Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO – Get Free Report)’s share price rose 1.2% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $78.88 and last traded at $78.51. Approximately 17,483,094 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 24% from the average daily volume of 23,046,570 shares. The stock had previously closed at $77.60.
Key Stories Impacting Cisco Systems
Here are the key news stories impacting Cisco Systems this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Cisco joined a new 400G Optical multi‑source alliance with Broadcom, NVIDIA and others to standardize high‑speed optical interfaces for AI data centers — a direct strategic win for Cisco’s AI‑infrastructure story. Cisco’s 400G Alliance Ties AI Data Centers To Valuation Story
- Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs’ strategist highlights AI infrastructure and cybersecurity as favored themes — a bullish backdrop for Cisco as a core networking/AI‑infra play. The AI Payoff Is the ‘Biggest Question’ for U.S. Investors, Says Goldman’s Snider
- Positive Sentiment: Technical/market commentary suggests Cisco could clear near‑term overhead resistance, which may attract momentum traders and help lift the stock. Blue‑Chip Tech Stock Could Topple Overhead Resistance
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst consensus remains constructive (consensus “Moderate Buy”), supporting investor confidence in Cisco’s near‑term outlook. Cisco Systems, Inc. Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
- Positive Sentiment: Notable long‑term investors (e.g., Ken Fisher) maintain sizable Cisco stakes, a signal of institutional conviction for buy‑and‑hold shareholders. Cisco Systems Inc.: Ken Fisher Reignites Interest in Long‑Term Holding
- Neutral Sentiment: Valuation debate: Zacks flags Cisco as relatively expensive on a price‑to‑sales basis (~4.95x) even as it acknowledges the company’s AI infrastructure tailwinds — a mixed signal for value‑sensitive investors. Cisco is Overvalued at 4.95X PS: Should You Still Buy the Stock?
- Neutral Sentiment: Jabil — a supplier to Cisco — is benefiting from AI and stronger demand across cloud/datacenter segments; this underscores healthy end‑market demand but is an indirect signal for Cisco itself. Jabil Quietly Manufactures an Accelerating Stock Price Rally
- Negative Sentiment: Short‑term headwinds from broader Nasdaq weakness have pressured Cisco at times this week, aligning some pullbacks with index trends rather than company‑specific fundamentals. Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Price Decline Meets Nasdaq Composite Trends
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
CSCO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. HSBC raised their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Cisco Systems from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. BNP Paribas Exane raised their price target on Cisco Systems from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 price target on shares of Cisco Systems in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $89.55.
Cisco Systems Stock Performance
The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $74.70. The company has a market cap of $310.11 billion, a PE ratio of 27.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45.
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The network equipment provider reported $1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.02 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $15.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.11 billion. Cisco Systems had a return on equity of 27.88% and a net margin of 19.22%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.94 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Cisco Systems Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 2nd will be paid a $0.42 dividend. This is an increase from Cisco Systems’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.54%.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Cisco Systems news, CEO Charles Robbins sold 19,545 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.00, for a total transaction of $1,485,420.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 671,095 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $51,003,220. This trade represents a 2.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Maria Victoria Wong sold 551 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.54, for a total transaction of $42,724.54. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 27,957 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,167,785.78. The trade was a 1.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 57,281 shares of company stock valued at $4,411,680. 0.01% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CSCO. Smithfield Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Cisco Systems by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 33,666 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,596,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC grew its position in Cisco Systems by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC now owns 12,528 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $965,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA grew its position in Cisco Systems by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 13,656 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,052,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Cairn Investment Group Inc. increased its stake in Cisco Systems by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Cairn Investment Group Inc. now owns 24,146 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,860,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Finally, Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC raised its position in Cisco Systems by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 15,042 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $1,159,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. 73.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc is a global technology company that designs, manufactures and sells networking hardware, software and telecommunications equipment. Its core business focuses on enabling enterprise and service-provider networks through products such as routers, switches, network security appliances and wireless systems. Over time Cisco has broadened its portfolio to emphasize software-defined networking, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and edge computing solutions that help organizations build and manage modern IT environments.
In addition to hardware, Cisco offers a growing range of software platforms and subscription services for network management, security, analytics and collaboration.
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