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CSCO vs. HPQ: Cisco Systems vs. HP Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
Profile ItemCSCOHPQ
NameCisco Systems, Inc.HP Inc.
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 Capitalization370.01 billion USD25.66 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
HPQ
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ), 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 HP (HPQ). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Total Return (1Y)40.88%15.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%6.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%1.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%47.36%
Beta (5Y)1.021.18
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-51.23%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M14.43M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and HPQ 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 HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.23
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.440.38

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

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

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%

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
HPQ
--
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): HPQ 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 HP (HPQ) at 4.14%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.14%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
HPQ
4.14%
Median
4.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): 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 HP (HPQ) at 5.40%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

5.40%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
Median
8.84%
HPQ
5.40%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
ROE (TTM)27.32%--
ROA (TTM)7.98%5.63%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%4.14%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%5.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%19.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while HP (HPQ) at 3.24% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: HP (HPQ) reports EPS growth of -5.69%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%3.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%-4.21%
EPS Growth (YoY)---5.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---4.58%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 and HP (HPQ) at 0.79 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
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
CSCO
0.93
Min
0.17

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.79

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
Q1
1.32
HPQ
0.79
Min
0.17
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): 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 HP (HPQ) reports no figure this period.

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

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

--

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
HPQ
--
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): HPQ 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 HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.930.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.62--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.821.33

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% and HP (HPQ) at 4.04% 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%

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.04%

HPQ
4.04%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): 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 HP (HPQ) at 45.40% 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%

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

45.40%

HPQ
45.40%
Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%4.04%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%45.40%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

HP (HPQ) at 10.86 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 HPQ, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.86

Max
69.48
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
HPQ
10.86
Min
6.07
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

HP (HPQ) at 0.43 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.

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

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.43

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
Q1
1.05
HPQ
0.43
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

HP (HPQ) reports a negative P/B ratio of -279.02, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 7.36, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

HPQ

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

-279.02

Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
HPQ
-279.02
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. HP (HPQ): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and HP (HPQ)
MetricCSCOHPQ
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.1810.86
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.840.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.36-279.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%13.21%