Ciena (Nasdaq: CIEN) reported earnings on March 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Jan. 31 (Q1), Ciena met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew. GAAP loss per share dropped.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Ciena logged revenue of $453.1 million. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see net sales of $449.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $416.7 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.12. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.14 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were $0.12 for Q1 versus -$0.17 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.47 for Q1 compared to -$0.49 per share for the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 43.2%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.1%, 690 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -10.4%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $481.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.97 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 469 members out of 543 rating the stock outperform, and 74 members rating it underperform. Among 130 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 109 give Ciena a green thumbs-up, and 21 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ciena is outperform, with an average price target of $16.82.

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