CSCO vs. GLW: Cisco Systems vs. Corning Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Profile Item	CSCO	GLW
Name	Cisco Systems, Inc.	Corning Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Communications Equipment	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment	Electronic Components
Market Capitalization	370.01 billion USD	91.42 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	February 16, 1990	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO

GLW

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW), 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 Corning (GLW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Total Return (1Y)	40.88%	35.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.81%	65.24%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.44%	27.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO

GLW

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW), 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 Corning (GLW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	76.20%
Beta (5Y)	1.02	1.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.68%	-59.47%
Avg. Volume (3M)	18.52M	9.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CSCO and GLW 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 Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	0.41
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.44	0.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Corning (GLW) at 17.88% 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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

17.88%

Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
GLW: 17.88%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW): 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 Corning (GLW) at 12.13% 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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

12.13%

Max: 27.60%
GLW: 12.13%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW): 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 Corning (GLW) at 18.95% 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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

18.95%

Max: 36.27%
GLW: 18.95%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
ROE (TTM)	27.32%	17.88%
ROA (TTM)	7.98%	5.80%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.95%	12.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.72%	18.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	64.52%	36.48%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Corning (GLW) at 19.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Corning (GLW) reports EPS growth of 215.52%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.78%	19.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.57%	3.27%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	215.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	5.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Corning (GLW) at 1.72 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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.72

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
GLW: 1.72
Q1: 1.32
Min: 0.17

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW): 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 Corning (GLW) at 0.64 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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.64

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
GLW: 0.64
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW): 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 Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	1.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	0.64
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.82	1.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% and Corning (GLW) at 1.08% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.08%

GLW: 1.08%
Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Corning (GLW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% and Corning (GLW) at 45.34% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

45.34%

GLW: 45.34%
Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.73%	1.08%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	49.85%	45.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Corning (GLW) at 42.97 sits in the richer quartile — GLW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

42.97

Max: 69.48
GLW: 42.97
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Corning (GLW) at 5.16 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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.16

Max: 11.30
Q3: 5.82
GLW: 5.16
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 and Corning (GLW) at 7.03 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

GLW

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.03

Max: 10.75
GLW: 7.03
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Corning (GLW)
Metric	CSCO	GLW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.18	42.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.84	5.16
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.36	7.03
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.02%	0.95%