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CSCO vs. NOK: Cisco Systems vs. Nokia Stock Comparison

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

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Nokia (NOK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
Profile ItemCSCONOK
NameCisco Systems, Inc.Nokia Corporation Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesFinland
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentTechnology Hardware & Equipment
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentCommunications Equipment
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD43.35 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990July 1, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
NOK
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK), 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 Nokia (NOK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Total Return (1Y)40.88%19.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%36.27%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%9.52%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%62.40%
Beta (5Y)1.021.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-55.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M77.91M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and NOK 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 Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.990.25
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.440.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nokia (NOK) at 3.88% 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%

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

3.88%

Max
42.47%
Q3
19.13%
Median
11.00%
NOK
3.88%
Q1
1.63%
Min
-20.62%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Nokia (NOK) at 3.75%, 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%

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

3.75%

Max
27.60%
Q3
11.66%
Median
4.08%
NOK
3.75%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-11.02%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): 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 Nokia (NOK) at 10.81%, 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%

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

10.81%

Max
36.27%
Q3
18.36%
NOK
10.81%
Median
8.84%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-21.39%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
ROE (TTM)27.32%3.88%
ROA (TTM)7.98%3.49%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%3.75%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%10.81%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%45.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Nokia (NOK) at 3.48% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Nokia (NOK) reports EPS growth of -47.83%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%3.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%-5.76%
EPS Growth (YoY)---47.83%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---45.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nokia (NOK) at 1.46 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

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.46

Max
5.34
Q3
3.02
Median
1.95
NOK
1.46
Q1
1.32
Min
0.17
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): 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 Nokia (NOK) at 0.16 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

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.16

Max
1.76
Q3
0.78
Median
0.24
NOK
0.16
Q1
0.04
Min
0.01
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): 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 Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.931.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.16
Net Debt / EBITDA0.82-0.59

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% and Nokia (NOK) at 1.88% 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%

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.88%

NOK
1.88%
Max
0.73%
Q3
0.31%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Nokia (NOK) reports payout ratio above 100% at 100.17%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Cisco Systems (CSCO) reports 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%

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

100.17%

NOK
100.17%
Max
32.27%
Q3
14.48%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%1.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%100.17%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Nokia (NOK) at 47.88 sits in the richer quartile — NOK 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

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

47.88

Max
69.48
NOK
47.88
Q3
41.02
Median
26.39
Q1
19.36
Min
6.07
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Nokia (NOK) at 2.08 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

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

2.08

Max
11.30
Q3
5.82
Median
2.56
NOK
2.08
Q1
1.05
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Nokia (NOK) at 1.82 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

NOK

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.82

Max
10.75
Q3
5.52
Median
3.17
NOK
1.82
Q1
1.79
Min
0.33
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Nokia (NOK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Nokia (NOK)
MetricCSCONOK
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.1847.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.842.08
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.361.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%2.98%