CSCO vs. IONQ: Cisco Systems vs. IonQ Stock Comparison

Company Profile

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

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 16, 1990, whereas IonQ (IONQ) listed on January 4, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

IonQ (IONQ) carries a highly aggressive beta of 3.33, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Cisco Systems (CSCO) is closer to market-like at 1.02 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while IonQ (IONQ) at 6.90% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSCO.

IonQ (IONQ) at 67.09% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% also retains a top-quartile share.

IonQ (IONQ) reports a negative operating margin of -249.14%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 27.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

IonQ (IONQ) at 201.85% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Neither Cisco Systems (CSCO) nor IonQ (IONQ) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

IonQ (IONQ) at 4.24 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

IonQ (IONQ) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

IonQ (IONQ) 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.

IonQ (IONQ) 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.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

IonQ (IONQ) at 18.86 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 IONQ, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

Both look expensive on sales: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and IonQ (IONQ) at 39.84 prices even higher, above its industry range.

IonQ (IONQ) at 2.67 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.

Valuation Metrics