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

How do CDW (CDW) 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

CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CDW is classified in Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components while CSCO is classified in Communications Equipment.

Company profile comparison for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Profile ItemCDWCSCO
NameCDW CorporationCisco Systems, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryElectronic Equipment, Instruments & ComponentsCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryTechnology DistributorsCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization19.60 billion USD370.01 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 27, 2013February 16, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Total Return (1Y)16.85%40.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.46%26.81%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.35%14.44%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.60%36.83%
Beta (5Y)0.901.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.37%-36.68%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.60M18.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CDW and CSCO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.99
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.371.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 42.47% and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.47%

CDW
42.47%
Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CDW (CDW) at 4.48%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.48%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
CDW
4.48%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CDW (CDW) at 8.14%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.14%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
CDW
8.14%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
ROE (TTM)42.47%27.32%
ROA (TTM)6.47%7.98%
Net Margin (TTM)4.48%20.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.14%27.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.00%64.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CDW (CDW) at 6.79% 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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: CDW (CDW) reports EPS growth of 1.38%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.79%11.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.89%3.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.38%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.21%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CDW (CDW) at 1.27 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.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.27

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CDW
1.27
Min
0.17

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while CDW (CDW) at 2.98 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.98

CDW
2.98
Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.270.93
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.980.62
Net Debt / EBITDA3.010.82

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CDW (CDW) at 1.59% 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.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.59%

CDW
1.59%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and CSCO more so: CDW (CDW) at 29.40% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.40%

Max
32.27%
CDW
29.40%
Q3
14.48%
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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.59%1.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)29.40%49.85%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 18.32 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CDW, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.32

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
CDW
18.32
Min
6.07

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CDW (CDW) at 0.80 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.80

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
CDW
0.80
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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CDW (CDW) at 7.45 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CDW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.45

Max
10.75
CDW
7.45
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33

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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CDW (CDW) vs. Cisco Systems (CSCO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CDW (CDW) and Cisco Systems (CSCO)
MetricCDWCSCO
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.3228.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.805.84
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.457.36
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.43%3.02%