Cisco (CSCO): analysis in plain words
Is Cisco cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Cisco (CSCO) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in hardware and devices. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Cisco according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Cisco (CSCO) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $103.61 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 31.1x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +17.6% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 21.0% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.8x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.63% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $408.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Cisco figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any CSCO figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Cisco makes money
Cisco sells networking hardware and software to businesses, telecom carriers and governments. Networking, including switches, routers and Wi-Fi, is its largest product category, followed by Security, Collaboration with Webex, and Observability, featuring Splunk and ThousandEyes, plus support services. It reports the Americas, its largest region, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
Over the last 12 months, Cisco brought in revenue of $63.3 billion. For every 100 it sells, Cisco keeps 64.5 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 27.7 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 82,400 full-time employees, that is about $769,000 of revenue per employee.
Cisco against its sector
To know whether a Cisco figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Cisco with the median of the 7 hardware and devices companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Cisco | hardware and devices median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 31.1x | 31.1x (7) |
| Revenue growth | +17.6% | +27.6% (8) |
| Net margin | 21.0% | 6.6% (8) |
| Dividend yield | 1.63% | 0.47% (8) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.8x | 0.6x (7) |
In short, against the typical hardware and devices company, Cisco grows more slowly, earns a wider margin and pays a higher dividend yield. By size, Cisco ranks number 2 of 7 hardware and devices companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Cisco
What works in favour of Cisco, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Cisco keeps 21.0 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 6.6 for the median hardware and devices company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- Analysts expect Cisco earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 18.4x, below the current 31.1x.
- Cisco earns 27.3% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
The main risk for Cisco
The Cisco figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: demand for devices slowing, because companies and consumers can put off upgrades.
Frequently asked questions about Cisco
Is it a good time to buy Cisco stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Cisco, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Cisco stock trades at $103.61, 21% below its 52-week high ($130.37) and 47% above its low ($70.54). Its P/E is 31.1x against a hardware and devices median of 31.1x, and 18.4x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Cisco, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Cisco pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Cisco pays $1.68 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.63%. It uses 50% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 2.55%. The hardware and devices median on Fintols is 0.47%.
Is Cisco stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Cisco trades at 31.1x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the hardware and devices median (31.1x). Including its debt, Cisco is valued at 22.6x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Cisco expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Cisco's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Cisco with Arista Networks, Apple and Dell, which are also in hardware and devices. As of November 4, 2026, Arista Networks is worth $225.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 47.8; Apple is worth $5.08 trillion and trades on a P/E of 38.9; Dell is worth $236.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 21.6. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Cisco below.
Cisco competitors
- Arista Networks (ANET) analysis · Cisco vs Arista Networks comparison
- Apple (AAPL) analysis · Cisco vs Apple comparison
- Dell (DELL) analysis · Cisco vs Dell comparison
To understand Cisco better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Cisco: hardware and devices stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full CSCO analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Cisco, not investment advice.