Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Lowered to “Hold” Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Tuesday.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on CSCO. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Cisco Systems from $86.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $95.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Cisco Systems from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 30th. Evercore lifted their price objective on shares of Cisco Systems from $110.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, 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 note 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 issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $123.14.

Cisco Systems Stock Up 0.9%

Cisco Systems stock opened at $115.58 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $117.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $95.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. The firm has a market cap of $455.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.02. Cisco Systems has a twelve month low of $65.75 and a twelve month high of $130.37.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 13th. The network equipment provider reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $15.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.56 billion. Cisco Systems had a return on equity of 28.44% and a net margin of 20.14%.The business’s revenue was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $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. On average, analysts forecast that Cisco Systems will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, July 6th were given a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 6th. Cisco Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.55%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Cisco Systems news, CEO Charles Robbins sold 21,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.03, for a total value of $2,568,642.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 637,085 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,469,312.55. This trade represents a 3.25% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Oliver Tuszik sold 2,607 shares of the firm’s 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 172,727 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,920,694.24. This represents a 1.49% decrease in their position. 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 47,650 shares of company stock valued at $5,668,823 in the last 90 days. 0.01% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Cisco Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Cisco Systems during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Networth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Cisco Systems by 276.4% during the 1st quarter. Networth Advisors LLC now owns 335 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Cisco Systems during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC grew its stake 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 valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.33% of the company’s stock.

Cisco Systems News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: AI and cloud demand support the investment case: Cisco is highlighted alongside Alphabet and Cloudflare as a cloud-computing stock benefiting from AI adoption, enterprise digital transformation and demand for networking infrastructure. 3 Top Cloud Computing Stocks Worth Buying Before August
• Positive Sentiment: Cybersecurity expansion adds a growth catalyst: Cisco joined an AI cybersecurity alliance and partnered with Tech Mahindra on security service edge offerings. The moves could strengthen Cisco’s position in cloud-delivered security as companies seek protection against AI-enabled threats. Cisco Joins AI Cybersecurity Alliance And Teams With Tech Mahindra On SSE
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry conference highlights cybersecurity opportunity: The upcoming EWF 2026 conference is expected to bring together more than 700 cybersecurity and risk-management executives. While not a direct Cisco announcement, the event underscores sustained enterprise demand for practical AI and cybersecurity solutions. As AI Reshapes Cybersecurity, EWF 2026 Brings Together Industry Leaders
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment softened: Wall Street Zen downgraded Cisco to “Hold,” potentially limiting near-term upside after the stock’s strong advance. Cisco trades at a relatively elevated earnings multiple, making execution and growth expectations important. Wall Street Zen Downgrades Cisco Systems to Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Sector volatility and historical risks remain overhangs: Commentary on the semiconductor selloff recalls Cisco’s 2000-era collapse after customers curtailed spending, while broader networking stocks are facing industry headwinds. The comparison may reinforce concerns about cyclical AI and technology valuations, even though Cisco’s current business and earnings profile differ materially. As Semis Sell Off, Investors Should Heed Cisco’s Historical Lesson

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.