CSCO vs. V: Cisco Systems vs. Visa Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V) 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 Visa (V) belongs to Financials (Financial Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Profile Item	CSCO	V
Name	Cisco Systems, Inc.	Visa Inc. Class A
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Financials
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Financial Services
GICS Industry	Communications Equipment	Financial Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment	Transaction & Payment Processing Services
Market Capitalization	370.01 billion USD	788.58 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	February 16, 1990	March 19, 2008
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CSCO

GSPC

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V), 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 Visa (V). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Total Return (1Y)	40.88%	27.50%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	26.81%	21.55%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	14.44%	15.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CSCO

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.83%	22.99%
Beta (5Y)	1.02	0.78
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.68%	-24.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)	18.52M	6.56M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CSCO and V 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 Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	1.01
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.44	1.64

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Visa (V) at 63.51% 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%

V

Financial Services industry group

63.51%

V: 63.51%
Max: 44.78%
Q3: 21.85%
Median: 12.91%
Q1: 4.48%
Min: -18.71%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 20.95% and Visa (V) at 51.20% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

V

Financial Services industry group

51.20%

Max: 62.84%
V: 51.20%
Q3: 28.05%
Median: 15.36%
Q1: 4.82%
Min: -28.52%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 27.72% and Visa (V) at 63.73% 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%

V

Financial Services industry group

63.73%

Max: 107.33%
V: 63.73%
Q3: 55.90%
Median: 30.09%
Q1: 14.60%
Min: -44.34%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
ROE (TTM)	27.32%	63.51%
ROA (TTM)	7.98%	19.61%
Net Margin (TTM)	20.95%	51.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.72%	63.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)	64.52%	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 11.78% and Visa (V) at 14.76% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Visa (V) reports EPS growth of 20.78%, ranked against its industry; Cisco Systems (CSCO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Revenue Growth (YoY)	11.78%	14.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.57%	12.02%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	20.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	14.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shows current ratio of 0.93; Visa (V) doesn’t get one — Financial Services balance sheets aren’t split into current and non-current buckets, so short-term liquidity there is judged through regulatory measures instead.

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

V

Financial Services industry group

V: --
Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): V’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for CSCO only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62; for Visa (V) the ratio is set aside — in Financial Services, balance-sheet leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital-adequacy measures do the job this ratio does elsewhere.

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

V

Financial Services industry group

V: --
Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): V’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for CSCO only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.93	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.62	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.82	--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Visa (V) at 0.66% pays an industry-typical yield; Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 1.73% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

V

Financial Services industry group

0.66%

Max: 9.77%
Q3: 3.92%
Median: 1.09%
V: 0.66%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Visa (V) at 21.75% keeps its payout in the industry’s typical band, while Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 49.85% pays out more than any of its peers — the most stretched cover 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%

V

Financial Services industry group

21.75%

Max: 241.07%
Q3: 97.36%
Median: 25.77%
V: 21.75%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.73%	0.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	49.85%	21.75%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) at 28.18 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Visa (V) at 34.31 sits in the richer quartile — V 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

V

Financial Services industry group

34.31

Max: 45.85
V: 34.31
Q3: 24.64
Median: 15.37
Q1: 9.68
Min: 0.16

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial 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 Visa (V) at 17.18 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

V

Financial Services industry group

17.18

V: 17.18
Max: 9.23
Q3: 4.57
Median: 2.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: -0.55

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial 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 Visa (V) at 22.05 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

V

Financial Services industry group

22.05

V: 22.05
Max: 7.79
Q3: 3.63
Median: 1.57
Q1: 0.81
Min: -0.39

Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Technology Hardware & Equipment and Financial Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Visa (V)
Metric	CSCO	V
P/E Ratio (TTM)	28.18	34.31
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.84	17.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.36	22.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.02%	--