CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Do?
Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet Protocol based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China. It provides infrastructure platforms, including networking technologies of switching, routing, wireless, and data center products that are designed to work together to deliver networking capabilities, and transport and/or store data. The company also offers collaboration products comprising unified communications, Cisco TelePresence, and conferencing, as well as the Internet of Things and analytics software. In addition, it provides security products, such as network security, cloud and email security, identity and access management, advanced threat protection, and unified threat management products. Further, the company offers a range of service and support options for its customers, including technical support and advanced services. It serves businesses of various sizes, public institutions, governments, and service providers. The company sells its products and services directly, as well as through systems integrators, service providers, other resellers, and distributors. Cisco Systems, Inc. has strategic alliances with other companies. Cisco Systems, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) is classified as a mega-cap stock in the Technology sector, specifically within the Computer Hardware industry. The company is led by CEO Charles H. Robbins and employs approximately 83,300 people, headquartered in San Jose, California. With a market capitalization of $307.8B, CSCO is one of the largest companies in the Technology sector.
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 48.6/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CSCO ranks #950 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Technology sector, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. ranks #90 of 584 stocks, placing it in the top quartile of its Technology peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
CSCO Stock Price and 52-Week Range
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) currently trades at $82.42. The stock lost $0.75 (0.9%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CSCO is $88.19, which means the stock is currently trading -6.5% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $52.11, putting the stock 58.2% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 17.6M shares, indicating strong institutional interest and high liquidity.
Is CSCO Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) carries a value factor score of 43/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 29.09x, compared to the Technology sector average of 45.27x — a discount of 36%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 6.68x, versus the sector average of 3.16x. The price-to-sales ratio is 5.46x, compared to 1.06x for the average Technology stock. On an enterprise value basis, CSCO trades at 25.51x EV/EBITDA, versus 12.79x for the sector.
Overall, CSCO's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 22.9%, compared to the Technology sector average of -1.4%, which demonstrates strong shareholder value creation. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 8.9% versus the sector average of -1.0%.
On a margin basis, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. reports gross margins of 65.3%, compared to 50.9% for the sector. The operating margin is 23.0% (sector: -0.5%). Net profit margin stands at 18.7%, versus -1.5% for the average Technology stock. Revenue growth is running at 10.9% on a trailing basis, compared to 14.2% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.
CSCO Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 52.0%, compared to the Technology sector average of 43.0%. Leverage is within a manageable range for the industry, though investors should monitor debt trends over time. The current ratio is 0.96x, which may signal near-term liquidity tightness. Total debt on the balance sheet is $24.60B.
CSCO has a beta of 0.91, meaning it is roughly in line with the broader market in terms of price volatility. The stability factor score for CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. is 80/100, indicating low-volatility characteristics and consistent price behavior that appeals to risk-averse investors.
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. reported revenue of $58.37B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.80. Net income for the quarter was $10.95B. Gross margin was 65.3%. Operating income came in at $13.46B.
In Q2 2026, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. reported revenue of $15.35B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.80. Net income for the quarter was $3.17B. Gross margin was 65.0%. Revenue grew 9.7% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $3.78B.
In Q1 2026, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. reported revenue of $14.88B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.72. Net income for the quarter was $2.86B. Gross margin was 65.5%. Revenue grew 7.5% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $3.36B.
In FY 2025, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. reported revenue of $56.65B and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.56. Net income for the quarter was $10.18B. Gross margin was 64.9%. Revenue grew 5.3% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $11.76B.
Over the past 8 quarters, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $53.80B to $58.37B. Investors analyzing CSCO stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
CSCO Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.3%. At this yield, a $10,000 investment in CSCO stock would generate approximately $$231.00 in annual dividend income. With a net margin of 18.7%, the dividend appears well-covered by earnings, suggesting sustainable payouts going forward.
CSCO Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) has a momentum factor score of 57/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 29/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 21/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
CSCO vs Competitors — Technology Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Technology sector, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) ranks #90 out of 584 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CSCO in the top quartile of all Technology stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include IHS Holding Ltd (IHS) with a score of 55.0/100, VERISIGN INC/CA (VRSN) with a score of 56.0/100, ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC (ESE) with a score of 51.7/100, CareCloud, Inc. (CCLD) with a score of 46.9/100, and MMTec, Inc. (MTC) with a score of 47.4/100.
Comparing CSCO against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CSCO vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
CSCO Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy CSCO? — Investment Thesis Summary
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. Low volatility (stability score 80/100) reduces downside risk.
In summary, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 48.6/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CSCO stock.
Related Resources for CSCO Investors
Explore more research and tools: CSCO vs S&P 500 comparison, top Technology stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CSCO head-to-head with peers: CSCO vs IHS, CSCO vs VRSN, CSCO vs ESE.