Ciena reports loss, outlook below Street's view

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Communications equipment maker Ciena Corp (CIEN.O) reported a quarterly loss and weaker-than-expected sales for its fiscal fourth quarter, and gave a weak outlook for the new year.

Ciena reported a net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31 totaling $25.4 million, or 28 cents a share, compared to a profit of $30.4 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding share-based compensation and other items, its loss per share was 10 cents, compared with an adjusted profit of 48 cents a year earlier. Quarterly revenue fell 17 percent to $179.7 million, compared with the average Wall Street estimate of $198.9 million, as compiled by Reuters Estimates.

The company expects the challenging environment to persist through 2009, and forecast its first quarter revenue will be in a range of $170 million to $185 million. The average Reuters estimate was $192.5 million.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Derek Caney)