CSCO

We rate CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO) as a Hold with a composite score of 62.8/100 at a current price of $78.17. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (79th percentile) and quality (67th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (57/100), Medium uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 62.8/100 places it at rank #441 in our full 7,333-stock universe. As a mega-cap company with a $279.2B market capitalization, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. benefits from significant scale, distribution networks, and brand recognition that smaller competitors cannot easily replicate.

Revenue is growing at 11%, though momentum at the 55th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 65% (+22.8pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 23% (+21.7pp vs sector) and net margins of 18.7%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 29%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $78.17, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 67/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 28.6x (a 28% premium to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 25.1x (at a premium), P/B of 6.6x, P/S of 5.4x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: risk factors are within normal ranges. While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

We identify no major risk factors at this time. The company's stability factor sits at the 79th percentile with quality at the 67th percentile, both of which support our low-risk assessment. The absence of material leverage, profitability, or volatility concerns reduces the likelihood of a permanent capital loss scenario.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 65% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (79th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; large-cap scale ($279.2B) provides resilience. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.'s capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 22.9%, a 2.31% dividend yield, best-in-class net margins of 18.7%. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 2.31% dividend yield, and the combination of 8.9% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 62.8/100 (rank #441 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (57/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 62/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.