CSCO vs. NTAP: Cisco Systems vs. NetApp Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Profile Item	CSCO	NTAP
Name	Cisco Systems, Inc.	NetApp, Inc.
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	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization	370.01 billion USD	33.23 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	February 16, 1990	November 21, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO

NTAP

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP), 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Total Return (1Y)	40.88%	59.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.81%	35.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.44%	16.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO

NTAP

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP), 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	48.37%
Beta (5Y)	1.02	1.55
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.68%	-42.61%
Avg. Volume (3M)	18.52M	2.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CSCO and NTAP 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 NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	1.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.44	1.84

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but NetApp (NTAP) at 114.82% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

114.82%

NTAP: 114.82%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP): 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 NetApp (NTAP) at 19.19% 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%

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

19.19%

Max: 27.60%
NTAP: 19.19%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP): 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 NetApp (NTAP) at 26.67% 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%

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

26.67%

Max: 36.27%
NTAP: 26.67%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
ROE (TTM)	27.32%	114.82%
ROA (TTM)	7.98%	11.66%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.95%	19.19%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.72%	26.67%
Gross Margin (TTM)	64.52%	70.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and NetApp (NTAP) at 5.37% 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. NetApp (NTAP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: NetApp (NTAP) reports EPS growth of 11.99%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.78%	5.37%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.57%	2.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	11.99%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	3.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.93 and NetApp (NTAP) at 1.24 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

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.24

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.32
NTAP: 1.24
Min: 0.17

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while NetApp (NTAP) at 1.69 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.69

Max: 1.76
NTAP: 1.69
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. NetApp (NTAP): 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 NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	1.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	1.69
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.82	-0.50

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% and NetApp (NTAP) at 1.23% 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%

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.23%

NTAP: 1.23%
Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and CSCO more so: NetApp (NTAP) at 29.34% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.

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%

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

29.34%

Max: 32.27%
NTAP: 29.34%
Q3: 14.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.73%	1.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	49.85%	29.34%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 and NetApp (NTAP) at 23.86 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

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

23.86

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
NTAP: 23.86
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

NetApp (NTAP) at 4.50 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

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

4.50

Max: 11.30
Q3: 5.82
NTAP: 4.50
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and NetApp (NTAP) at 22.18 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

NTAP

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

22.18

NTAP: 22.18
Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and NetApp (NTAP)
Metric	CSCO	NTAP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.18	23.86
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.84	4.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.36	22.18
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.02%	3.52%