Summary

  • Fiscal fourth quarter 2025 revenue was $1.35 billion, up 20% year-over-year
  • Fiscal year 2025 revenue was $4.77 billion, up 19% year-over-year
  • Providing guidance for revenue in the range of $1.35 billion to $1.43 billion for the first fiscal quarter of 2026 and $5.7 billion to $6.1 billion for fiscal year 2026

HANOVER, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 11, 2025– Ciena® Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) today announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended November 1, 2025.

“Our record fiscal fourth quarter and full-year performance reinforces our position as the global leader in high-speed connectivity with an expanding role in the AI ecosystem,” said Gary Smith, president and CEO, Ciena. “Looking ahead, we are confident in our growth trajectory over the coming years, driven by durable demand from our cloud and service provider customers and a growing set of opportunities inside and around the data center.”

Performance Summary for Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year Ended November 1, 2025

Revenue:

  • $1.35 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter 2025, compared to $1.12 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter 2024
  • $4.77 billion in fiscal year 2025, compared to $4.01 billion in the fiscal year 2024

Net Income per diluted share:

  • $0.13 GAAP and $0.91 adjusted (non-GAAP) for the fiscal fourth quarter 2025, compared to $0.25 and $0.54 for fiscal fourth quarter 2024, respectively
  • $0.85 GAAP and $2.64 adjusted (non-GAAP) for fiscal year 2025, compared to $0.58 and $1.82 for fiscal year 2024, respectively

The tables below (in millions, except percentage data) provide comparisons of certain quarterly and annual results. Appendices A and B set forth reconciliations between the GAAP and adjusted (non-GAAP) measures contained in this release.

GAAP Results (unaudited)

Non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Period

Quarter Ended

Period

November 1,

November 2,

Change

November 1,

November 2,

Change

2025

2024

Y-T-Y*

2025

2024

Y-T-Y*

Revenue

$

1,352.0

$

1,124.1

20.3

%

$

1,352.0

$

1,124.1

20.3

%

Gross margin

42.7

%

40.9

%

1.8

%

43.4

%

41.6

%

1.8

%

Operating expense

$

566.7

$

400.8

41.4

%

$

408.7

$

354.9

15.2

%

Operating margin

0.8

%

5.3

%

(4.5

)%

13.2

%

10.0

%

3.2

%

EBITDA

$

47.8

$

93.0

(48.6

)%

$

205.5

$

136.7

50.3

%

GAAP Results (unaudited)

Non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

Year Ended

Period

Year Ended

Period

November 1,

November 2,

Change

November 1,

November 2,

Change

2025

2024

Y-T-Y*

2025

2024

Y-T-Y*

Revenue

$

4,769.5

$

4,014.9

18.8

%

$

4,769.5

$

4,014.9

18.8

%

Gross margin

42.0

%

42.8

%

(0.8

)%

42.7

%

43.6

%

(0.9

)%

Operating expense

$

1,807.4

$

1,553.0

16.4

%

$

1,505.8

$

1,361.7

10.6

%

Operating margin

4.1

%

4.1

%

%

11.2

%

9.7

%

1.5

%

EBITDA

$

337.9

$

300.1

12.6

%

$

636.7

$

481.0

32.4

%

* Denotes % change, or in the case of margin, absolute change

Business Outlook

“Our results reflect Ciena’s market momentum within a strong demand environment and our commitment to financial discipline, delivering strong top and bottom line performance that exceeded our guidance for the fourth quarter,” said Marc Graff, CFO of Ciena. “With our growing operating leverage and strong cash generation and balance sheet, we are well-positioned to deliver value for our customers and shareholders in 2026.”

Ciena expects fiscal year 2026 to include:

  • Revenue in the range of $5.7 billion to $6.1 billion
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin of 43% plus or minus 1%
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense of approximately $1.52 billion
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin of 17% plus or minus 1%

Ciena expects fiscal first quarter 2026 to include:

  • Revenue in the range of $1.35 billion to $1.43 billion
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin between 43% to 44%
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense of approximately $380 million
  • Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin between 15.5% and 16.5%

Statements relating to business outlook are forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially. These statements should be read in the context of the “Economic considerations and assumptions” in our accompanying Earnings Presentation and each of the “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Measurements” found in the Notes to Investors below.

Financial Highlights

  • Three customers represented 10%-plus of revenue for a total of 43.6% of revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter 2025.
  • Two customers represented 10%-plus of revenue for a total of 28.4% of revenue for the fiscal year 2025.
  • Average days’ sales outstanding (DSOs) were 77 and 88 for the fiscal fourth quarter and the fiscal year 2025, respectively.
  • Product inventory turns were 3.1 and 2.7 for the fiscal fourth quarter and the fiscal year 2025, respectively.
  • Repurchased approximately 0.7 million and 4.0 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $84.5 million and $329.7 million during fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025, respectively.

Financial Performance by Segment

Revenue by Segment (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

November 1, 2025

November 2, 2024

Revenue

%**

Revenue

%**

Networking Platforms

Optical Networking

$

929.2

68.7

$

779.6

69.4

Routing and Switching

118.4

8.8

79.4

7.0

Total Networking Platforms

1,047.6

77.5

859.0

76.4

Platform Software and Services

93.3

6.9

99.6

8.9

Blue Planet Automation Software and Services

33.8

2.5

23.5

2.1

Global Services 1

Maintenance, Support, and Learning

82.5

6.1

77.2

6.9

Implementation

74.3

5.5

51.4

4.5

Advisory and Enablement

20.5

1.5

13.4

1.2

Total Global Services

177.3

13.1

142.0

12.6

Total

$

1,352.0

100.0

$

1,124.1

100.0

Revenue by Segment (unaudited)

Year Ended

November 1, 2025

November 2, 2024

Revenue

%**

Revenue

%**

Networking Platforms

Optical Networking

$

3,246.3

68.1

$

2,642.6

65.8

Routing and Switching

430.1

9.0

399.5

10.0

Total Networking Platforms

3,676.4

77.1

3,042.1

75.8

Platform Software and Services

363.8

7.6

358.0

8.9

Blue Planet Automation Software and Services

115.5

2.4

77.6

2.0

Global Services 1

Maintenance, Support, and Learning

317.2

6.7

303.1

7.5

Implementation

246.1

5.2

184.3

4.6

Advisory and Enablement

50.5

1.0

49.8

1.2

Total Global Services

613.8

12.9

537.2

13.3

Total

$

4,769.5

100.0

$

4,014.9

100.0

** Denotes % of total revenue

1 Effective as of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Ciena renamed (i) its “Maintenance Support and Training” product line to “Maintenance, Support, and Learning”, (ii) its “Installation and Deployment” product line to “Implementation”, and (iii) its “Consulting and Network Design” product line to “Advisory and Enablement”. These changes, affecting only the presentation of such information, were made on a prospective basis and do not impact comparability of previous financial results. However, the references to the prior reported product lines have been changed herein to the new names above.

Supplemental Materials and Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

Today, Thursday, December 11, 2025, in conjunction with this announcement, Ciena has posted to the Quarterly Results page of the Investor Relations section of its website certain related supporting materials for its unaudited fiscal fourth quarter 2025 results.

Ciena’s management will also host a discussion today with investors and financial analysts that will include the Company’s outlook. The live audio web broadcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern will be accessible via www.ciena.com. An archived replay of the live broadcast will be available shortly following its conclusion on the Investor Relations page of Ciena’s website.

Notes to Investors

Forward-Looking Statements. You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, recent news, financial results, supplemental financial information, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, assumptions and other information available to the Company as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ciena’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will,” and “would” or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this release include the statements in the “Summary” and “Business Outlook” sections of this press release and “Our record fiscal fourth quarter and full-year performance underscores our focused execution and solidifies our position as a global leader in high-speed connectivity with an expanding role in the evolving AI ecosystem. Looking ahead, we are increasingly confident in our growth trajectory over the coming years, driven by accelerating, durable demand from our cloud and service provider customers and a growing set of opportunities inside and around the data center.” and “With our growing operating leverage, and strong cash generation and balance sheet, we are well-positioned to deliver value for our customers and shareholders in 2026.”

Ciena’s actual results, performance or events may differ materially from these forward-looking statements made or implied due to a number of risks and uncertainties relating to Ciena’s business, including: the effect of broader economic and market conditions on our business and that of our customers, including their spending; the development and use of artificial intelligence and its impact on overall networking technology spending; our ability to execute our business and growth strategies; supply chain constraints or disruptions including increased costs and lead times; the introduction of new technologies by us or our competitors; the timing and size of customer orders, their delivery dates and our ability to recognize revenue relating to such sales; the level of competitive pressure we encounter; the product, customer and geographic mix of sales within the period; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; factors beyond our control such as natural disasters, climate change, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical tensions or events, and public health emergencies, epidemics, or pandemics; changes in tax or trade regulations, including the imposition of tariffs, duties or efforts to withdraw from or materially modify international trade agreements; cyberattacks, data breaches or other security incidents involving our enterprise network environment or our products; regulatory changes, litigation involving our intellectual property or government investigations; and the other risk factors disclosed in Ciena’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including Ciena’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on September 4, 2025 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC. Ciena assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this press release.

Non-GAAP Presentation of Quarterly and Annual Results. This release includes non-GAAP measures of Ciena’s gross profit, operating expense, income from operations, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA, and measures of net income and net income per share. In evaluating the operating performance of Ciena’s business, management excludes certain charges and credits that are required by GAAP. These items share one or more of the following characteristics: they are unusual and Ciena does not expect them to recur in the ordinary course of its business; they do not involve the expenditure of cash; they are unrelated to the ongoing operation of the business in the ordinary course; or their magnitude and timing is largely outside of Ciena’s control. Management believes that the non-GAAP measures below provide management and investors useful information and meaningful insight to the operating performance of the business. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to Ciena’s GAAP results and these measures are not intended to be a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Ciena’s non-GAAP measures and the related adjustments may differ from non-GAAP measures used by other companies and should only be used to evaluate Ciena’s results of operations in conjunction with our corresponding GAAP results. To the extent not previously disclosed in a prior Ciena financial results press release, Appendices A and B to this press release set forth a complete GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures contained in this release.

With respect to Ciena’s expectations under “Business Outlook” above, Ciena is not able to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin and adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense guidance measures to the corresponding gross profit and gross profit percentage, and operating expense GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Ciena cannot provide meaningful estimates of the non-recurring charges and credits excluded from these non-GAAP measures due to the forward-looking nature of these estimates and their inherent variability and uncertainty. For the same reasons, Ciena is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

About Ciena. Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world’s most adaptive networks to support exponential growth in bandwidth demand. By harnessing the power of our networking systems, interconnects, automation software, and services, Ciena revolutionizes data transmission and network management. With unparalleled expertise and innovation, we empower our customers, partners, and communities to thrive in the AI era. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, X, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Year Ended

November 1,

November 2,

November 1,

November 2,

2025

2024

2025

2024

Revenue:

Products

$

1,092,451

$

892,425

$

3,822,618

$

3,159,021

Services

259,533

231,687

946,889

855,934

Total revenue

1,351,984

1,124,112

4,769,507

4,014,955

Cost of goods sold:

Products

630,150

545,580

2,250,966

1,861,317

Services

144,655

118,510

513,624

434,048

Total cost of goods sold

774,805

664,090

2,764,590

2,295,365

Gross profit

577,179

460,022

2,004,917

1,719,590

Operating expenses:

Research and development

228,900

195,960

848,329

767,497

Selling and marketing

156,420

136,919

581,331

510,668

General and administrative

67,257

58,143

238,707

220,647

Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

106,851

2,605

112,113

24,592

Amortization of intangible assets

6,112

7,185

25,758

29,569

Acquisition and integration costs

1,148

1,148

Total operating expenses

566,688

400,812

1,807,386

1,552,973

Income from operations

10,491

59,210

197,531

166,617

Interest and other income, net

14,349

13,801

48,888

50,261

Interest expense

(21,982

)

(24,990

)

(89,403

)

(97,028

)

Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt

(729

)

Income before income taxes

2,858

48,021

156,287

119,850

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(16,631

)

10,993

32,949

35,894

Net income

$

19,489

$

37,028

$

123,338

$

83,956

Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share

$

0.14

$

0.26

$

0.87

$

0.58

Diluted net income per potential common share

$

0.13

$

0.25

$

0.85

$

0.58

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

141,527

144,240

142,221

144,715

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding1

145,470

146,487

145,248

145,964

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating GAAP diluted net income per potential common share includes the following number of shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards: (i) 3.9 million and 3.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended fiscal 2025, respectively; and (ii) 2.2 million and 1.2 million for the fourth quarter and year ended fiscal 2024, respectively.

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

November 1,
2025

November 2,
2024

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,091,952

$

934,863

Short-term investments

216,148

316,343

Accounts receivable, net

975,856

908,597

Inventories, net

826,235

820,430

Prepaid expenses and other

455,316

564,183

Total current assets

3,565,507

3,544,416

Long-term investments

57,142

80,920

Equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, net

386,779

337,722

Operating lease right-of-use assets

38,613

27,417

Goodwill

521,204

444,707

Other intangible assets, net

224,210

165,020

Deferred tax asset, net

884,889

886,441

Other long-term assets

186,323

154,694

Total assets

$

5,864,667

$

5,641,337

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

542,841

$

423,401

Accrued liabilities and other short-term obligations

531,081

393,905

Deferred revenue

208,936

156,379

Operating lease liabilities

13,956

14,455

Current portion of long-term debt

11,580

11,700

Total current liabilities

1,308,394

999,840

Long-term deferred revenue

94,850

81,240

Other long-term obligations

175,426

185,938

Long-term operating lease liabilities

32,516

25,107

Long-term debt, net

1,524,158

1,533,074

Total liabilities

3,135,344

2,825,199

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock – par value $0.01; 20,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding

Common stock – par value $0.01; 290,000,000 shares authorized; 141,016,300 and 142,656,116 shares issued and outstanding

1,410

1,427

Additional paid-in capital

5,953,057

6,154,869

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(55,035

)

(46,711

)

Accumulated deficit

(3,170,109

)

(3,293,447

)

Total stockholders’ equity

2,729,323

2,816,138

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

5,864,667

$

5,641,337

CIENA CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Year Ended

November 1,

November 2,

2025

2024

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

Net income

$

123,338

$

83,956

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements

104,133

92,846

Abandonment of acquired in-process research and development

89,100

Share-based compensation expense

184,525

156,404

Amortization of intangible assets

36,205

40,624

Deferred taxes

(23,173

)

(76,810

)

Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence

48,424

77,341

Provision for warranty

24,442

25,643

Other

(736

)

11,768

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(98,743

)

80,313

Inventories

(53,602

)

153,021

Prepaid expenses and other

86,204

(198,910

)

Operating lease right-of-use assets

11,613

11,837

Accounts payable, accruals and other obligations

226,486

64,255

Deferred revenue

63,760

9,884

Short and long-term operating lease liabilities

(15,883

)

(17,640

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

806,093

514,532

Cash flows used in investing activities:

Payments for equipment, furniture, and fixtures

(140,801

)

(136,641

)

Purchases of investments

(214,162

)

(287,536

)

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments

348,579

140,836

Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts, net

(4,015

)

(1,454

)

Purchase of equity investments

(21,682

)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

(231,100

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(241,499

)

(306,477

)

Cash flows used in financing activities:

Proceeds for modification of debt, net

19,175

Cash paid for extinguishment of debt

(19,175

)

Payment of long term debt

(11,580

)

(11,700

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(12

)

(2,554

)

Payment of finance lease obligations

(4,380

)

(4,029

)

Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of stock unit awards

(91,315

)

(46,567

)

Repurchases of common stock – repurchase program, net

(334,507

)

(254,502

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

35,876

34,291

Net cash used in financing activities

(405,918

)

(285,061

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(1,505

)

1,246

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

157,171

(75,760

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

935,026

1,010,786

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,092,197

$

935,026

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

Cash paid during the period for interest, net

$

85,217

$

92,515

Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net

$

113,608

$

54,956

Operating lease payments

$

17,840

$

19,452

Non-cash investing and financing activities

Purchase of equipment in accounts payable

$

17,449

$

14,682

Repurchase of common stock in accrued liabilities from repurchase program, net

$

2,579

$

6,172

Operating right-of-use assets subject to lease liability

$

23,586

$

6,912

APPENDIX A – Reconciliation of Adjusted (Non- GAAP) Measurements

(in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Year Ended

November 1,

November 2,

November 1,

November 2,

2025

2024

2025

2024

Gross Profit Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP gross profit

$

577,179

$

460,022

$

2,004,917

$

1,719,590

Share-based compensation-products

1,964

1,736

7,774

6,474

Share-based compensation-services

3,857

3,257

15,184

12,743

Amortization of intangible assets

3,750

2,764

10,447

11,055

Total adjustments related to gross profit

9,571

7,757

33,405

30,272

Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit

$

586,750

$

467,779

$

2,038,322

$

1,749,862

Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross profit percentage

43.4

%

41.6

%

42.7

%

43.6

%

Operating Expense Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP operating expense

$

566,688

$

400,812

$

1,807,386

$

1,552,973

Share-based compensation-research and development

16,274

14,065

64,281

54,129

Share-based compensation-sales and marketing

13,543

11,168

52,066

42,954

Share-based compensation-general and administrative

13,248

10,842

45,424

40,053

Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

106,851

2,605

112,113

24,592

Amortization of intangible assets

6,112

7,185

25,758

29,569

Acquisition and integration costs

1,148

1,148

Holdback arrangement

802

802

Total adjustments related to operating expense

157,978

45,865

301,592

191,297

Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense

$

408,710

$

354,947

$

1,505,794

$

1,361,676

Income from Operations Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP income from operations

$

10,491

$

59,210

$

197,531

$

166,617

Total adjustments related to gross profit

9,571

7,757

33,405

30,272

Total adjustments related to operating expense

157,978

45,865

301,592

191,297

Total adjustments related to income from operations

167,549

53,622

334,997

221,569

Adjusted (non-GAAP) income from operations

$

178,040

$

112,832

$

532,528

$

388,186

Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin percentage

13.2

%

10.0

%

11.2

%

9.7

%

Net Income Reconciliation (GAAP/non-GAAP)

GAAP net income

$

19,489

$

37,028

$

123,338

$

83,956

Exclude GAAP provision (benefit) for income taxes

(16,631

)

10,993

32,949

35,894

Income before income taxes

2,858

48,021

156,287

119,850

Total adjustments related to income from operations

167,549

53,622

334,997

221,569

Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt

729

Adjusted income before income taxes

170,407

101,643

492,013

341,419

Non-GAAP tax provision on adjusted income before income taxes

37,490

22,361

108,243

75,112

Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income

$

132,917

$

79,282

$

383,770

$

266,307

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

141,527

144,240

142,221

144,715

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding 1

145,470

146,487

145,248

145,964

Net Income per Common Share

GAAP diluted net income per potential common share

$

0.13

$

0.25

$

0.85

$

0.58

Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share

$

0.91

$

0.54

$

2.64

$

1.82

Weighted average dilutive potential common shares outstanding used in calculating Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted net income per potential common share includes the following number of shares underlying certain stock option and stock unit awards: (i) 3.9 million and 3.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended fiscal 2025; and (ii) 2.2 million and 1.2 million for the fourth quarter and year ended fiscal 2024.

APPENDIX B – Calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands) (unaudited)

Quarter Ended

Year Ended

November 1,

November 2,

November 1,

November 2,

2025

2024

2025

2024

Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)

Net income (GAAP)

$

19,489

$

37,028

$

123,338

$

83,956

Add: Interest expense

21,982

24,990

89,403

97,028

Less: Interest and other income, net

14,349

13,801

48,888

50,261

Add: Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt

729

Add: Provision (benefit) for income taxes

(16,631

)

10,993

32,949

35,894

Add: Depreciation of equipment, building, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements

27,496

23,849

104,133

92,846

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

9,862

9,949

36,205

40,624

EBITDA

$

47,849

$

93,008

$

337,869

$

300,087

Add: Share-based compensation expense

48,886

41,068

184,729

156,353

Add: Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs

106,851

2,605

112,113

24,592

Add: Acquisition and integration costs

1,148

1,148

Add: Holdback arrangement

802

802

Adjusted EBITDA

$

205,536

$

136,681

$

636,661

$

481,032

* * *

The adjusted (non-GAAP) measures above and their reconciliation to Ciena’s GAAP results for the periods presented reflect adjustments relating to the following items:

  • Share-based compensation – a non-cash expense incurred in accordance with share-based compensation accounting guidance.
  • Significant asset impairments and restructuring costs – non-recurring costs primarily reflecting expenses associated with significant impairment or abandonment of assets and actions Ciena has taken to restructure our business, including reductions in force, facility optimization, and the redesign of business processes. For the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2025, this also includes a charge of $89.1 million related to the abandonment of an in-process R&D intangible asset.
  • Amortization of intangible assets – a non-cash expense arising from the acquisition of intangible assets, principally developed technologies and customer-related intangibles, that Ciena is required to amortize over an expected useful life.
  • Acquisition and integration costs – consists of financial, legal, and accounting advisors and employee-related costs related to our acquisition of Nubis Communications, Inc. during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.
  • Holdback arrangement – reflects a one-time holdback of a portion of the merger consideration otherwise payable at closing to certain key employee shareholders of Nubis Communications, Inc. who became employees of Ciena, which is treated as contingent compensation for GAAP reporting purposes. These transaction-related amounts are not part of Ciena’s standard compensation and benefits.
  • Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt – reflects extinguishment and debt modification expenses related to refinancing our term loan during the first quarter of fiscal 2025.
  • Non-GAAP tax provision – consists of current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the level of adjusted income before income taxes and utilizes a current, blended U.S. and foreign statutory annual tax rate of 22.0% for all fiscal periods of fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024. This rate may be subject to change in the future, including as a result of changes in tax policy or tax strategy. The Non-GAAP tax provision excludes the impact of a $21.6 million tax benefit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 related to the expiration of the statute of limitations on previously uncertain tax positions.

Press Contact: Jamie Moody
Ciena Corporation
+1 (214) 995-8035
pr@ciena.com

Investor Contact: Gregg Lampf
Ciena Corporation
+1 (410) 694-5700
ir@ciena.com

Source: Ciena Corporation