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CSCO vs. FFIV: Cisco Systems vs. F5 Stock Comparison

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV) 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 F5 (FFIV) are both classified in the Communications Equipment sub-industry within the broader Communications Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
Profile ItemCSCOFFIV
NameCisco Systems, Inc.F5, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD17.66 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990June 4, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
FFIV
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV), 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Total Return (1Y)40.88%30.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%27.03%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%7.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO
FFIV
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV), 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 Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Cisco Systems (CSCO) is heavily traded at around 18.52M shares per day, whereas F5 (FFIV) sees a more moderate 692.80K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%40.81%
Beta (5Y)1.021.09
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-47.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M692.80K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and FFIV 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 F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.440.84

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while F5 (FFIV) at 19.01% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSCO.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.01%

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
FFIV
19.01%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% and F5 (FFIV) at 21.14% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

21.14%

Max
27.60%
FFIV
21.14%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% and F5 (FFIV) at 23.99% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

23.99%

Max
36.27%
FFIV
23.99%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
ROE (TTM)27.32%19.01%
ROA (TTM)7.98%7.74%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%21.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%23.99%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%81.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports revenue growth of 11.78%, ranked against its industry; F5 (FFIV) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: F5 (FFIV) reports EPS growth of 6.10%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%--
EPS Growth (YoY)--6.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--24.10%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

F5 (FFIV) at 1.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CSCO.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.73

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
FFIV
1.73
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 and F5 (FFIV) at 0.05 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.05

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
FFIV
0.05
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.931.73
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.05
Net Debt / EBITDA0.82-1.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports a yield of 1.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
FFIV
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports a payout of 49.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
FFIV
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 and F5 (FFIV) at 24.83 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

28.18

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
CSCO
28.18
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.83

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
FFIV
24.83
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

F5 (FFIV) at 5.17 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.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.17

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
FFIV
5.17
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

F5 (FFIV) at 4.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 carries an above-peer premium to book — CSCO is pricier on assets.

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

FFIV

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.41

Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
FFIV
4.41
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. F5 (FFIV): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and F5 (FFIV)
MetricCSCOFFIV
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.1824.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.845.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.364.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%3.63%