Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 1.7% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $78.35 and last traded at $78.64. Approximately 20,432,168 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 14% from the average daily volume of 23,694,908 shares. The stock had previously closed at $80.01.
Key Cisco Systems News
Here are the key news stories impacting Cisco Systems this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Heavy AI order flow, stronger guidance and product momentum — Analysts and coverage pieces highlight Cisco’s growing AI infrastructure business (AI revenue > $2B in 2025) and FY26 targets for higher recognized revenue and orders, plus Silicon One/G300 chip traction and buybacks that support valuation upside. Read More.
- Positive Sentiment: Confirmed hyperscaler demand and partnerships — Reports note heavy AI orders, a new Cisco Secure AI Factory in Australia with NVIDIA and SharonAI, and guidance upgrades that validate near-term revenue drivers. These operational signals are the main fundamental reason some investors remain bullish. Read More.
- Positive Sentiment: Dividend and income appeal — Multiple retirement/dividend-focused articles include NASDAQ dividend names and long-term “set it and forget it” recommendations, supporting demand from income-oriented holders if rates fall. That dynamic could help support the stock over time. Read More.
- Neutral Sentiment: Industry positioning and market studies — Cisco is cited as a leader in email encryption and unified communications market reports, underscoring long-term TAM exposure but not an immediate catalyst. Read More.
- Neutral Sentiment: Management outreach — Cisco presented at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference; transcripts provide detail for investors but did not introduce a surprise that would flip sentiment. Read More.
- Negative Sentiment: Macro and geopolitical uncertainty / market rotation — Broader market factors (regional tensions, shifting bond yields/rate expectations, and profit-taking after YTD gains) are likely weighing on the stock today despite company positives; one article notes regional risks that could affect U.S. investment flows. Read More.
- Negative Sentiment: Mixed commentary and historical caution — Some retail/advice pieces remind investors of past Cisco drawdowns and caution about growth re-rates; these narratives can pressure sentiment during short-term pullbacks. Read More.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several research firms recently issued reports on CSCO. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Cisco Systems from $83.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Cisco Systems in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Cisco Systems from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Cisco Systems from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Citic Securities upped their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $75.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Three investment 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's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.55.
Check Out Our Latest Report on CSCO
Cisco Systems Stock Performance
The stock has a market capitalization of $310.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.59, a P/E/G ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.87. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $77.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $74.01. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.02. Cisco Systems had a net margin of 19.22% and a return on equity of 27.88%. The company had revenue of $15.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $15.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.94 EPS. Cisco Systems's quarterly revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.04 earnings per share for the current year.
Cisco Systems Increases Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 2nd will be given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. This is a positive change from Cisco Systems's previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Cisco Systems's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.95%.
Insider Activity at Cisco Systems
In other news, CEO Charles Robbins sold 19,545 shares of Cisco Systems stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.00, for a total transaction of $1,485,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 671,095 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $51,003,220. This trade represents a 2.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael D. Capellas sold 16,150 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.28, for a total transaction of $1,248,072.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 157,218 shares in the company, valued at $12,149,807.04. This trade represents a 9.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 75,677 shares of company stock valued at $5,811,211 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.01% of the company's stock.
Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CSCO. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Cisco Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Bare Financial Services Inc increased its position in shares of Cisco Systems by 531.0% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 366 shares of the network equipment provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the period. Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Cisco Systems during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Finally, Jessup Wealth Management Inc acquired a new stake in Cisco Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.33% of the company's stock.
About Cisco Systems
(
Get Free Report)
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.
Further Reading
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