Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Stock Price Up 3.9% – Here’s Why

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) rose 3.9% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $119.48 and last traded at $118.31. Approximately 20,811,387 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 23,966,516 shares. The stock had previously closed at $113.82.

More Cisco Systems News

Here are the key news stories impacting Cisco Systems this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Cisco was highlighted as an AI infrastructure leader, with its networking, optics, Splunk, and hyperscaler exposure seen as key drivers of stronger long-term demand. Cisco, IBD Stock Of The Day, Went From Slow-Growth Tech Icon To AI Infrastructure Leader
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks included CSCO among cloud computing stocks positioned to benefit from AI-driven data-center growth in the second half of 2026, supporting the stock’s bull case. 5 Cloud Computing Stocks to Buy for 2H 2026 as Digital Demand Soars
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco landed a $230 million Army-related role, adding another sign of demand for its networking and security offerings. Cisco (CSCO) Lands $230 Million Army Role And Backs AP Cybersecurity Course
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco also partnered with the College Board to launch a new AP Cybersecurity course, which could help strengthen its long-term brand in cybersecurity education and talent development. Cisco (CSCO) Partners With College Board to Launch AP Cybersecurity Course
• Neutral Sentiment: A data-center infrastructure market report named Cisco among industry participants benefiting from AI adoption and cloud expansion, but this was more of an industry overview than a company-specific catalyst. Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Software Market Report Published; Profiles Schneider Electric, Vertiv, IBM, Cisco, HPE & 10 Others
• Neutral Sentiment: One note said short interest in Cisco increased in July, but the figures reported zero shares on both dates, so it does not appear to be a meaningful trading signal.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on CSCO shares. Truist Financial started coverage on Cisco Systems in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $94.00 target price on the stock. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Cisco Systems from $86.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. New Street Research boosted their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $82.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $95.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Cisco Systems from $90.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Cisco Systems currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $123.14.

Cisco Systems Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $478.14 billion, a PE ratio of 39.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.02. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $115.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.92.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 13th. The network equipment provider reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.03. Cisco Systems had a net margin of 20.14% and a return on equity of 28.44%. The business had revenue of $15.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.56 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.96 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. Cisco Systems has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.160-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.270-4.290 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 6th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.4%. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.55%.

Insider Transactions at Cisco Systems

In other Cisco Systems news, EVP Deborah L. Stahlkopf sold 6,586 shares of Cisco Systems stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.31, for a total value of $772,603.66. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 177,223 shares in the company, valued at $20,790,030.13. The trade was a 3.58% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Oliver Tuszik sold 2,761 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.61, for a total transaction of $316,438.21. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 180,877 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,730,312.97. The trade was a 1.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 47,650 shares of company stock valued at $5,668,823. Corporate insiders own 0.01% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CSCO. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cisco Systems by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Regent Peak Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 9,031 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $1,061,000 after purchasing an additional 209 shares during the period. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC acquired a new position in Cisco Systems during the second quarter valued at approximately $306,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Cisco Systems during the second quarter worth approximately $546,000. Tema ETFs LLC increased its position in shares of Cisco Systems by 10.7% in the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 85,868 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $10,086,000 after acquiring an additional 8,265 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GenWealth Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Cisco Systems during the 2nd quarter valued at $300,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.33% of the company’s stock.

Cisco Systems Company Profile

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.