CSCO vs. PLTR: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at CSCO and PLTR, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Cisco Systems, Inc. | Palantir Technologies Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry | Communications Equipment | Software |
| Market Capitalization | 265.87 billion USD | 372.86 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | February 16, 1990 | September 30, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of CSCO and PLTR by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.57% | -0.37% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 5.97% | 28.52% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 3.55% | 40.26% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 33.69% | 392.39% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -1.38% | -0.75% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 13.41% | 107.81% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 23.58M | 92.56M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 20.33M | 83.69M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 19.09% | 50.24% |
| Beta | 0.98 | 2.63 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
CSCO
22.74%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 32.05%
- Q3
- 19.58%
- Median
- 11.77%
- Q1
- 2.23%
- Min
- -11.93%
In the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry, CSCO’s Return on Equity of 22.74% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
PLTR
14.64%
Software Industry
- Max
- 59.01%
- Q3
- 21.98%
- Median
- 7.15%
- Q1
- -11.12%
- Min
- -51.24%
PLTR’s Return on Equity of 14.64% is on par with the norm for the Software industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
CSCO
18.45%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 23.65%
- Q3
- 14.32%
- Median
- 5.31%
- Q1
- 1.45%
- Min
- -12.72%
A Net Profit Margin of 18.45% places CSCO in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
PLTR
22.18%
Software Industry
- Max
- 48.14%
- Q3
- 18.23%
- Median
- 5.60%
- Q1
- -9.22%
- Min
- -49.36%
A Net Profit Margin of 22.18% places PLTR in the upper quartile for the Software industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
CSCO
21.38%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 42.27%
- Q3
- 18.90%
- Median
- 6.21%
- Q1
- 2.97%
- Min
- -20.72%
An Operating Profit Margin of 21.38% places CSCO in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
PLTR
16.55%
Software Industry
- Max
- 57.34%
- Q3
- 20.60%
- Median
- 7.84%
- Q1
- -8.72%
- Min
- -51.37%
PLTR’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.55% is around the midpoint for the Software industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 22.74% | 14.64% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 8.58% | 11.65% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 18.45% | 22.18% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.38% | 16.55% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 65.56% | 80.03% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CSCO
1.01
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.72
- Q3
- 1.72
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 1.18
- Min
- 0.93
CSCO’s Current Ratio of 1.01 falls into the lower quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
PLTR
6.32
Software Industry
- Max
- 3.83
- Q3
- 2.31
- Median
- 1.45
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.24
PLTR’s Current Ratio of 6.32 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Software industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
CSCO
0.60
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.55
- Q3
- 0.92
- Median
- 0.55
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
CSCO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.60 is typical for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
PLTR
0.00
Software Industry
- Max
- 2.14
- Q3
- 0.90
- Median
- 0.29
- Q1
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
PLTR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.00 is typical for the Software industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
CSCO
20.35
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 181.73
- Q3
- 113.63
- Median
- 7.59
- Q1
- 3.82
- Min
- -5.39
CSCO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 20.35 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
PLTR
-1.53
Software Industry
- Max
- 67.02
- Q3
- 19.86
- Median
- 0.70
- Q1
- -12.50
- Min
- -53.00
PLTR has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -1.53. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.01 | 6.32 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.92 | 6.19 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.60 | 0.00 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 20.35 | -1.53 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CSCO
2.42%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.88%
- Q3
- 2.75%
- Median
- 0.93%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO’s Dividend Yield of 2.42% is consistent with its peers in the Communications Equipment industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
PLTR
0.00%
Software Industry
- Max
- 0.08%
- Q3
- 0.03%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PLTR currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CSCO
61.58%
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 111.16%
- Q3
- 55.91%
- Median
- 28.42%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CSCO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 61.58% is in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
PLTR
0.00%
Software Industry
- Max
- 1.32%
- Q3
- 0.53%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PLTR has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.42% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 61.58% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
CSCO
25.42
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 57.30
- Q3
- 47.92
- Median
- 27.50
- Q1
- 17.89
- Min
- 13.89
CSCO’s P/E Ratio of 25.42 is within the middle range for the Communications Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
PLTR
485.17
Software Industry
- Max
- 149.35
- Q3
- 100.21
- Median
- 47.97
- Q1
- 26.77
- Min
- 11.68
At 485.17, PLTR’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Software industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
CSCO
4.69
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 11.03
- Q3
- 5.53
- Median
- 2.20
- Q1
- 0.99
- Min
- 0.40
CSCO’s P/S Ratio of 4.69 aligns with the market consensus for the Communications Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
PLTR
107.63
Software Industry
- Max
- 25.24
- Q3
- 13.52
- Median
- 8.15
- Q1
- 4.87
- Min
- 0.98
With a P/S Ratio of 107.63, PLTR trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Software industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
CSCO
5.71
Communications Equipment Industry
- Max
- 9.66
- Q3
- 5.60
- Median
- 3.73
- Q1
- 2.67
- Min
- 0.30
CSCO’s P/B Ratio of 5.71 is in the upper tier for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
PLTR
54.26
Software Industry
- Max
- 30.95
- Q3
- 14.91
- Median
- 7.75
- Q1
- 3.60
- Min
- 0.38
At 54.26, PLTR’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Software industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | CSCO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 25.42 | 485.17 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.69 | 107.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.71 | 54.26 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 20.00 | 216.73 |