Cisco Systems (CSCO) Stock Analysis

September 7, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Cisco Systems (CSCO): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Technology Hardware & Equipment peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Profile Item	CSCO
Name	Cisco Systems Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Communications Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment
Market Capitalization	430.53 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq
Listing Date	February 16, 1990
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	63.94%	37.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.90%	24.82%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	16.15%	11.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.78%	54.76%
Beta (5Y)	0.99	1.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.68%	-55.56%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. CSCO is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.77	0.61
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.62	0.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) posts ROE of 27.32%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.32%

Group distribution

Max: 44.01%
CSCO: 27.32%
Q3: 18.81%
Median: 10.41%
Q1: 0.07%
Min: -24.95%

Largest peers

STX: 371.53%
AAPL: 148.75%
SNDK: 91.64%
APH: 38.12%
ANET: 31.48%
CSCO: 27.32%
DELL: --

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on ROE within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) keeps 20.95% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.95%

Group distribution

Max: 27.62%
CSCO: 20.95%
Q3: 10.85%
Median: 3.47%
Q1: -0.47%
Min: -14.17%

Largest peers

SNDK: 56.47%
ANET: 38.37%
AAPL: 27.62%
STX: 26.11%
CSCO: 20.95%
APH: 17.73%
DELL: 7.53%

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on net margin within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) turns 27.72% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.72%

Group distribution

Max: 36.27%
CSCO: 27.72%
Q3: 17.23%
Median: 7.28%
Q1: 1.10%
Min: -21.39%

Largest peers

SNDK: 78.47%
ANET: 45.39%
STX: 43.07%
AAPL: 32.62%
APH: 29.78%
CSCO: 27.72%
DELL: 11.47%

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on operating margin within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	27.32%	10.41%
ROA (TTM)	7.98%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.95%	3.47%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.72%	7.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)	64.52%	38.95%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cisco Systems (CSCO) grew revenue 11.78%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Cisco Systems (CSCO): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

No usable EPS growth is available for Cisco Systems (CSCO) this period, so the earnings-momentum read is skipped.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) doesn't report EPS Growth this period; the bars show the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians on their own.

Growth Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.78%	9.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.57%	2.58%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	13.65%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	3.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has current ratio of 0.93, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.93

Group distribution

Max: 4.90
Q3: 2.94
Median: 1.97
Q1: 1.31
CSCO: 0.93
Min: 0.17

Largest peers

ANET: 2.96
SNDK: 2.29
APH: 1.89
STX: 1.67
AAPL: 1.00
DELL: 0.96
CSCO: 0.93

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on current ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.62

Group distribution

Max: 1.80
Q3: 0.86
CSCO: 0.62
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

STX: 1.80
APH: 1.20
AAPL: 0.78
CSCO: 0.62
SNDK: 0.01
DELL: --
ANET: --

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	1.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.82	0.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has dividend yield of 1.53%, above the entire industry range. That headline income is large, but yields this far above peers often come from a falling share price or an at-risk payout, so dividend safety matters more than the percentage itself.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.53%

Group distribution

CSCO: 1.53%
Max: 0.77%
Q3: 0.32%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

CSCO: 1.53%
APH: 0.56%
DELL: 0.45%
STX: 0.37%
AAPL: 0.32%
SNDK: 0.00%
ANET: 0.00%

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on dividend yield within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has payout ratio of 49.85%, above the peer distribution for its industry. The dividend consumes more reported earnings than peers normally do, leaving unusually thin earnings cover.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

49.85%

Group distribution

CSCO: 49.85%
Max: 32.21%
Q3: 13.32%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

CSCO: 49.85%
APH: 22.88%
STX: 21.15%
DELL: 13.44%
AAPL: 12.04%
SNDK: 0.00%
ANET: 0.00%

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on payout ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.53%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	49.85%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at P/E ratio of 32.79, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.79

Group distribution

Max: 94.50
Q3: 51.90
CSCO: 32.79
Median: 32.47
Q1: 22.70
Min: 12.14

Largest peers

ANET: 61.32
STX: 60.97
APH: 41.39
AAPL: 36.61
CSCO: 32.79
DELL: 30.49
SNDK: 23.58

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on P/E ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at 6.80 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.80

Group distribution

Max: 15.81
Q3: 7.34
CSCO: 6.80
Median: 3.08
Q1: 1.16
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

ANET: 23.19
STX: 15.81
SNDK: 12.58
AAPL: 10.00
APH: 7.04
CSCO: 6.80
DELL: 2.24

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on P/S ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at 8.57 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.57

Group distribution

Max: 14.90
CSCO: 8.57
Q3: 7.23
Median: 3.73
Q1: 1.98
Min: 0.09

Largest peers

STX: 88.88
AAPL: 43.47
ANET: 16.52
SNDK: 16.48
APH: 13.17
CSCO: 8.57
DELL: -236.95

Where Cisco Systems (CSCO) stands on P/B ratio within its Technology Hardware & Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) metric values compared with Technology Hardware & Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CSCO	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	32.79	32.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.80	3.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.57	3.73
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.60%	2.31%