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ASML vs. CSCO: ASML vs. Cisco Systems Stock Comparison

How do ASML (ASML) 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

ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — ASML in Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and CSCO in Technology Hardware & Equipment.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades as ordinary local shares, while ASML (ASML) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Profile ItemASMLCSCO
NameASML Holding N.V. NY Registered SharesCisco Systems, Inc.
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization549.12 billion USD370.01 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 15, 1995February 16, 1990
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASML
CSCO
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Total Return (1Y)50.12%40.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.80%26.81%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.32%14.44%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASML
CSCO
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.80%36.83%
Beta (5Y)1.801.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.47%-36.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.42M18.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ASML 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 ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.940.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.391.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but ASML (ASML) at 65.64% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

65.64%

ASML
65.64%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both ASML (ASML) at 34.14% 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.14%

Max
63.80%
ASML
34.14%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 44.36% 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.36%

Max
58.66%
ASML
44.36%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
ROE (TTM)65.64%27.32%
ROA (TTM)18.28%7.98%
Net Margin (TTM)34.14%20.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.36%27.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)54.34%64.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 15.58% 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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: ASML (ASML) reports EPS growth of 28.43%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.58%11.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.55%3.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.43%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.42%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both ASML (ASML) at 1.49 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.49

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASML
1.49
Min
1.03

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both ASML (ASML) at 0.09 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
ASML
0.09
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.490.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.62
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.670.82

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 0.55% pays an industry-typical yield; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASML
0.55%
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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and CSCO more so: ASML (ASML) at 22.26% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.26%

Max
49.64%
ASML
22.26%
Q3
21.71%
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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.55%1.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.26%49.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 35.06 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

35.06

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASML
35.06
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 13.91 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.91

Max
21.42
ASML
13.91
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and ASML (ASML) at 1,223.36 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1,223.36

ASML
1,223.36
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

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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ASML (ASML) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASML (ASML) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricASMLCSCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.0628.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.915.84
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1,223.367.36
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.89%3.02%