CSCO vs. STX: Cisco Systems vs. Seagate Technology Stock Comparison

Company Profile

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

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Seagate Technology (STX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.09, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Cisco Systems (CSCO) is closer to market-like at 1.00 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Seagate Technology (STX) at 371.53% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.

For every dollar of sales, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% and Seagate Technology (STX) at 26.11% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

Seagate Technology (STX) at 43.07% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.70% also operates in the top quartile.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Seagate Technology (STX) at 34.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.30% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for STX.

Seagate Technology (STX) at 105.32% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 2.76% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for STX.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Seagate Technology (STX) at 1.67 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.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.59 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 1.80 uses more debt funding than most peers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Seagate Technology (STX) at 0.32% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.46% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and CSCO more so: Seagate Technology (STX) at 21.15% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 34.15 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 69.93 sits in the richer quartile — STX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 6.95 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Seagate Technology (STX) at 18.12 clears its benchmark range — STX looks notably rich on sales.

Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 9.01 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Seagate Technology (STX) at 199.48 prices even higher, above its industry range.

Valuation Metrics