Operating Expenses
Amortization expense
Ciena Amortization expense decreased by 22.5% to $4.74M in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 27.6%, from $6.55M to $4.74M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Amortization expense shows relatively stable performance with a 2.1% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2014
Last reportedQ1 2026Mar 5, 2026
How to read this metric
An increase often follows significant acquisitions, while a decrease may signal that older intangible assets are becoming fully amortized.
Detailed definition
The systematic allocation of the cost of intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, or customer relationships, over...
Peer comparison
Standard operating expense for companies with significant intellectual property or acquired intangible assets.
Metric ID:
cat_amortization_expenseHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $6.02M | $5.97M | $5.84M | $8.92M | $8.92M | $8.92M | $5.75M | $7.44M | $9.85M | $9.49M | $10.58M | $7.25M | $7.95M | $7.19M | $7.19M | $6.55M | $6.55M | $6.56M | $6.11M | $4.74M |
| QoQ Change | — | -0.9% | -2.2% | +52.8% | +0.0% | -0.0% | -35.5% | +29.3% | +32.3% | -3.6% | +11.5% | -31.4% | +9.6% | -9.6% | +0.0% | -8.9% | +0.0% | +0.2% | -6.8% | -22.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +48.2% | +49.5% | -1.4% | -16.6% | +10.4% | +6.4% | +83.8% | -2.5% | -19.3% | -24.3% | -32.1% | -9.7% | -17.6% | -8.8% | -14.9% | -27.6% |
Range$4.74M – $10.58M
CAGR-4.9%
Avg YoY Growth+1.5%
Median YoY Growth-9.3%
Current Streak2 quarters decline
Amortization expense at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Ciena's amortization expense?
- Ciena (CIEN) reported amortization expense of $4.74M in Q4 2025.
- How has Ciena's amortization expense changed year-over-year?
- Ciena's amortization expense decreased by 27.6% year-over-year, from $6.55M to $4.74M.
- What is the long-term trend for Ciena's amortization expense?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Ciena's amortization expense has grown at a 2.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $23.73M to $25.76M.
- What does amortization expense mean?
- The periodic cost recorded for the gradual expiration of intangible assets.