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Ciena’s $8.4 Billion Revenue Ambition — Can 30%+ Growth Hold?

Ciena Corporation reported strong fiscal third quarter 2026 results driven by sustained robust demand across its core optical networking markets amid accelerating industry transformation related to AI-driven bandwidth and connectivity needs. The company posted record quarterly revenue of $1.7 billion, marking a 37% year-over-year increase and surpassing previous records. Adjusted operating margin more than doubled year-on-year to 22.5%, exceeding guidance, while adjusted earnings per share rose 215% to a record $2.11. The company highlighted a backlog increase of $800 million in the quarter to $8.5 billion, with expectations to surpass $10 billion by fiscal year-end 2026, driven by sustained customer demand and constrained supply. Ciena’s performance reflects its leadership in optical technology, including its WaveLogic 6 Extreme platform, which continues to gain traction in traditional wide area networks (WAN) and AI WAN segments.