COMPARE · Reviewed August 3, 2026
CIEN vs MSI
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. CIEN scored 59.6, MSI scored 57.2 — CIEN leads.
Compare another set
CIEN
Ciena Corporation
59.6
$390.76 · $55.3B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
2.4
CIEN leads
MSI
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
57.2
$437.19 · $72.6B
fundamentals as of
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
CIEN
stronger →← stronger
MSI
62
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
83
84
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
79
41
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
29
CIEN is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
CIEN
MSI
$833mC+
FCF
$2.5bB
+30.6%A
Rev
+8.3%B
0.55C+
D/E
3.74D
129.4xD
P/E
35.2xB
0.65A-
PEG
2.35C
Winner per row is the stronger grade in our model; a tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
CIEN
MSI
255% above
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
55% above
~50%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~17%/yr
-78%
1-yr DCF upside
-40%
-72%
5-yr DCF upside
-35%
-59%
10-yr DCF upside
-27%
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
CIEN
No notable signals flagged.
MSI
Why this score
- Raising its dividend
- Durable high returns
The companies
CIENCiena Corporation
Why now
Communication Equipment · market cap $55.3b. Down 39% from 52-week high of $637.51 — deep drawdown territory. Revenue growing +31% — in hypergrowth territory. PEG 0.65 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 19 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $565.71 (implying +45% upside).
Moat
ROE 15% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 190% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined. $55.3b market cap gives the company enough scale to absorb fixed costs that subscale competitors can't, without yet being so large that growth has to come from acquisition.
Risk
Trailing P/E 129.4x prices in sustained high growth — any quarter that disappoints triggers sharp re-rating. Down 39% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
MSIMotorola Solutions, Inc.
Why now
Communication Equipment · market cap $72.6b. 11% off the 52-week high of $492.22. 11 sell-side analysts publish a mean 1-yr target of $507.00 (implying +16% upside).
Moat
Net margin 18% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent. ROE 82% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which. FCF converts 119% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
D/E 3.74 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Trailing P/E 35x sits well above the S&P median (~20x) — multiple compression is a real risk if revenue growth decelerates.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.