Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call December 11, 2025 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsScott McFeely - Executive AdvisorGregg Lampf - VP of Investor RelationsGary Smith - CEOMarc Graff - CFOConference Call ParticipantsRuben Roy - Managing Director and Equity Research AnalystGeorge Notter - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystSimon Leopold - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystAtif Malik - Managing Director and Specialty Semiconductors AnalystSamik Chatterjee - Managing Dir ...

Key Takeaways Ciena expects Q4 revenues of $1.24-$1.32B, fueled by diversified cloud and service demand.Solid orders, AI-driven spending and uptake of RLS, routing and interconnect tools drive growth.Blue Planet, Global Services, and Platform Software and Services are set to post strong revenue gains.Ciena Corporation (CIEN) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Dec. 11, before market open.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 76 cents per share, unchanged in the past ...

Core Insights - Ciena Corporation has agreed to acquire Nubis Communications for $270 million in cash, enhancing its capabilities in scalable, low-latency interconnect technologies essential for AI workloads [1][10] Acquisition Details - The acquisition adds Nubis' advanced optical and electrical interconnect technologies to Ciena's portfolio and brings in over 50 engineering specialists [2] - Nubis' optical modules provide ultra-fast data transfer with up to 6.4 Tb/s bandwidth, designed for low latency and energy efficiency, which is crucial for AI systems [3] - Nubis' analog electronics improve copper connectivity, supporting 200 Gb/s per lane over distances up to 4 meters, thus enabling more AI accelerators to connect without existing technology limitations [4] Strategic Benefits - By integrating Nubis' technologies, Ciena can offer a comprehensive range of high-speed interconnects, reducing development costs and accelerating innovation [5] - The deal is expected to close in Q4 fiscal 2025 and will expand Ciena's high-speed connectivity portfolio, while also implementing employee retention strategies to secure Nubis' talent [6] Market Position and Growth - Ciena is experiencing strong market momentum driven by AI traffic and increased customer spending, with a projected revenue growth of around 17% for fiscal 2026 [7] - The total addressable market for Ciena is expected to reach $13 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 26%, with significant opportunities in pluggables and component technologies [8] - A major hyperscaler has placed a large order for 400ZR+, positioning Ciena as a lead supplier and supporting expectations of doubling interconnect revenues in fiscal 2025 [8] R&D Focus - Ciena has shifted its R&D focus towards Coherent Optical, Interconnects, Routing, and DCOM, ceasing development on 25G PON, which will incur a noncash charge of approximately $90 million [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was $1,130,000,000, at the high end of guidance, reflecting strong demand across customer segments and geographic regions [6][16] - Adjusted gross margin was 41%, consistent with guidance, impacted by product mix and tariffs [16][17] - Adjusted operating margin was 8.2%, with adjusted net income of $61,000,000 and adjusted EPS of $0.42 [18] - Cash from operations was $157,000,000, with approximately $1,350,000,000 in cash and investments at the end of the quarter [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from cloud providers reached over $400,000,000, accounting for 38% of total revenue, growing 85% year over year [6][7] - The optical business performed well, with 24 new WaveLogic six Extreme customers added, totaling 49 customers [19] - Blue Planet achieved record quarterly revenue of just under $30,000,000, reflecting successful transformation efforts [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orders in Q2 were significantly greater than revenue, with cloud provider orders expected to double in fiscal 2025 compared to the previous year [8][9] - Service provider investments in high-speed infrastructure are becoming more durable, with growth seen across core optical transport, routing, and switching [13] - MOFIN activity reached an all-time record in the first half of fiscal 2025, indicating strong support for the nexus between service providers and cloud providers [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its market opportunity within data centers, emphasizing high-speed connectivity as critical [15][16] - The strategy includes deploying a full portfolio of products to address growing demand, particularly in AI infrastructure [9][10] - The company aims to maintain a competitive advantage through its WaveLogic technology, which is expected to lead the market for 18 to 24 months [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued growth driven by strong demand dynamics and favorable market conditions [15][24] - The company anticipates a revenue growth of approximately 14% for fiscal 2025, with adjusted gross margins expected at the lower end of the previously assumed range [24][22] - Management acknowledged the dynamic tariff environment but expects the net effect on the bottom line to be immaterial going forward [22][104] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 1,200,000 shares for $84,000,000 during the quarter, with plans to repurchase approximately $330,000,000 in total for the fiscal year [18] - The upcoming retirement of CFO Jim Moylan was acknowledged, marking the end of his 18-year tenure with the company [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the linearity of orders with cloud customers this quarter? - Management noted strong order flows in Q1 that continued and accelerated in Q2, with both service providers and cloud players showing sustained momentum [30][31] Question: What are the assumptions for growth in cloud versus telco for the year? - Management indicated that scaling demand would likely lead to increased backlog entering fiscal 2026, with strong visibility into future orders [56][58] Question: Can you provide details on the contributions from top customers? - The largest customer was a cloud provider at approximately 13.4% of revenue, with the second being AT&T at 10.4% [46][52] Question: How do you view the sustainability of cloud growth beyond fiscal 2025? - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of cloud growth, citing a broadening application base and increasing engagement from various cloud providers [49][50] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins given the product mix? - Management acknowledged that product mix impacts gross margins, but they remain confident in achieving mid-40s percentage gross margins in the long term [34][86] Question: Can you elaborate on the MOFIN opportunities and pipeline? - Management reported strong MOFIN activity globally, indicating significant traction in North America and Europe, alongside ongoing projects in India [88][90]