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ABBV vs. CSCO: AbbVie vs. Cisco Systems Stock Comparison

How do AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AbbVie (ABBV) is classified in the Health Care sector (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences), whereas Cisco Systems (CSCO) belongs to Information Technology (Technology Hardware & Equipment) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Profile ItemABBVCSCO
NameAbbVie Inc.Cisco Systems, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization514.92 billion USD370.01 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 2013February 16, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ABBV
CSCO
GSPC
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Total Return (1Y)37.33%40.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)32.74%26.81%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.73%14.44%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ABBV
CSCO
GSPC
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.65%36.83%
Beta (5Y)0.211.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-21.92%-36.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.76M18.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ABBV and CSCO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.290.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.021.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Cisco Systems (CSCO) earns 27.32% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
ABBV
--

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.32%

Max
42.47%
CSCO
27.32%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): ABBV does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CSCO is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AbbVie (ABBV) at 15.67% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

15.67%

Max
18.05%
ABBV
15.67%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.95%

Max
27.60%
CSCO
20.95%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 39.59% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

39.59%

Max
83.12%
ABBV
39.59%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.72%

Max
36.27%
CSCO
27.72%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
ROE (TTM)--27.32%
ROA (TTM)10.74%7.98%
Net Margin (TTM)15.67%20.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)39.59%27.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)73.72%64.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: AbbVie (ABBV) reports EPS growth of -0.84%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.57%11.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.75%3.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)-0.84%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-29.03%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.87 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.87

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ABBV
0.87
Min
0.10

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.93

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CSCO
0.93
Min
0.17
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Cisco Systems (CSCO) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62 against its industry range, while AbbVie (ABBV) reports no figure this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
ABBV
--

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.62

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
CSCO
0.62
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): ABBV does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; CSCO is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.870.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.62
Net Debt / EBITDA2.210.82

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 2.40% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.40%

ABBV
2.40%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.73%

CSCO
1.73%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AbbVie (ABBV) reports payout ratio above 100% at 117.35%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 49.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

117.35%

ABBV
117.35%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

49.85%

CSCO
49.85%
Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.40%1.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)117.35%49.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 50.05 sits in the richer quartile — ABBV needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

50.05

Max
85.34
ABBV
50.05
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

28.18

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
CSCO
28.18
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AbbVie (ABBV) at 7.80 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 sits in the pricier quartile — CSCO costs more per dollar of sales.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.80

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
ABBV
7.80
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.84

Max
11.30
CSCO
5.84
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AbbVie (ABBV) reports a negative P/B ratio of -112.34, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 7.36, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-112.34

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
ABBV
-112.34

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.36

Max
10.75
CSCO
7.36
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricABBVCSCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.0528.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.805.84
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-112.347.36
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.44%3.02%