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CSCO vs. ORCL: Cisco Systems vs. Oracle Stock Comparison

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL) 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 Oracle (ORCL) share the Information Technology sector but sit in different industry groups — CSCO in Technology Hardware & Equipment and ORCL in Software & Services.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
Profile ItemCSCOORCL
NameCisco Systems, Inc.Oracle Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentSystems Software
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD361.97 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990March 12, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
ORCL
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL), 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 Oracle (ORCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Total Return (1Y)40.88%-49.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%3.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%6.07%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%59.45%
Beta (5Y)1.021.80
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-64.58%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M33.24M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and ORCL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.99-0.91
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.44-1.29

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% and Oracle (ORCL) at 41.19% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

41.19%

Max
53.85%
ORCL
41.19%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% and Oracle (ORCL) at 26.36% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

26.36%

Max
41.17%
ORCL
26.36%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% and Oracle (ORCL) at 35.63% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

35.63%

Max
46.89%
ORCL
35.63%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
ROE (TTM)27.32%41.19%
ROA (TTM)7.98%6.36%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%26.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%35.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%63.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Oracle (ORCL) at 17.35% 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. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Oracle (ORCL) reports EPS growth of 34.33%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%17.35%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%10.48%
EPS Growth (YoY)--34.33%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--23.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Oracle (ORCL) at 1.17 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.17

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
ORCL
1.17
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Oracle (ORCL) at 2.52 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

2.52

ORCL
2.52
Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.931.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.622.52
Net Debt / EBITDA0.823.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% and Oracle (ORCL) at 1.74% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

1.74%

ORCL
1.74%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% and Oracle (ORCL) at 31.35% 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%

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

31.35%

ORCL
31.35%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%1.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%31.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 18.20 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 ORCL, 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

18.20

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
ORCL
18.20
Min
6.69
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Oracle (ORCL) at 5.04 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

5.04

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ORCL
5.04
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Oracle (ORCL) at 5.68 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

ORCL

Software & Services industry group

5.68

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
ORCL
5.68
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Oracle (ORCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Oracle (ORCL)
MetricCSCOORCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.1818.20
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.845.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.365.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%-12.67%