Cisco Systems, Inc.(CSCO)NASDAQ
Stock Overview & Analysis
Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) quick overview 2026-02-20
- The stock is currently trading at $79.20, experiencing a price strength within a larger uptrend—trading above its 50-day average while holding above the 200-day.
- Analysts appear optimistic, with a 1-year price target of $88.81 (12.1% upside).
- Volatility is elevated (43.46% annualized), implying wide price swings.
- The fundamental story is nuanced: solid revenue growth (9.70% YoY) alongside significant competitive pressures.
Here's What You Need to Know Right Now
Concise, actionable context
Cisco Systems, Inc. - Historical Price & Volume
Market Cap
Enterprise Value: $324.77B
P/E Ratio
Forward P/E: 17.31
Revenue Growth
Year over Year
Analyst Target
+12.1% upside potential
Key Investor Questions
Clarity over jargon
- Technicals say: Neutral (RSI 50.52)
- Fundamentals say: Caution warranted (high leverage concerns)
- Future growth will depend on performance in core Communication Equipment operations.
- The ability to manage competitive pressures will be crucial for sustained growth.
- $31.74B in debt could be a headwind in a high-rate environment.
- Fierce competition from established players in Communication Equipment.
Trading Range
Over the past year, the stock traded between $52.11 and $88.19—recovering meaningfully from lows and currently near the higher end. Big swings are likely unless a major catalyst emerges.
Volatility
With 43.46% annualized volatility and β=0.86, the stock exhibits moderate correlation to market moves—suitable for investors comfortable with active risk management.
Ownership Snapshot
High institutional backing, but elevated short interest signals a potential battleground stock.
Analyst Sentiment
Latest News
Recent headlines and coverage
Cisco Stock Rises 17% in 6 Months: Will AI Endeavors Fuel More Gains?
CSCO rides a 17% six-month surge as AI infrastructure orders top $2 billion and networking growth accelerates. Can the rally continue?
PANW vs. CSCO: Which Cybersecurity Stock Is a Buy Right Now?
Cisco Systems edges past Palo Alto Networks with rising estimates, strong security adoption and lower valuation as integration costs weigh on PANW.
1 Growth Stock with All-Star Potential and 2 Facing Challenges
Growth is oxygen. But when it evaporates, the consequences can be severe - ask anyone who bought Cisco in the Dot-Com Bubble or newer investors who lived through the 2020 to 2022 COVID cycle.
Cisco Quantum Breakthrough And AI Push Deepen Long Term Investor Debate
Cisco Systems (NasdaqGS:CSCO) reports a breakthrough in quantum networking with Qunnect, achieving successful entanglement swapping over metro scale fiber. The company also unveils AI powered network and security updates, including new Silicon One chips and features focused on agentic AI security. Additional partnerships are announced to support wider AI and cloud adoption across customer networks. Cisco sits at the center of global networking, selling switches, routers, security tools, and...
Wall Street Analysts Think Cisco (CSCO) Is a Good Investment: Is It?
Based on the average brokerage recommendation (ABR), Cisco (CSCO) should be added to one's portfolio. Wall Street analysts' overly optimistic recommendations cast doubt on the effectiveness of this highly sought-after metric. So, is the stock worth buying?
Cisco Systems (CSCO) Crossed Above the 50-Day Moving Average: What That Means for Investors
Good things could be on the horizon when a stock surpasses the 50-Day simple moving average. How should investors react?
Assessing Cisco (CSCO) Valuation After Recent Share Price Pullback And Longer Term Gains
Market context for Cisco Systems (CSCO) Cisco Systems (CSCO) has drawn investor attention recently, with the stock showing mixed short term moves alongside longer term gains, as well as reported revenue and net income figures that shape how some investors are reassessing its profile. See our latest analysis for Cisco Systems. At a share price of $78.18, Cisco’s 1 day share price return of 1.73% comes after a 7 day share price return showing an 8.60% decline, while its 1 year total shareholder...
Tech Majors Help Lift Equity Markets Intraday Ahead of Fed Minutes
US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday amid gains in major technology stocks, ahead of the
Veteran analyst drops a shocker on Cisco
Cisco (CSCO) should be on cloud nine right now. The software giant posted another strong quarter. Everything, on a fundamental level, is going well: record revenue, double-digit growth, and a tangible surge in AI-driven demand; if these are not reasons to celebrate, I do not know what is. Yet its ...
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Cisco, Extreme Networks and Radcom
Cisco, Extreme Networks and Radcom have been highlighted in this Industry Outlook article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common investor questions about Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) is currently trading at $79.20. The RSI (14-day) is at 50.5, indicating neutral territory. Wall Street analysts have a consensus "buy" recommendation. The mean analyst price target of $88.81 implies 12.1% upside from current levels. Volatility is high at 43.5% annualized, meaning significant price swings are common. Investors should consider their risk tolerance, investment horizon, and portfolio diversification before making a decision.
Based on current valuation metrics for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO): The trailing P/E ratio is 28.11, which is in line with broader market averages. The forward P/E is 17.31, lower than the trailing P/E, suggesting analysts expect earnings improvement. The PEG ratio is 1.32, near 1.0, suggesting roughly fair value relative to growth. Price-to-Book is 6.47. Price-to-Sales is 5.23. Valuation should be compared to Communication Equipment industry peers for context, as different sectors trade at different multiples.
Based on 21 analysts covering CSCO, the consensus price target is $88.81. This represents a 12.1% upside from the current price of $79.20. The range spans from a low target of $75.00 to a high target of $100.00, reflecting varying levels of optimism among analysts. The consensus recommendation is "buy". Note: Analyst price targets are forward-looking estimates and not guarantees of future performance.
Yes, Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) pays a dividend with a current yield of approximately 2.12%. The annualized dividend rate is $1.64 per share. The payout ratio is 59.0%, which is moderate and suggests adequate earnings coverage for the dividend. The most recent ex-dividend date was 2026-04-02.
Key risks for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) investors include: 1. High volatility (43.5% annualized)—the stock can experience significant daily price swings. 2. Broader market and macroeconomic risks (interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events). 3. Communication Equipment sector-specific competitive pressures. Investors should diversify and consider their risk tolerance before investing.
Here is Cisco Systems, Inc.'s (CSCO) current debt and financial health profile: Total debt stands at $31.74B. The debt-to-equity ratio is 66.51, which is moderate and generally manageable for most companies. The current ratio is 0.95, which is below 1.0 and may indicate short-term liquidity concerns. The quick ratio is 0.74. The company holds $15.78B in cash and equivalents. Free cash flow is positive at $10.13B, providing a cushion for debt servicing and shareholder returns.