Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, network equipment provider ADTRAN (Nasdaq: ADTN) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at ADTRAN's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

ADTRAN facts

Headquarters (Founded) Huntsville, Ala. (1985)
Market Cap $2.54 billion
Industry Communications equipment
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $644.17 million
Management

Chairman/CEO Thomas Stanton

CFO James Matthews
Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years) 20.6%
Cash/Debt $136.84 million / $46.5 million
Dividend Yield 0.9%
Competitors

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO)

Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 90% of the 163 members who have rated ADTRAN believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include mdriver78 and gopyerk.

Just last week, mdriver78 brought ADTRAN's positive momentum to our community's attention: "On a [roll] and seems to be increasing revenue and earnings in step with the improving economy. Also, in recent quarters the Co is smashing forecasts and just declared dividend."

ADTRAN even boasts a robust three-year average operating margin of 27.0%. That's higher than that of listed rivals Alcatel-Lucent (2.1%), Cisco (23.0%), and Juniper (19.2%).

CAPS member gopyerk expands on the ADTRAN outperform argument:

I have looked over the numbers every which way on this one and it meets almost everything I am looking for in a mid term growth stock. Solid P/E, nice earnings and good track record for the past several quarters. It all adds up to a nice middle/long play for me, I am thinking 35-30% in the next year.

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