BofA Downgrades Ciena (CIEN) to Neutral Citing Peaking Backlog and High Valuation After 200% Surge

Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) is one of the best US stocks to buy and hold in 2026. On January 20, Bank of America analyst Tal Liani downgraded Ciena to Neutral from Buy with an unchanged price target of $260. Although there is potential for further revenue growth, the firm is prioritizing caution due to downside risks such as peaking backlog levels, inflated expectations, and a steep valuation following Ciena’s 200% stock surge over the past year. In Q4 2025, Ciena Corporation (NYSE:CIEN) achieved $1.35 ...