CienaCIEN +0.80%72 Gross Margin % is 44.03% as of Apr. 2026, which is 2% above its 10-year median of 43.06. GuruFocus rates CIEN with a GF Score™ of 72/100 and a GF Value™ of $96.34 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 2,450 Hardware companies, Ciena ranks better than 80.57% on this metric.
Gross Margin % is calculated as gross profit divided by its revenue. Ciena's Gross Profit for the
three
months ended in Apr. 2026 was $692 Mil. Ciena's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Apr. 2026 was $1,571 Mil. Therefore, Ciena's Gross Margin % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 44.03%.
Warning Sign:
Ciena Corp gross margin has been in long-term decline. The average rate of decline per year is -2.4%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Ciena's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
CIEN'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 42.04 Med: 43.06 Max: 47.56
Current: 43.05
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of Ciena was 47.56%. The lowest was 42.04%. And the median was 43.06%.
CIEN's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 80.57% of 2450
companies
in the Hardware industry
Industry Median: 24.53
vs CIEN: 43.05
Ciena had a gross margin of 44.03% for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for Ciena was -2.40% per year.
Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) Gross Margin % Explanation
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
Ciena had a gross margin of 44.03% for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
Ciena Gross Margin % Related Terms
Ciena Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Ciena's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
For the Communication Equipment subindustry, Ciena's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Ciena Gross Margin % vs Hardware Industry
For the Hardware industry and Technology sector, Ciena's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ciena's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
Ciena (CIEN) has a Gross Margin % of 44.03% as of Apr. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Ciena and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 43.06. Over the past decade, Ciena's Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.04 to 47.56. According to the industry distribution chart, Ciena ranks #476 out of 2450 companies in the Hardware industry, placing it in the top 19.4%.
Is Ciena's Gross Margin % too high?
Ciena's current Gross Margin % of 44.03% is near median its 10-year median of 43.06. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 42.04 to a high of 47.56. The Hardware industry median Gross Margin % is 24.53. Ciena's value of 44.03% is 79.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Ciena ranks #476 out of 2450 companies in the Hardware industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Ciena has a GF Score™ of 72/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ciena's Gross Margin % compare to MSI and LITE?
According to the Hardware industry distribution chart, Ciena ranks #476 out of 2450 companies for Gross Margin %. This places Ciena in the top 19% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Gross Margin % is 24.53. Ciena's value of 44.03% is 79.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Ciena's own Gross Margin % has ranged from 42.04 to 47.56 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 43.06 vs. the industry median of 24.53, Ciena has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Hardware company?
The median Gross Margin % among Hardware companies is 24.53, based on 2,450 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Ciena's current Gross Margin % of 44.03% is 79.5% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Ciena and its competitors. For the Hardware industry, the median Gross Margin % is 24.53 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Ciena's current Gross Margin % is 44.03%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 43.06. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ciena stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ciena (CIEN) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $96.34, compared to a current price of $463.51 — trading 381.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 44.03%, which is near median its 10-year median of 43.06 and 79.5% above the Hardware industry median of 24.53. Ciena's overall GF Score™ is 72/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ciena (CIEN), the current Gross Margin % is 44.03% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Ciena (CIEN) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ciena stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $463.51 is trading 381.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $96.34.
GuruFocus considers Ciena to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for CIEN:
Gross Margin %: 44.03% (near median its 10-year median of 43.06)
GF Value™: $96.34 vs. price of $463.51 (381.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 79.5% above the Hardware median (#476 of 2450)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CIEN stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Ciena is a leader in high-speed optical connectivity, providing systems, components, and automation software for telecom providers and enterprises, such as data centers, to enable long-distance connectivity. The company operates through four primary business segments: networking platforms, platform software and services, Blue Planet automation software, and global services. While telecom carriers remain important customers, cloud providers and hyperscalers now drive a significant portion of the business. To meet the demands of AI data centers, customers are adopting Ciena's WaveLogic 6 platform, the first to support 1.6 terabits-per-second capacity.
72GF Score
Get the complete analysis for CIEN
Gross Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
CIEN has been successfully added to your 
