Ciena(US:CIEN)2025-12-11 14:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record fiscal fourth quarter revenue of $1.35 billion, up 20% year-over-year, and full year revenue of $4.77 billion, a 19% increase from the previous year [9][35] - Earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 was $0.91, reflecting a 69% increase year-over-year, while full year EPS was $2.64, up 45% from fiscal 2024 [10][41] - Record orders for the year reached $7.8 billion, contributing to a backlog of approximately $5 billion entering fiscal 2026 [10][37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The optical business grew 19% year-over-year, driven by a 72% increase in RLS [35] - Routing and switching business saw a 49% year-over-year growth, with significant contributions from the 3000 and 5000 series products [35] - Global services revenue increased by 25% year-over-year, with advisory and enablement services growing 53% and installation implementation services growing 45% [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand from cloud customers, particularly hyperscalers, is accelerating, with service provider orders up nearly 70% for the year [15][16] - The company’s optical market share has increased by two points year-to-date, with expectations for further gains in 2026 [16] - The in and around data center opportunities grew threefold from 2024 to 2025, indicating a significant market expansion [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on high-speed connectivity technologies, particularly in the AI ecosystem, to serve cloud and service provider customers [10][11] - Investments are being made to expand capacity and meet increasing demand, with a commitment to flat operating expenses in 2026 while investing in new opportunities [34][44] - The company anticipates a robust growth trajectory driven by AI-related infrastructure investments, with expected revenue for fiscal 2026 between $5.7 billion and $6.1 billion [42][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the durability of demand and the financial trajectory, citing strong market dynamics and technology leadership [29][47] - The company is navigating supply chain challenges and is proactively expanding capacity to meet unprecedented demand [17][76] - Management highlighted the importance of network scaling for cloud providers, emphasizing that the network is becoming a critical factor for operationalizing AI [91] Other Important Information - The company completed a cash purchase of Nubis Communications to enhance its interconnects portfolio [34] - Adjusted gross margin for Q4 was 43.4%, with expectations for year-over-year improvements [38] - The company plans to repurchase approximately $330 million in shares under its stock repurchase authorization plan [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance and New Use Cases - The new opportunities discussed are included in the guidance, with a significant increase in revenue from in and around data center projects [50] Question: Scale-across Opportunities - Discussions with hyperscalers are ongoing, with initial wins expanding to multiple sites, indicating substantial revenue potential [51][52] Question: Timeline for New Hyperscaler Engagements - Revenue from new hyperscalers is expected to begin in 2026, with significant scaling anticipated in 2027 and 2028 [61] Question: Supply Constraints - The company is facing constraints primarily in photonics parts and is working closely with suppliers to secure supply [76][78] Question: Margin Sustainability - The company expects ongoing multi-year gross margin expansion, driven by improved operational efficiencies and customer value realization [96][97]