Seek Returns

CSCO vs. DELL: Cisco Systems vs. Dell Stock Comparison

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL) 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

Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but CSCO is classified in Communications Equipment while DELL is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
Profile ItemCSCODELL
NameCisco Systems Inc.Dell Technologies Inc. Class C Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization430.53 billion USD338.67 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990August 17, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
DELL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Total Return (1Y)63.94%319.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.90%100.54%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.15%63.60%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO
DELL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.78%73.63%
Beta (5Y)0.991.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-59.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)21.99M7.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CSCO and DELL 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.774.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.628.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

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

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.32%

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
44.01%
Q3
18.81%
Median
10.41%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-24.95%
DELL
--
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CSCO is benchmarked against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Dell (DELL) at 7.53%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

20.95%

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.53%

Max
27.62%
Q3
10.85%
DELL
7.53%
Median
3.47%
Q1
-0.47%
Min
-14.17%
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): 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 Dell (DELL) at 11.47%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.72%

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

11.47%

Max
36.27%
Q3
17.23%
DELL
11.47%
Median
7.28%
Q1
1.10%
Min
-21.39%
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
ROE (TTM)27.32%--
ROA (TTM)7.98%8.55%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%7.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%11.47%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%19.89%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Dell (DELL) at 18.80% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Dell (DELL) reports EPS growth of 36.05%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%18.80%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%3.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)--36.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--38.89%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 and Dell (DELL) at 0.96 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.93

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.96

Max
4.90
Q3
2.94
Median
1.97
Q1
1.31
DELL
0.96
Min
0.17
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

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 Dell (DELL) reports no figure this period.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.62

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
1.80
Q3
0.86
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00
DELL
--
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): DELL 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.930.96
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.62--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.821.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Dell (DELL) at 0.45% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.53% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.53%

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.45%

Max
0.77%
DELL
0.45%
Q3
0.32%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): 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: Dell (DELL) at 13.44% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

49.85%

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

13.44%

Max
32.21%
DELL
13.44%
Q3
13.32%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.53%0.45%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%13.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 32.79 and Dell (DELL) at 30.49 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

32.79

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

30.49

Max
94.50
Q3
51.90
Median
32.47
DELL
30.49
Q1
22.70
Min
12.14
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 6.80 and Dell (DELL) at 2.24 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.80

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.24

Max
15.81
Q3
7.34
Median
3.08
DELL
2.24
Q1
1.16
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Dell (DELL) reports a negative P/B ratio of -236.95, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 8.57, ranking against industry peers normally.

CSCO

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

8.57

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

DELL

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-236.95

Max
14.90
Q3
7.23
Median
3.73
Q1
1.98
Min
0.09
DELL
-236.95
Loading chart…
Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Dell (DELL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Dell (DELL)
MetricCSCODELL
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.7930.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.802.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.57-236.95
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.60%0.05%