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CSCO vs. TSLA: Cisco Systems vs. Tesla Stock Comparison

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA) 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) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Technology Hardware & Equipment), whereas Tesla (TSLA) belongs to Consumer Discretionary (Automobiles & Components) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
Profile ItemCSCOTSLA
NameCisco Systems, Inc.Tesla, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupTechnology Hardware & EquipmentAutomobiles & Components
GICS IndustryCommunications EquipmentAutomobiles
GICS Sub-IndustryCommunications EquipmentAutomobile Manufacturers
Market Capitalization370.01 billion USD1,415.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 16, 1990June 29, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO
TSLA
GSPC
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA), 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 Tesla (TSLA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
Total Return (1Y)40.88%-12.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)26.81%21.54%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.44%2.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.83%45.89%
Beta (5Y)1.021.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.68%-72.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)18.52M37.45M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CSCO and TSLA 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 Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.99-0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.44-0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Tesla (TSLA) at 3.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CSCO.

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.84%

Max
43.84%
Q3
11.73%
TSLA
3.84%
Median
3.48%
Q1
-19.67%
Min
-54.88%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 3.11%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.11%

Max
15.15%
Q3
4.78%
TSLA
3.11%
Median
1.56%
Q1
-4.16%
Min
-9.55%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 5.36%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

5.36%

Max
18.35%
Q3
8.67%
TSLA
5.36%
Median
4.42%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-8.50%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
ROE (TTM)27.32%3.84%
ROA (TTM)7.98%1.35%
Net Margin (TTM)20.95%3.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.72%5.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)64.52%19.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Tesla (TSLA) at -2.93% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Tesla (TSLA) reports EPS growth of -47.06%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.78%-2.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.57%5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)---47.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---33.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Tesla (TSLA) at 1.74 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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.74

Max
3.65
Q3
2.31
TSLA
1.74
Median
1.65
Q1
1.13
Min
0.32
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Tesla (TSLA) at 0.18 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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.18

Max
2.03
Q3
1.13
Median
0.76
Q1
0.33
TSLA
0.18
Min
0.01
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.931.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.18
Net Debt / EBITDA0.82-2.95

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) 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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
4.79%
Q3
2.24%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) 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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
64.17%
Q3
36.51%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
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 Tesla (TSLA) at 393.65 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for TSLA’s trailing earnings.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

393.65

TSLA
393.65
Max
40.42
Q3
24.40
Median
19.50
Q1
11.03
Min
6.05
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components 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 Tesla (TSLA) at 13.67 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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

13.67

TSLA
13.67
Max
2.03
Q3
0.99
Median
0.51
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components 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 Tesla (TSLA) at 15.86 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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

15.86

TSLA
15.86
Max
4.18
Q3
2.39
Median
1.33
Q1
0.72
Min
-1.23
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Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricCSCOTSLA
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.18393.65
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.8413.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.3615.86
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.02%0.35%