Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Stock Price Up 5.5% – Still a Buy?

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)’s stock price was up 5.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $121.95 and last traded at $128.0450. Approximately 23,937,699 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 27,487,546 shares. The stock had previously closed at $121.33.

Trending Headlines about Cisco Systems

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

• Positive Sentiment: Cisco introduced Cloud Control, a unified “agentic” platform for managing and defending critical IT infrastructure, reinforcing its push into AI-driven networking and enterprise automation. Cisco Unveils Agentic Platform for Operating and Defending Critical IT Infrastructure
• Positive Sentiment: The company also rolled out Live Protect and other cybersecurity tools designed to defend against AI-powered attacks, which could support future security software revenue. Cisco launches platform to defend against AI-powered cyber threats
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco highlighted a major AI networking opportunity, saying AI agents generate far more traffic than humans, which suggests stronger demand for its networking gear and related services. Cisco highlights AI networking opportunity as agents generate 450 percent more traffic than humans
• Positive Sentiment: HSBC upgraded Cisco Systems (CSCO) to Buy and sharply raised its price target, citing a stronger-than-expected AI infrastructure demand trend. HSBC Upgrades Cisco Systems (CSCO) on Surging AI Infrastructure Demand
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target on Cisco but kept a Neutral rating, signaling support for the name without a strong bullish call. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on Cisco Systems to 125 from 116
• Neutral Sentiment: Trade chatter and options activity show strong investor interest, but these signals are more reflective of momentum than a clear fundamental change. 3 Stocks At The Center Of Trump’s AI Security Order
• Negative Sentiment: The stock has also run up sharply in recent weeks, so some of the AI optimism may already be priced in despite the company’s strong execution. Cisco Systems (CSCO) Is Up 8.2% After Record AI-Focused Quarter And New Cloud Control Platform – Has The Bull Case Changed?

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on CSCO shares. Wall Street Zen cut Cisco Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 14th. BNP Paribas Exane boosted their target price on Cisco Systems from $87.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Cisco Systems in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Truist Financial started coverage on Cisco Systems in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $94.00 target price on the stock. Finally, CICC Research boosted their target price on Cisco Systems from $96.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Cisco Systems has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $119.50.

Cisco Systems Trading Down 1.2%

The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The firm has a market cap of $498.59 billion, a PE ratio of 41.07, a P/E/G ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.01. The company’s 50-day moving average is $96.27 and its 200 day moving average is $84.33.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last released its earnings results 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. The company had revenue of $15.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.56 billion. Cisco Systems had a net margin of 20.14% and a return on equity of 28.44%. The company’s revenue was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.96 EPS. 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, sell-side analysts predict that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.52 EPS for the current year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, July 6th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 6th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.55%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Cisco Systems news, EVP Oliver Tuszik sold 3,132 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.74, for a total value of $249,745.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 188,613 shares in the company, valued at $15,040,000.62. This trade represents a 1.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Charles Robbins sold 21,400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.03, for a total transaction of $2,568,642.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 637,085 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $76,469,312.55. The trade was a 3.25% 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 sold a total of 51,324 shares of company stock worth $5,559,834 in the last ninety days. 0.01% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cisco Systems

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CSCO. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Cisco Systems by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 398,943,293 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $30,730,602,000 after acquiring an additional 4,049,893 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Cisco Systems by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 195,521,161 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $15,060,995,000 after acquiring an additional 1,057,962 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Cisco Systems by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 75,326,258 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $5,802,382,000 after acquiring an additional 206,352 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Cisco Systems by 11.6% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 59,836,782 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $4,609,227,000 after acquiring an additional 6,224,062 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Cisco Systems in the fourth quarter worth about $4,473,272,000. 73.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.