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CSCO vs. PLTR: Cisco Systems vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

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

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 16, 1990, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemCSCOPLTR
NameCisco Systems, Inc.Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentApplication Software
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
PLTR
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR), 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 Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Total Return (1Y)40.88%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%60.50%
Beta (5Y)1.021.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and PLTR 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.99-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.44-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% and Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% 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.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
ROE (TTM)27.32%40.91%
ROA (TTM)7.98%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Palantir (PLTR) reports EPS growth of 231.06%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)--231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 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.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.937.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.02
Net Debt / EBITDA0.82-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) 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.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) 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.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.85%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): 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 Palantir (PLTR)
MetricCSCOPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.18112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.8453.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.3634.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%0.69%