Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) Stock Has Consensus Price Target of $128.52

Shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-six research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $128.52.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. HSBC lowered shares of Cisco Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $137.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Friday, August 14th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Cisco Systems from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Cisco Systems in a research note on Tuesday, September 1st. They set a “buy” rating and a $135.00 price target for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Cisco Systems in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $121.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th.

Cisco Systems Trading Up 4.5%

Shares of NASDAQ CSCO opened at $117.94 on Friday. Cisco Systems has a 1-year low of $66.81 and a 1-year high of $130.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The business’s 50 day moving average is $112.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $464.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.31, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.99.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 12th. The network equipment provider reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.17 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $17.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.84 billion. Cisco Systems had a return on equity of 30.16% and a net margin of 20.95%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.99 EPS. Cisco Systems has set its FY 2027 guidance at 5.050-5.110 EPS and its Q1 2027 guidance at 1.320-1.340 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Cisco Systems will post 4.41 EPS for the current year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 2nd. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 50.30%.

Key Stories Impacting Cisco Systems

Here are the key news stories impacting Cisco Systems this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Supermicro expands Cisco’s AI channel: Supermicro servers are entering Cisco’s AI Factory channel, potentially broadening Cisco’s ability to deliver integrated AI infrastructure to enterprise customers. The development was cited as a key reason for the stock’s advance. Cisco Stock Gains 2% as Supermicro Servers Enter Its AI Factory Channel
• Positive Sentiment: AI networking demand remains a sector tailwind: Cisco benefited from broader investor enthusiasm for AI networking, alongside Arista Networks and Ciena. Continued demand for high-performance switching and optical networking supports Cisco’s data-center growth outlook. Arista Networks Advances 4% While Ciena Soars 11% on AI Networking Demand; Cisco Rises 3%
• Positive Sentiment: Webex adds governed WhatsApp messaging: A LeapXpert integration allows Webex users to communicate with clients through WhatsApp while adding compliance controls and conversation archiving. The feature could improve Webex’s appeal to regulated enterprises and support Cisco’s collaboration business. Cisco System’s $4.30 Billion Collaboration Unit Adds WhatsApp to Webex
• Positive Sentiment: Security ecosystem expands: Quantum XChange joined Cisco’s Networking App Marketplace, bringing post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe security capabilities to Cisco networks. This strengthens Cisco’s cybersecurity and technology-partner ecosystem. Quantum XChange Joins the Cisco Networking App Marketplace as a Cisco Technology Partner
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles highlighted Cisco’s push into sovereign AI and the long-term growth of hybrid IT management, AIOps, cloud infrastructure, and sustainability data. These trends support Cisco’s strategic positioning but provide limited immediate financial guidance. How to play CSCO stock as Cisco bets on sovereign AI
• Negative Sentiment: Rising Treasury yields created a valuation headwind: Investor Steve Weiss said he sold Cisco and reduced other technology holdings as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure the valuations of large technology companies. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Amid Rising Yields

Insider Transactions at Cisco Systems

In related news, EVP Thimaya Subaiya sold 312 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.18, for a total transaction of $34,376.16. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 127,661 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,065,688.98. This trade represents a 0.24% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Charles Robbins sold 21,628 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.54, for a total value of $2,412,387.12. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 602,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $67,226,273.40. The trade was a 3.46% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 44,869 shares of company stock valued at $5,005,620. Company insiders own 0.01% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems in the second quarter valued at approximately $42,129,647,000. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its holdings in Cisco Systems by 8,718.3% during the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 51,952,421 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $400,190,000 after purchasing an additional 51,363,281 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in Cisco Systems during the 2nd quarter worth $5,892,379,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in Cisco Systems during the 2nd quarter valued at $4,714,574,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems in the 2nd quarter worth $1,997,004,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.33% of the company’s stock.

Cisco Systems Company Profile

Cisco Systems, Inc is a global technology company that develops networking, cybersecurity, collaboration, observability and data center solutions. Its products and services help businesses, governments, educational institutions and other organizations connect users and devices, manage infrastructure, protect digital environments and support cloud-based operations.

Cisco’s portfolio includes routers and switches, wireless networking equipment, network management software, firewalls, identity and access tools, endpoint security products, collaboration applications and observability platforms.