CALX vs ANET

For growth investors, Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is the stronger pick with 28. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 20. 3% for Calix, Inc. (CALX). Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) offers the better valuation at 51. 5x trailing P/E (40. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Calix, Inc. (CALX) a "Buy" — based on 21 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is the cheapest at 51. 5x versus Calix, Inc. at 167. 4x. On forward P/E, Calix, Inc. is actually cheaper at 24. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) delivered a total return of +590. 5%, compared to -9. 3% for Calix, Inc. (CALX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ANET returned +33. 7% versus CALX's +513. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Calix, Inc.

(CALX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Arista Networks, Inc. 's 2. 15β — meaning ANET is approximately 116% more volatile than CALX relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is pulling ahead at 28. 6% versus 20. 3% for Calix, Inc. (CALX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Calix, Inc. grew EPS 157. 8% year-over-year, compared to 23. 3% for Arista Networks, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ANET leads at 27. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Arista Networks, Inc.

(ANET) is the more profitable company, earning 39. 0% net margin versus 1. 8% for Calix, Inc. — meaning it keeps 39. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ANET leads at 42. 8% versus 2. 1% for CALX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ANET leads at 64. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Calix, Inc.

(CALX) trades at 24. 5x forward P/E versus 40. 0x for Arista Networks, Inc. — 15. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CALX: 40. 2% to $61. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Calix, Inc.

(CALX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 99), +513. 0% 10Y return). Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) carries a higher beta of 2. 15 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CALX: +513. 0%, ANET: +33. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.