Ciena Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Summary

• Fiscal second quarter 2026 revenue was $1.57 billion, up 40% year-over-year
• Fiscal second quarter 2026 adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) was $1.64, an increase of 290% compared to fiscal second quarter 2025
• Providing revenue guidance for fiscal third quarter 2026 of $1.625 billion plus or minus $50 million
• Raising revenue guidance for fiscal year 2026 to $6.3 billion plus or minus $100 million, a 32% increase YoY at the midpoint

Ciena^® Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) today announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended May 2, 2026.

"Today's results reflect the strength of our portfolio, the power of our business model, and disciplined execution in a dynamic supply environment," said Gary Smith, president and CEO, Ciena. "Our long-term strategy to be the global leader in high-speed connectivity - both across the WAN and in and around the data center - is tightly aligned to the structural, multi-year opportunities created by AI-driven demand, positioning us to capitalize on market dynamics and drive sustained, profitable growth."

"We delivered strong fiscal second quarter results, marked by significant year-over-year revenue growth, adjusted gross margin expansion, and nearly fourfold growth in adjusted earnings per share," said Marc Graff, Ciena's Chief Financial Officer. "Our demonstrated ability to drive operating leverage gives us confidence in continued earnings expansion and long-term value creation for customers and shareholders."

Performance Summary for Fiscal Second Quarter Ended May 2, 2026

Revenue:

• $1.57 billion in the fiscal second quarter 2026, compared to $1.13 billion in the fiscal second quarter 2025

Net Income per diluted share:

• $1.49 GAAP and $1.64 adjusted (non-GAAP) for the fiscal second quarter 2026, compared to $0.06 and $0.42 for fiscal second quarter 2025, respectively

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

Business Outlook

Ciena expects fiscal third quarter 2026 to include:

• Revenue of $1.625B billion plus or minus $50 million
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin in the range of 45% plus or minus 50 bps
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense in the range of $410 million plus or minus $10 million
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin between 19% and 20%

Ciena expects fiscal year 2026 to include:

• Revenue of $6.3 billion plus or minus $100 million
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) gross margin between 44.5% and 45%
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense in the range of $1.61 billion plus or minus $20 million
• Adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin in the range of 19% plus or minus 50bps

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 "Key assumptions underlying our outlook" 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 for the Fiscal Second Quarter 2026

• Two customers represented 10%-plus of revenue for a total of 34.0% of revenue.
• Average days' sales outstanding (DSOs) were 71.
• Inventory turns were 3.6.
• Repurchased approximately 0.2 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $83.1 million under the $1 billion share repurchase program.

Financial Performance by Segment

Supplemental Materials and Live Web Broadcast of Unaudited Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Results

Today, Thursday, June 4, 2026, 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 second quarter 2026 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 "Business Outlook" section of this press release and "Today's results reflect the strength of our portfolio, the power of our business model, and disciplined execution in a dynamic supply environment. Our long-term strategy to be the global leader in high-speed connectivity - both across the WAN and in and around the data center - is tightly aligned to the structural, multi-year opportunities created by AI-driven demand, positioning us to capitalize on market dynamics and drive sustained, profitable growth. We delivered strong fiscal second quarter results, marked by significant year-over-year revenue growth, adjusted gross margin expansion, and nearly fourfold growth in adjusted earnings per share. Our demonstrated ability to drive operating leverage gives us confidence in continued earnings expansion and long-term value creation for customers and shareholders."

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 fulfill and 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 its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 and included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 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, adjusted (non-GAAP) operating expense, and adjusted (non-GAAP) operating margin guidance measures to the corresponding gross margin, operating expense, and operating margin 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 is the global leader in high-speed connectivity. We build the world's most advanced 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.

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 actions Ciena has taken to restructure our business, including reductions in force, facility optimization, and the redesign of business processes.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 20% for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and 22% for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. This rate may be subject to change in the future, including as a result of changes in tax policy or tax strategy.

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Press Contact:

Jamie Moody

Ciena Corporation

+1 (410) 694-5761

pr@ciena.com

Investor Contact:

Gregg Lampf

Ciena Corporation

+1 (410) 694-5700

ir@ciena.com