Industry Overview - The communication technology sector has experienced significant growth, with leading companies in the industry seeing triple-digit percentage increases year-to-date [2] - Prior to the second half of the year, this sector had received little attention compared to semiconductors, quantum computing, and other industries [3] Drivers of Growth - The explosive adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has created a substantial demand for high-speed, scalable optical networking infrastructure [4] - Hyperscalers and cloud giants are rapidly building AI-optimized data centers, leading to a massive surge in orders for communication equipment [4] Company Performance - Ciena Corporation, Lumentum Holdings, and Coherent Corporation are benefiting from this demand, supplying critical infrastructure for interconnecting GPUs used in AI applications [4] - Ciena reported adjusted EPS of 67 cents in Q3, exceeding estimates of 53 cents, and generated $1.21 billion in revenue, also surpassing expectations [7] - Notably, non-telco customers accounted for 53% of Ciena's total revenue, indicating a shift towards cloud providers [7] Market Outlook - The current growth and guidance increases across the sector suggest a multi-year expansion driven by AI, potentially leading to unprecedented revenue and stock price levels [5] - Despite high price-to-earnings ratios, strong forward earnings and expanding margins indicate sustained long-term potential for companies in this sector [8]

Scout Investments, Inc., an affiliate of Carillon Tower Advisers, recently released its third-quarter 2025 investor letter for “Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Russell Midcap Index posted positive returns in the quarter, fueled by strong corporate earnings, the continued momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, and the anticipation of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rates. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know ...

Stock Recommendations & Analysis - Morgan Stanley benefits from wealth management, asset management, trading, investment banking, IPOs, and M&A, driving its stock price higher [2] - Sienna (CEN) has become an AI darling, with a well-defined downside around $172-$173, suggesting a stop-loss point [3] - Baker Hughes is technically one of the best stocks in the market, fundamentally improving going into Q1, and is underowned [6] Market Trends & Observations - The market is currently underweight in energy stocks [8] - Concerns about oversupply, particularly in natural gas, are impacting energy investments [9] - Natural gas is expected to fuel AI-related power needs, presenting an opportunity for investors to add to their positions [10] - SoftBank has declined approximately 40% since October 29th, reflecting concerns about a potential stumble in the AI narrative [19] Investment Strategies & Risk Management - Risk management is crucial, especially considering past experiences with high-growth stocks like Sienna [17] - CNBC Pro includes stop losses for both traders and investors [16] - Hedging activity is observed against SoftBank's $18 billion corporate debt offering [19] Company Comparisons & Contrasts - Sienna and Cisco share fundamental drivers related to data centers and AI infrastructure buildout [12] - Sienna is considered the high-beta little brother of Cisco, with significantly higher revenue growth (294% last quarter) [13]

分组1: Morgan Stanley - Morgan Stanley is positioned to benefit from a year-end rally due to its involvement in wealth management, asset management, trading, investment banking, IPOs, and M&A [2][6] - The stock had previously experienced a 9-point drawdown from a recent record high, but is now seen as a strong buy opportunity [1][2] 分组2: Sienna - Sienna has emerged as a key player in the AI sector, showing significant revenue growth of 29.4% last quarter [12][13] - The stock is currently in a breakout phase, with a defined downside level around 172-173, making it a favorable investment as long as it remains above this threshold [3][4] 分组3: Baker Hughes - Baker Hughes is noted for its underownership in the market, with a year-to-date increase of 19% and a 12% rise over the past year [7][8] - The company is expected to benefit from a potential bottoming of the declining rig count, which could lead to significant price appreciation [5][6] 分组4: Energy Sector - The energy sector, particularly natural gas, is viewed as underowned, presenting an opportunity for investors to increase their positions [9][10] - There is a growing recognition of the importance of natural gas in supporting AI infrastructure, which could drive demand and investment in this area [10][11]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]

Core Insights - Ciena's shares increased by 9.2% to close at $194.7, driven by higher trading volume compared to typical sessions, contrasting with a 0.4% loss over the past four weeks [1] - The surge in share price is linked to rising AI-driven demand, record orders in AI infrastructure, and data center management, with expectations of 17% revenue growth in fiscal 2026 [2] Financial Performance - Ciena is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.76 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 40.7%, with revenues expected to reach $1.28 billion, up 14.1% from the previous year [3] - The consensus EPS estimate for Ciena has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating stability in earnings expectations [4] Market Position - Ciena holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong market confidence, while Ooma, another company in the same industry, has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][5] - The company is focusing on high-speed optical and interconnect solutions, with cloud providers projected to spend over $7 trillion on AI by 2030, enhancing networking opportunities [2]

Core Insights - The Madison Small Cap Fund experienced a challenging third quarter in 2025, with a decline of 1.3%, underperforming its benchmarks due to stock selection and a speculative market environment [1] Fund Performance - The small-cap index's performance was broad-based, indicating widespread challenges across the sector [1] - The fund's top five holdings were highlighted as key picks for 2025, although specific details were not provided in the summary [1] Ciena Corporation Analysis - Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) was noted as a significant investment, with a one-month return of -2.34% and a remarkable 154.00% increase over the past 52 weeks, closing at $178.26 per share with a market capitalization of $25.2 billion [2] - Ciena is positioned as a beneficiary of the capital spending boom in AI, although the fund's overall tech investments underperformed compared to the Russell 2000's tech stocks, which rose by 15% [3] AI Market Concerns - There is a prevailing fear among investors regarding the potential disruption of software business models by AI, leading to multiple compression across the software sector [3] - The company argues that fears of AI replacing critical software applications are exaggerated, citing that 60% of AI-generated answers are incorrect and that 95% of recent AI enterprise projects are failing, which undermines the notion of AI as a replacement for established systems [3]

Group 1: Celestica (CLS.US) - Citigroup upgraded Celestica's rating from "Hold" to "Buy" with a target price of $375 [1] - Analyst Atif Malik forecasts a 75% increase in capital expenditure from five major companies, including Oracle, in 2025, followed by a 40% increase in 2026 [1] - Expected growth for Celestica's communication business is projected at 77% in 2025 and 41% in 2026, with EPS estimates raised by 5% and 22% for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 respectively [1] - Celestica operates two main divisions: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity and Cloud Solutions (CCS), with most revenue coming from the CCS division [1] Group 2: Ciena (CIEN.US) - Citigroup raised Ciena's target price significantly from $141 to $230 [2] - Ciena's data center business is experiencing strong growth momentum following Verizon's announcement to connect to Amazon's cloud service data centers [2] - Ciena specializes in optical transmission technology, serving a diverse range of clients including telecom service providers, network scale providers, cable operators, government entities, and large enterprises [2]

Core Insights - Fidium is deploying Ciena's optical technology to enhance its DASH fiber network, enabling next-generation wavelength services up to 400G across major Texas cities [1][2][3] - The collaboration aims to meet the increasing bandwidth demands of various customers, including enterprises and data centers, while ensuring high-performance data center interconnect solutions [2][4] Company Overview - Fidium is a leading provider of fiber and advanced high-capacity solutions, serving over 700 communities nationwide and recognized as one of the top 10 fiber networks by route miles [5][6][7] - The company is focused on delivering reliable, high-speed internet and network services, emphasizing a customer-first approach and continuous innovation [6][7] Technology and Infrastructure - The DASH network connects to more than 65 on-net and 40 near-net data centers in Texas, with ongoing expansion to accommodate rising demand for high-capacity, low-latency routes [3][4] - Fidium is utilizing Ciena's 6500 Reconfigurable Line System and WaveLogic coherent optics to provide up to 800Gbps per wavelength, with future scalability to 1.6Tb/s [4] Market Position and Growth - Texas is identified as one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in the U.S., and Fidium's collaboration with Ciena is positioned to support the region's infrastructure needs [4] - The partnership is expected to drive innovation and economic growth in Texas by delivering a scalable and adaptive network [4]

Core Insights - The Zacks Communication - Components industry is positioned to benefit from strong demand trends and a growing user inclination towards digital innovations, despite facing challenges such as price volatility and geopolitical tensions [1][7]. Industry Overview - The industry consists of companies providing telecom products and services aimed at developing scalable network architecture, including small cells, routers, antennas, and various connectivity products [3]. - Key products include optical and copper connectivity solutions, hybrid fiber-coaxial equipment, and devices for cable TV operators, among others [3]. Future Trends - Network convergence is a significant trend, with operators integrating voice, video, and data communications into single networks, supported by ongoing R&D investments [4]. - The industry is expected to benefit from a software-driven, data-centric approach, enhancing cloud architecture and user experience, particularly with fiber networks supporting 5G deployment [5]. Demand Dynamics - There is a robust demand for quality networking components driven by increased network usage among consumers and enterprises, alongside changing data consumption patterns favoring video content [6]. - The shift from copper to optical networks is creating strong demand for optical solutions, particularly in data centers [6]. Profitability Challenges - Short-term profitability is under pressure due to high infrastructure investments, technological obsolescence, and elevated operating costs [7]. - Geopolitical factors, including tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, have led to increased raw material prices, further impacting margins [7]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Communication - Components industry ranks 30 within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, indicating strong prospects as it outperforms the S&P 500 and the sector [8][10]. - Over the past year, the industry has seen a 106% increase, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 22.3% rise [10]. Valuation Metrics - The industry currently trades at a trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 6.12, below the S&P 500's 7.49 and the sector's 11.85 [13]. Notable Companies - **Corning Incorporated (GLW)**: Experienced an 85% stock surge over the past year, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 18.2% and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [16][17]. - **Ciena Corporation (CIEN)**: Achieved a 199.7% stock increase, with a long-term earnings growth expectation of 47.6% and a focus on optical networking solutions [20][21]. - **Ooma, Inc. (OOMA)**: Focuses on cloud-based communications and has seen a 15.9% earnings surprise on average over the past four quarters, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [25][26].