Is CIEN or MSI cheaper?

On trailing earnings, MSI is cheaper: CIEN trades at a 154.50 P/E and MSI at 32.28.

Which has grown faster, CIEN or MSI?

Over the past five years, CIEN grew revenue faster — CIEN at a 10.39% CAGR versus MSI at 9.52%.

Does CIEN or MSI pay a bigger dividend?

MSI pays a dividend (1.18% yield) while CIEN does not currently pay one.

Is CIEN or MSI more profitable?

MSI runs the higher net margin — CIEN at 7.87% versus MSI at 17.61%.

Which has been the better investment, CIEN or MSI?

Over the past 10-year, CIEN delivered the higher annualized total return — CIEN at 37.56% versus MSI at 21.81%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Ciena Corporation (CIEN) vs Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI)

MSI leads on 13 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Ciena Corporation and Motorola Solutions, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 25, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

$66.50B

$400.60Technology

Total return — CIEN vs MSI

growth of $100 · last 29y

CIEN +257.9%MSI +389.5%MSI compounded faster

CIEN MSI

CIEN vs MSI: by the numbers

•MSI is the larger company ($66.50B vs $65.61B market cap).
•MSI trades at the lower earnings multiple (32.28 vs 154.50 P/E).
•MSI converts more revenue to profit (17.61% vs 7.87% net margin).
•CIEN grew revenue faster over the past five years (10.39% vs 9.52% CAGR).
•MSI pays a dividend (1.18% yield) while CIEN does not currently pay one.

Which is better, CIEN or MSI?

Metric tally: CIEN 3 · MSI 13

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueMSI(lower P/E)

GrowthCIEN(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

QualityMSI(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	CIEN	MSI
P/E ratio	154.50	32.28●
Forward P/E	71.00	23.62●
P/S ratio	12.18	5.67●
P/B ratio	23.45●	26.45
PEG ratio	4.37	0.81●
EV / EBITDA	93.54	20.87●
FCF yield	1.23%	3.70%●

Profitability

Metric	CIEN	MSI
Gross margin	43.05%	49.28%●
Operating margin	11.18%	24.84%●
Net margin	7.87%	17.61%●
ROE	15.15%	82.15%●
ROIC	5.35%	15.89%●

Dividends

Metric	CIEN	MSI
Dividend yield	—	1.18%
Payout ratio	—	36.50%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CIEN	MSI
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	10.39%●	9.52%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-17.95%	18.30%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	11.11%	11.35%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	51.73%●	14.65%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CIEN or MSI?: It depends on your goal. value: MSI (lower P/E); growth: CIEN (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); quality: MSI (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, MSI leads 13 to 3.
Is CIEN or MSI cheaper?: On trailing earnings, MSI is cheaper: CIEN trades at a 154.50 P/E and MSI at 32.28.
Which has grown faster, CIEN or MSI?: Over the past five years, CIEN grew revenue faster — CIEN at a 10.39% CAGR versus MSI at 9.52%.
Does CIEN or MSI pay a bigger dividend?: MSI pays a dividend (1.18% yield) while CIEN does not currently pay one.
Is CIEN or MSI more profitable?: MSI runs the higher net margin — CIEN at 7.87% versus MSI at 17.61%.
Which has been the better investment, CIEN or MSI?: Over the past 10-year, CIEN delivered the higher annualized total return — CIEN at 37.56% versus MSI at 21.81%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CIEN analysis Full MSI analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Ciena P/E ratio Motorola Solutions P/E ratio Ciena dividend yield Motorola Solutions dividend yield Ciena ROE Motorola Solutions ROE Ciena operating margin Motorola Solutions operating margin Ciena revenue growth Motorola Solutions revenue growth Ciena free cash flow Motorola Solutions free cash flow

Ciena & Motorola Solutions appear in these rankings

Highest ROE Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 25, 2026.