ALAB vs. CSCO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALAB and CSCO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Astera Labs, Inc. | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | Communications Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 23.96 billion USD | 313.01 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | March 20, 2024 | February 16, 1990 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALAB and CSCO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -16.92% | 8.20% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -22.34% | 17.82% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 64.47% | 26.25% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 61.63% | 31.80% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -22.68% | 6.69% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 8.98% | 31.76% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 6.49M | 29.12M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 6.11M | 19.91M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 83.20% | 22.61% |
| Beta | 2.12 | 0.85 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ALAB
18.02%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 49.05%
- Q3
- 22.19%
- Median
- 7.96%
- Q1
- 0.99%
- Min
- -15.65%
ALAB’s Return on Equity of 18.02% is on par with the norm for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
CSCO
22.31%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 31.28%
- Q3
- 24.67%
- Median
- 13.12%
- Q1
- 4.60%
- Min
- -12.73%
CSCO’s Return on Equity of 22.31% is on par with the norm for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ALAB
27.50%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 52.41%
- Q3
- 24.47%
- Median
- 11.88%
- Q1
- 0.60%
- Min
- -25.46%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.50% places ALAB in the upper quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
CSCO
17.90%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 28.72%
- Q3
- 14.02%
- Median
- 5.41%
- Q1
- 2.50%
- Min
- -13.11%
A Net Profit Margin of 17.90% places CSCO in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ALAB
14.74%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 58.09%
- Q3
- 27.76%
- Median
- 12.14%
- Q1
- 3.29%
- Min
- -32.60%
ALAB’s Operating Profit Margin of 14.74% is around the midpoint for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
CSCO
22.12%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 33.69%
- Q3
- 15.81%
- Median
- 6.02%
- Q1
- 3.00%
- Min
- -4.94%
An Operating Profit Margin of 22.12% places CSCO in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 18.02% | 22.31% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 16.41% | 8.53% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 27.50% | 17.90% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.74% | 22.12% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 75.41% | 64.85% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ALAB
12.78
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 6.57
- Q3
- 4.28
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.22
- Min
- 1.02
ALAB’s Current Ratio of 12.78 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
CSCO
0.93
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.28
- Q3
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.52
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.91
CSCO’s Current Ratio of 0.93 falls into the lower quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
ALAB
0.00
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.18
- Q3
- 0.48
- Median
- 0.24
- Q1
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, ALAB’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.00 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
CSCO
0.60
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.44
- Q3
- 0.96
- Median
- 0.43
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.00
CSCO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.60 is typical for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
ALAB
--
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 174.00
- Q3
- 81.21
- Median
- 22.37
- Q1
- 6.43
- Min
- -7.80
Interest Coverage Ratio data for ALAB is currently unavailable.
CSCO
22.76
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 55.49
- Q3
- 34.19
- Median
- 8.92
- Q1
- 3.73
- Min
- -9.94
CSCO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 22.76 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 12.78 | 0.93 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 11.67 | 0.83 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.00 | 0.60 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -- | 22.76 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ALAB
0.00%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.58%
- Q3
- 1.59%
- Median
- 0.61%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALAB currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
CSCO
2.10%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 2.99%
- Q3
- 2.30%
- Median
- 0.91%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO’s Dividend Yield of 2.10% is consistent with its peers in the Communications Equipment industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ALAB
0.00%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 211.90%
- Q3
- 88.01%
- Median
- 25.84%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALAB has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
CSCO
62.56%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 111.16%
- Q3
- 61.16%
- Median
- 30.78%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 62.56% is in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 62.56% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ALAB
120.09
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 95.58
- Q3
- 58.67
- Median
- 34.77
- Q1
- 25.45
- Min
- 12.63
At 120.09, ALAB’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
CSCO
29.77
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 74.67
- Q3
- 56.42
- Median
- 31.00
- Q1
- 15.93
- Min
- 3.89
CSCO’s P/E Ratio of 29.77 is within the middle range for the Communications Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ALAB
33.03
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 18.34
- Q3
- 10.38
- Median
- 5.38
- Q1
- 2.49
- Min
- 0.32
With a P/S Ratio of 33.03, ALAB trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
CSCO
5.33
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 11.84
- Q3
- 5.68
- Median
- 2.55
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- 0.40
CSCO’s P/S Ratio of 5.33 aligns with the market consensus for the Communications Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
ALAB
25.59
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry
- Max
- 16.22
- Q3
- 8.33
- Median
- 4.39
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- 0.30
At 25.59, ALAB’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
CSCO
6.00
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 6.02
- Q3
- 6.01
- Median
- 3.83
- Q1
- 2.41
- Min
- 0.42
CSCO’s P/B Ratio of 6.00 is within the conventional range for the Communications Equipment industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALAB | CSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 120.09 | 29.77 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 33.03 | 5.33 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 25.59 | 6.00 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 104.08 | 24.15 |