
19.4x4/10

Trading at 19.4x book value

Profit MarginProfitability
4.5%3/10

4.5% margin — thin

P/E RatioValuation
244.5x2/10

Premium valuation, high expectations priced in

ZBRA4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
P/E RatioValuation
25.2x4/10

Moderate valuation

Profit MarginProfitability
7.8%3/10

7.8% margin — thin

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

EPS GrowthGrowth
-55.8%2/10

Earnings declined 55.8%

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 : ZBRA

The strongest argument for ZBRA centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book. Revenue growth of 10.6% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.44 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bear Case : CIEN

The primary concerns for CIEN are PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. A P/E of 244.5x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.5% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Bear Case : ZBRA

The primary concerns for ZBRA are P/E Ratio, Profit Margin, Piotroski F-Score.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

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

ZBRA carries more volatility with a beta of 1.68 — expect wider price swings.

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

ZBRA generates stronger free cash flow (327M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

ZBRA scores higher overall (63/100 vs 54/100) and 10.6% 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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Zebra Technologies Corporation

TECHNOLOGY · COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT · USA

Zebra Technologies Corporation is an American company that manufactures and sells marking, tracking, and computer printing technologies. Its products include thermal barcode label and receipt printers, RFID smart label printers/encoders/fixed & handheld readers/antennas, and card and kiosk printers that are used for barcode labeling, personal identification, and specialty printing, principally in the manufacturing, supply chain, retail, healthcare, and government sectors.

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