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Ciena Corporation (NYSE: CIEN) reported its fiscal third quarter 2024 financial results, showcasing a mixed performance. The company’s revenue for the quarter ended July 27, 2024, was $942.3 million, a significant drop from $1.07 billion in the same period last year. Despite this decline, Ciena’s gross margin improved slightly to 42.9% from 42.0% year-over-year. The company’s GAAP net income was $14.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted common share, compared to $29.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share, in the prior year.

Ciena’s adjusted net income for the fiscal third quarter 2024 was $50.8 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share, down from $89.1 million, or $0.59 per diluted common share, in the same quarter last year. The company also repurchased approximately 0.6 million shares of common stock for an aggregate price of $29.0 million during the quarter.

Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena, highlighted the company’s growing momentum with cloud providers and a gradual recovery with service providers, emphasizing that Ciena is well-positioned for future growth.

Ciena Corporation Beats EPS Expectations by $0.10 in Fiscal Q3 2024

Ciena’s fiscal third quarter results were somewhat mixed when compared to market expectations. Analysts had anticipated an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.25, whereas Ciena delivered a higher adjusted EPS of $0.35. This performance exceeded expectations by $0.10 per share.

However, on the revenue front, Ciena fell short of the anticipated $927.46 million, reporting $942.3 million instead. While this represents a slight outperformance in terms of revenue, it is still a significant year-over-year decline from $1.07 billion.

The decline in revenue was observed across various segments. Networking Platforms revenue dropped to $699.5 million from $846.6 million, with Optical Networking and Routing and Switching segments experiencing declines.

Conversely, the Blue Planet Automation Software and Services segment saw an increase from $13.1 million to $25.8 million. Geographically, revenue from the Americas remained relatively stable, while the Asia Pacific region saw a substantial decrease from $165.6 million to $88.7 million.

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Guidance and Future Outlook

Ciena’s management provided insights into the company’s future outlook during their discussion with investors and analysts. The company emphasized its strategic focus on innovation, particularly in building cloud and AI-capable infrastructures.

Gary Smith reiterated that Ciena’s alignment with customer needs positions it well to gain market share and drive profitable growth. However, the company did not provide specific revenue or EPS guidance for the upcoming quarters.

Ciena’s forward-looking statements highlighted several risks and uncertainties that could impact future performance. These include broader economic conditions, global supply chain constraints, competitive pressures, and geopolitical tensions.

The company also pointed out potential impacts from regulatory changes, cyberattacks, and public health emergencies. Despite these challenges, Ciena remains optimistic about its ability to navigate the evolving market landscape.

Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article.