CSCO vs. UI: Cisco Systems vs. Ubiquiti Stock Comparison
How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Ubiquiti (UI) 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 Ubiquiti (UI) are both classified in the Communications Equipment sub-industry within the broader Communications Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cisco Systems, Inc. | Ubiquiti Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Technology Hardware & Equipment | Technology Hardware & Equipment |
| GICS Industry | Communications Equipment | Communications Equipment |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Communications Equipment | Communications Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 370.01 billion USD | 35.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 16, 1990 | October 14, 2011 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 40.88% | 8.54% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 26.81% | 85.98% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.44% | 18.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Cisco Systems (CSCO) is heavily traded at around 18.52M shares per day, whereas Ubiquiti (UI) sees a more moderate 133.04K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.83% | 53.12% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.02 | 1.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -36.68% | -69.44% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 18.52M | 133.04K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | 0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.44 | 0.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Ubiquiti (UI) at 91.09% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.32% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
91.09%
- UI
- 91.09%
- Max
- 42.47%
- Q3
- 19.13%
- Median
- 11.00%
- Q1
- 1.63%
- Min
- -20.62%
Net Margin (TTM)
Ubiquiti (UI) at 29.33% 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%
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
29.33%
- UI
- 29.33%
- Max
- 27.60%
- Q3
- 11.66%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -11.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% and Ubiquiti (UI) at 36.27% 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%
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
36.27%
- UI
- 36.27%
- Max
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 18.36%
- Median
- 8.84%
- Q1
- 1.46%
- Min
- -21.39%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 27.32% | 91.09% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.98% | 40.44% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 20.95% | 29.33% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 27.72% | 36.27% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 64.52% | 46.16% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Ubiquiti (UI) at 27.22% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Ubiquiti (UI) reports EPS growth of 34.78%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.78% | 27.22% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.57% | 19.05% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 34.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 32.98% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ubiquiti (UI) at 2.93 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
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
2.93
- Max
- 5.34
- Q3
- 3.02
- UI
- 2.93
- Median
- 1.95
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- 0.17
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 0.62 and Ubiquiti (UI) at 0.06 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.06
- Max
- 1.76
- Q3
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.24
- UI
- 0.06
- Q1
- 0.04
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.93 | 2.93 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.62 | 0.06 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.82 | -0.44 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Ubiquiti (UI) 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%
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 0.73%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- UI
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and CSCO more so: Ubiquiti (UI) at 20.19% sits above the band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% exceeds every peer in its group.
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%
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
20.19%
- Max
- 32.27%
- UI
- 20.19%
- Q3
- 14.48%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.73% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 49.85% | 20.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 and Ubiquiti (UI) at 33.47 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
33.47
- Max
- 69.48
- Q3
- 41.02
- UI
- 33.47
- Median
- 26.39
- Q1
- 19.36
- Min
- 6.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 5.84 and Ubiquiti (UI) at 10.95 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
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
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
10.95
- Max
- 11.30
- UI
- 10.95
- Q3
- 5.82
- Median
- 2.56
- Q1
- 1.05
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 7.36 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ubiquiti (UI) at 24.91 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
UI
Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group
24.91
- UI
- 24.91
- Max
- 10.75
- Q3
- 5.52
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- 0.33
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CSCO | UI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 28.18 | 33.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.84 | 10.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.36 | 24.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.02% | 1.98% |