Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Shares Up 1.3% After Analyst Upgrade

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) shares traded up 1.3% during trading on Tuesday after Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. The company traded as high as $113.18 and last traded at $112.18. Approximately 16,710,936 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 30% from the average daily volume of 23,855,158 shares. The stock had previously closed at $110.70.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. CICC Research raised their price target on Cisco Systems from $96.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Cisco Systems from $95.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Citic Securities increased their target price on Cisco Systems from $90.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, May 15th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Cisco Systems from $90.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane upped their price target on Cisco Systems from $87.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cisco Systems presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $123.14.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Deborah L. Stahlkopf sold 6,586 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.31, for a total transaction of $772,603.66. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 177,223 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,790,030.13. This trade represents a 3.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Oliver Tuszik sold 2,607 shares of Cisco Systems stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.12, for a total value of $315,759.84. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 172,727 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,920,694.24. This represents a 1.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 47,650 shares of company stock worth $5,668,823 over the last 90 days. 0.01% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

More Cisco Systems News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street Zen upgraded Cisco Systems (CSCO) to Buy, adding to the view that analysts remain constructive on the stock. Wall Street Zen Upgrades Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) to “Buy”
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco is getting attention as a potential winner in the AI networking boom, with reports highlighting its AI infrastructure exposure and new product/partnership activity in quantum networking and AI-enabled Webex Contact Center tools. Can Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Lead the AI Network Boom? Cisco (CSCO) Tests Quantum Networking While Webex Adds AI Contact Center Partner
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains broadly supportive, with Cisco carrying an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” and other articles noting that Wall Street generally views the stock favorably. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts Wall Street Analysts Think Cisco (CSCO) Is a Good Investment: Is It?
• Neutral Sentiment: Several items are mostly attention/technical-market stories, including Cisco being a trending stock and a speculative price-prediction piece, which may add noise but do not change fundamentals. 3 Reasons to Sell CSCO and 1 Stock to Buy Instead Price Prediction: Cisco Stock Will Double on This Date
• Negative Sentiment: A recent market article said Cisco (CSCO) fell more than the broader market, and another report highlighted concerns that the stock may be a sell after its steep run-up over the past six months. Cisco Systems (CSCO) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know Cisco Systems (CSCO) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know
• Negative Sentiment: There were also reports that Cisco stock dipped amid speculation about a possible Zafran Security acquisition, though the startup denied active sale talks, so the deal angle remains uncertain. Cisco Systems (CSCO) Stock Dips Amid Zafran Security Acquisition Reports

Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management bought a new stake in Cisco Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Networth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Cisco Systems by 276.4% in the 1st quarter. Networth Advisors LLC now owns 335 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 246 shares during the period. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Cisco Systems in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Cisco Systems by 137.0% during the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 346 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 73.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cisco Systems Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $442.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.42, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $93.67. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.03. Cisco Systems had a return on equity of 28.44% and a net margin of 20.14%.The business had revenue of $15.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.56 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.96 earnings per share. Cisco Systems’s quarterly 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. On average, equities analysts expect that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 6th. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.55%.

About Cisco Systems

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.