Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Trading Up 2.8% Following Analyst Upgrade

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) shot up 2.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday after The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on the stock from $116.00 to $125.00. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock. Cisco Systems traded as high as $130.37 and last traded at $130.00. 23,250,590 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 2% from the average session volume of 23,691,801 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.50.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Cisco Systems from $95.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Cisco Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 14th. Evercore lifted their price target on Cisco Systems from $110.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 price target on shares of Cisco Systems in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Cisco Systems from $76.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 14th. 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 company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $119.50.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Jeetendra I. Patel sold 7,169 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.28, for a total value of $840,780.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 246,737 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $28,937,315.36. This trade represents a 2.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Thimaya K. Subaiya sold 1,744 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.07, for a total value of $134,410.08. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 156,693 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,076,329.51. This represents a 1.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 51,324 shares of company stock worth $5,559,834. Corporate insiders own 0.01% of the company’s stock.

Cisco Systems News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Cisco’s AI platform and cybersecurity rollout is strengthening the bull case, with new products aimed at secure AI infrastructure and ransomware defense. Cisco’s AI Platforms And Cybersecurity Push Test Valuation For Investors
• Positive Sentiment: HSBC previously upgraded Cisco on surging AI infrastructure demand, suggesting the company’s growth profile is improving as AI spending expands. HSBC Upgrades Cisco Systems (CSCO) on Surging AI Infrastructure Demand
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco’s recent earnings beat and raised guidance are still helping sentiment, as the company reported stronger-than-expected revenue and EPS and lifted its AI infrastructure orders target. Cisco Systems (CSCO) Is Up 8.2% After Record AI-Focused Quarter And New Cloud Control Platform – Has The Bull Case Changed?
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs kept a Hold/Neutral view and raised its price target, signaling limited near-term upside in its view despite better fundamentals. Goldman Sachs Remains a Hold on Cisco Systems (CSCO)
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley reiterated a Buy rating, adding to the overall positive analyst backdrop but not changing the story materially on its own. Morgan Stanley Sticks to Their Buy Rating for Cisco Systems (CSCO)
• Neutral Sentiment: Cisco was mentioned in broader market commentary on semiconductor and AI spending, which supports the sector narrative but is not company-specific. Strategist Defends Semiconductor Rally Despite Bubble Fears

Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Networth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cisco Systems by 137.0% in the 1st quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 346 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Cisco Systems in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. 73.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Cisco Systems Trading Up 2.8%

The firm has a market cap of $512.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.21, a PEG ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.92. The business has a fifty day moving average of $96.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $84.33.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 13th. The network equipment provider reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $15.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $15.56 billion. Cisco Systems had a return on equity of 28.44% and a net margin of 20.14%.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 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. As a group, equities analysts expect that Cisco Systems, Inc. will post 3.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cisco Systems Announces Dividend

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

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.