Tearsheet

Arista Networks (ANET)


Market Price (3/14/2026): $133.3 | Market Cap: $167.7 Bil
Sector: Information Technology | Industry: Communications Equipment

Arista Networks (ANET)


Market Price (3/14/2026): $133.3
Market Cap: $167.7 Bil
Sector: Information Technology
Industry: Communications Equipment

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.

0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%
Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 19x
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 43%
Key risks
ANET key risks include [1] a heavy reliance on a few major cloud customers like Microsoft and Meta and [2] a dependence on sole or limited-source suppliers for critical components such as merchant silicon.
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 49%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 47%, CFO LTM is 4.4 Bil, FCF LTM is 4.3 Bil
 
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and 5G & Advanced Connectivity. Themes include Data Centers & Infrastructure, Show more.
 
0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 43%
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 49%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 47%, CFO LTM is 4.4 Bil, FCF LTM is 4.3 Bil
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, and 5G & Advanced Connectivity. Themes include Data Centers & Infrastructure, Show more.
4 Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 19x
5 Key risks
ANET key risks include [1] a heavy reliance on a few major cloud customers like Microsoft and Meta and [2] a dependence on sole or limited-source suppliers for critical components such as merchant silicon.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

Price Chart

Why The Stock Moved

Qualitative Assessment

AI Analysis | Feedback

Arista Networks (ANET) stock has remained largely at the same level since 11/30/2025 because of the following key factors:

1. Strong Q4 2025 Financial Performance and Upbeat 2026 Outlook. Arista Networks exceeded Q4 2025 earnings expectations, reporting an EPS of $0.82 against a consensus estimate of $0.75 and revenue of $2.49 billion, surpassing estimates of $2.38 billion. The company further bolstered positive sentiment by raising its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to approximately $11.25 billion, targeting 25% growth, and achieved a historic milestone of over $1 billion in quarterly net income for the first time.

2. Accelerated AI Networking Revenue Targets. The company significantly increased its 2026 AI networking revenue target from $2.75 billion to $3.25 billion, highlighting robust demand and "production scale" for its Ethernet solutions within AI data centers.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Fundamental Drivers

The 2.2% change in ANET stock from 11/30/2025 to 3/13/2026 was primarily driven by a 6.6% change in the company's Total Revenues ($ Mil).
(LTM values as of)113020253132026Change
Stock Price ($)130.68133.572.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)8,4489,0066.6%
Net Income Margin (%)39.7%39.0%-1.9%
P/E Multiple49.047.8-2.3%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)1,2581,2580.0%
Cumulative Contribution2.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

11/30/2025 to 3/13/2026
ReturnCorrelation
ANET2.2% 
Market (SPY)-3.1%53.1%
Sector (XLK)-4.4%63.1%

Fundamental Drivers

The -2.2% change in ANET stock from 8/31/2025 to 3/13/2026 was primarily driven by a -9.3% change in the company's P/E Multiple.
(LTM values as of)83120253132026Change
Stock Price ($)136.55133.57-2.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)7,9519,00613.3%
Net Income Margin (%)40.9%39.0%-4.7%
P/E Multiple52.847.8-9.3%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)1,2561,258-0.1%
Cumulative Contribution-2.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

8/31/2025 to 3/13/2026
ReturnCorrelation
ANET-2.2% 
Market (SPY)3.0%47.3%
Sector (XLK)4.4%58.5%

Fundamental Drivers

The 43.5% change in ANET stock from 2/28/2025 to 3/13/2026 was primarily driven by a 28.6% change in the company's Total Revenues ($ Mil).
(LTM values as of)22820253132026Change
Stock Price ($)93.05133.5743.5%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)7,0039,00628.6%
Net Income Margin (%)40.7%39.0%-4.3%
P/E Multiple41.147.816.4%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)1,2601,2580.2%
Cumulative Contribution43.5%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

2/28/2025 to 3/13/2026
ReturnCorrelation
ANET43.5% 
Market (SPY)12.4%57.0%
Sector (XLK)21.9%65.0%

Fundamental Drivers

The 285.2% change in ANET stock from 2/28/2023 to 3/13/2026 was primarily driven by a 105.5% change in the company's Total Revenues ($ Mil).
(LTM values as of)22820233132026Change
Stock Price ($)34.67133.57285.2%
Change Contribution By: 
Total Revenues ($ Mil)4,3819,006105.5%
Net Income Margin (%)30.9%39.0%26.3%
P/E Multiple31.447.852.4%
Shares Outstanding (Mil)1,2251,258-2.6%
Cumulative Contribution285.2%

LTM = Last Twelve Months as of date shown

Market Drivers

2/28/2023 to 3/13/2026
ReturnCorrelation
ANET285.2% 
Market (SPY)73.4%54.1%
Sector (XLK)104.5%64.9%

Return vs. Risk

Price Returns Compared

 202120222023202420252026Total [1]
Returns
ANET Return98%-16%94%88%19%5%661%
Peers Return62%-12%20%37%47%8%272%
S&P 500 Return27%-19%24%23%16%-1%80%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ANET Win Rate75%42%67%83%75%67% 
Peers Win Rate65%40%60%63%57%40% 
S&P 500 Win Rate75%42%67%75%67%33% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ANET Max Drawdown-8%-37%-10%-3%-42%-6% 
Peers Max Drawdown-3%-38%-12%-13%-32%-11% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-1%-25%-1%-2%-15%-2% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: CSCO, HPE, DELL, EXTR, CIEN. See ANET Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 3/13/2026 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventANETS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-38.4%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven62.4%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven265 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-34.0%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven51.6%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven129 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-43.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven77.3%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven566 days120 days

Compare to CSCO, HPE, DELL, EXTR, CIEN

In The Past

Arista Networks's stock fell -38.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/27/2021. A -38.4% loss requires a 62.4% gain to breakeven.

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About Arista Networks (ANET)

Arista Networks, Inc. develops, markets, and sells cloud networking solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company's cloud networking solutions consist of extensible operating systems, a set of network applications, as well as gigabit Ethernet switching and routing platforms. It also provides post contract customer support services, such as technical support, hardware repair and parts replacement beyond standard warranty, bug fix, patch, and upgrade services. The company serves a range of industries comprising internet companies, service providers, financial services organizations, government agencies, media and entertainment companies, and others. It markets and sells its products through distributors, system integrators, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturer partners, as well as through its direct sales force. The company was formerly known as Arastra, Inc. and changed its name to Arista Networks, Inc. in October 2008. Arista Networks, Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Like Cisco, but specializing in high-performance networking for cloud data centers.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • Extensible Operating Systems: Software that powers their cloud networking solutions.
  • Network Applications: A suite of software applications designed for network management and functionality.
  • Gigabit Ethernet Switching and Routing Platforms: Hardware devices providing high-speed network connectivity and traffic management capabilities.
  • Post Contract Customer Support Services: Comprehensive support including technical assistance, hardware repair and parts replacement, and software updates and patches.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Arista Networks (ANET) primarily sells its cloud networking solutions to other companies.

Its major customers include:

  • Microsoft (MSFT)
  • Meta Platforms (META)

Beyond these specific major customers, Arista Networks serves a broad range of industries, including other internet companies, service providers, financial services organizations, government agencies, and media and entertainment companies.

AI Analysis | Feedback

  • Celestica Inc. (CLS)
  • Sanmina Corporation (SANM)

AI Analysis | Feedback

Jayshree Ullal, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson

Jayshree Ullal has served as President and CEO of Arista Networks since October 2008 and became Chairperson in December 2023. She led the company to its initial public offering in June 2014. Prior to Arista, Ms. Ullal spent 15 years at Cisco Systems, where she was Senior Vice President, overseeing a $10 billion business in datacenter, switching, and services, and oversaw approximately 20 mergers and acquisitions in the enterprise sector. Before Cisco, she was the Vice President of Marketing at Crescendo Communications, which Cisco acquired in 1993. Her early career included engineering and strategy roles at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Fairchild Semiconductor, and Ungermann-Bass.

Chantelle Breithaupt, Chief Financial Officer

Chantelle Breithaupt was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Arista Networks, effective February 2024, succeeding Ita Brennan. She brings over 25 years of experience in global financial roles. Before joining Arista, Ms. Breithaupt served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Aspen Technology. Her career also includes executive finance positions at Cisco Systems and across four GE businesses.

Kenneth Duda, Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer

Kenneth Duda co-founded Arista Networks in 2004 and has been its Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Software Engineering since September 2011, also holding the title of President. He is the lead architect of Arista Networks' Extensible Operating System (EOS). Prior to Arista Networks, Mr. Duda was CTO of There.com. He was also the fourth employee at Granite Systems, a leader in gigabit Ethernet switches, and continued his leadership role at Cisco Systems after its acquisition of Granite. Mr. Duda holds three simultaneous engineering degrees from MIT and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University.

Todd Nightingale, President and Chief Operating Officer

Todd Nightingale joined Arista Networks as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1, 2025, focusing on enterprise data centers, campus networks, and manufacturing. Before Arista, he served as CEO and a Board Member at Fastly, Inc. from September 2022 to June 2025. Mr. Nightingale also held leadership positions at Cisco Systems, Inc., including Executive Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Networking and Cloud, and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Meraki. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master's in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Andreas "Andy" Bechtolsheim, Co-Founder and Chief Architect

Andreas "Andy" Bechtolsheim co-founded Arista Networks in 2004 (originally Arastra). He currently serves as Chief Architect for Arista Networks, a role he transitioned to in December 2023, having previously been an executive officer and on the board. Mr. Bechtolsheim also co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982, where he was its chief hardware designer. [cite: 3 (from previous search output)] He has been a founding member of the Open Compute Project (OCP) Board of Directors since 2011. [cite: 8 (from previous search output)] He holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and was a doctoral student at Stanford University. [cite: 8 (from previous search output)]

AI Analysis | Feedback

Arista Networks (ANET) faces several key risks to its business operations and financial performance:
  • Customer Concentration: A significant portion of Arista Networks' revenue is derived from a limited number of large cloud and AI customers. For instance, over 40% of its revenue comes from two customers, and Microsoft's contribution increased to 20% in fiscal year 2024. This heavy reliance makes the company vulnerable to any changes in these key customers' spending patterns, capital expenditure cuts, or strategic shifts, which could lead to substantial revenue fluctuations.
  • Intense Competition: Arista operates in a highly competitive networking market. It faces strong competition from established players such as Cisco, Juniper Networks (now combined with HPE), Dell/EMC, Extreme Networks, and Huawei, as well as emerging threats like Nvidia in the AI networking space and white-box networking vendors. This intense competition can result in increased pricing pressure, reduced profit margins, and challenges in maintaining market share and its technological edge.
  • Supply Chain Risks and Technological Disruption: The company faces risks related to its supply chain, particularly its reliance on sole or limited sources for key components, such as merchant silicon from vendors like Broadcom. Geopolitical risks can further constrain the availability of these key components, and the rapid pace of new interconnect technology could disrupt current standards, leading to potential supply shortages, extended lead times, increased costs, and the need for continuous innovation to stay ahead.

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The increasing maturity and widespread adoption of disaggregated networking solutions, combining commodity "white box" hardware with sophisticated open-source network operating systems (such as SONiC), which offer lower costs and greater flexibility, potentially eroding the market for proprietary integrated networking solutions.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Arista Networks (ANET) operates within several significant addressable markets related to cloud networking, Ethernet switching, and routing platforms.

According to statements by Arista Networks' CEO in March 2026, the company's total addressable market (TAM) has grown from $60 billion to an estimated $105 billion, driven by demand in AI and cloud infrastructure, data center growth, and strategic expansions into campus and routing, as well as increased observability market opportunities.

Specific addressable markets for Arista Networks' products and services include:

  • Data Center Networking: The global data center networking market was estimated at USD 38.49 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 154.83 billion by 2033, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2% from 2025 to 2033. Another projection places the global data center networking market size at USD 44.37 billion in 2026, growing to USD 114.08 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 12.53%. BNP Paribas projects the total addressable data center networking market to reach $120 billion by 2028.
  • Ethernet Switching: The global Ethernet switch market was valued at USD 43.84 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 76.4 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 6.48%. Separately, the worldwide Ethernet switch market recorded USD 14.7 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2025 alone. Another estimate values the global Ethernet switch market at USD 12.66 billion in 2024, expecting it to reach USD 19.92 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.89% from 2025 to 2032.
  • Data Center Routing: The global data center router market was valued at USD 3.08 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 14.23 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 16.54% during the forecast period of 2025–2034. Another report estimates the global data center router market at USD 10.25 billion in 2025, anticipated to reach USD 13.44 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 4.0% from 2026 to 2032.
  • Cloud Managed Networking / Multi-Cloud Networking: The global multi-cloud networking market size was estimated at USD 2.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.14 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 23.7% from 2025 to 2033. The global multi-cloud networking market was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach USD 18.7 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of over 23.5% between 2024 and 2032.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Arista Networks (ANET) is positioned for robust revenue growth over the next two to three years, driven by several key factors:

  1. Explosive Growth in AI Networking: Arista Networks is a primary beneficiary of the substantial investments being made in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The company has significantly raised its AI networking revenue targets for 2026 to $3.25 billion, reflecting accelerating customer adoption in both traditional and emerging cloud sectors. This growth is propelled by its Etherlink portfolio and strategic collaborations with AI leaders such as NVIDIA, Arm, AMD, and OpenAI, as well as the industry's shift from InfiniBand to Ethernet for AI clusters.
  2. Continued and Expanding Hyperscale Cloud Provider Business: Arista maintains strong, deep-seated relationships with major hyperscale cloud providers, including Microsoft and Meta, which represent a significant portion of its revenue. These "cloud titans" are undertaking large capital outlays for compute and data center build-outs, directly benefiting Arista. Furthermore, the company anticipates adding one or two additional 10% customers in 2026, indicating ongoing diversification and expansion within this critical segment.
  3. Accelerated Transition to Next-Generation Ethernet Switching Platforms: The rapid upgrade cycle for Ethernet switching technology, particularly the transition to 800 Gigabit Ethernet and the imminent 1.6 terabit migration, is a substantial revenue driver. The cadence for these upgrades has reportedly shortened from 3-5 years to approximately two years, leading to accelerated adoption and significant growth in demand for Arista's advanced 7000 Series platforms.
  4. Expansion into the Enterprise Market and Cognitive Campus: Beyond its core cloud business, Arista is experiencing an accelerating pace of acceptance and adoption within the enterprise customer base. The expansion of its cognitive campus and branch networking portfolio is positioning the company for diversified customer growth and broader market penetration.
  5. Increasing Contribution from Software and Services: Arista's software offerings, such as its CloudVision network-as-a-service platform and the Network Data Lake (NetDL) for AI/ML-driven automation and security, are gaining significant traction. These services are adding new customers and steadily contributing to the company's overall revenue, enhancing its comprehensive solution portfolio.

AI Analysis | Feedback

Share Repurchases

  • Arista's Board of Directors authorized an additional $1.5 billion stock repurchase program in May 2025.
  • An additional $1.2 billion stock repurchase program was authorized by the Board in May 2024.
  • In the first quarter of 2025, Arista completed $787 million in stock repurchases, which was the highest quarterly or annual amount in the company's history. Annual share buybacks were $1.603 billion in 2025, $423.619 million in 2024, and $112.279 million in 2023.

Share Issuance

  • Arista Networks' shares outstanding saw a 0.42% decline in 2025 to 1.276 billion, following a 0.99% increase in 2024 to 1.281 billion and a 0.21% increase in 2023 to 1.269 billion.
  • The net common equity issued/repurchased for 2025 was -$3.000 billion, indicating a net repurchase of shares.

Inbound Investments

  • Arete Wealth Advisors LLC made a new investment of approximately $4.93 million in Arista Networks during the third quarter (as of a March 2026 report).

Outbound Investments

  • In July 2025, Arista acquired the VeloCloud SD-WAN portfolio from Broadcom to accelerate its AI-driven campus and branch networking strategy.
  • Arista Networks acquired Pluribus Networks, a unified cloud network company, in August 2022.

Capital Expenditures

  • Arista Networks' capital expenditures averaged $34.643 million from fiscal years ending December 2020 to 2024.
  • Capital expenditures are projected to increase significantly from $32 million in FY2024 to an estimated $120 million in FY2025.
  • The primary focus of the increased capital expenditures for FY2025 includes investments in a 1.6T product development lab, VeloCloud integration, and internal AI/ML training facilities.

Better Bets vs. Arista Networks (ANET)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select ideas related to ANET.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
BMI_2282026_Insider_Buying_45D_2Buy_200K02282026BMIBadger MeterInsiderInsider Buys 45DStrong Insider Buying
Companies with multiple insider buys in the last 45 days
0.0%0.0%0.0%
VRNS_2282026_Insider_Buying_45D_2Buy_200K02282026VRNSVaronis SystemsInsiderInsider Buys 45DStrong Insider Buying
Companies with multiple insider buys in the last 45 days
0.0%0.0%0.0%
ITRI_2272026_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield02272026ITRIItronDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
0.0%0.0%0.0%
FSLR_2272026_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy02272026FSLRFirst SolarDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.0%0.0%0.0%
PEGA_2272026_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy02272026PEGAPegasystemsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
0.0%0.0%0.0%
ANET_2282025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%02282025ANETArista NetworksQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
46.7%43.5%-30.8%
ANET_8312022_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%08312022ANETArista NetworksQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
15.6%62.9%-16.3%
ANET_1312022_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%01312022ANETArista NetworksQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
-5.4%1.4%-27.3%
ANET_8312020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield08312020ANETArista NetworksDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
28.9%65.4%-12.7%
ANET_2292020_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield02292020ANETArista NetworksDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
15.0%44.9%-18.7%

Recent Active Movers

Peer Comparisons

Peers to compare with:

Financials

ANETCSCOHPEDELLEXTRCIENMedian
NameArista N.Cisco Sy.Hewlett .Dell Tec.Extreme .Ciena  
Mkt Price133.5778.3321.58151.6214.49337.38105.95
Mkt Cap168.0309.828.8101.71.947.874.8
Rev LTM9,00659,05434,296104,0901,2205,12421,651
Op Inc LTM3,85613,6851,6446,924334202,750
FCF LTM4,25212,2416274,4491227422,497
FCF 3Y Avg3,30912,8691,4004,7811035182,355
CFO LTM4,37213,3252,9197,0961489303,645
CFO 3Y Avg3,37113,7643,8967,4741246613,634

Growth & Margins

ANETCSCOHPEDELLEXTRCIENMedian
NameArista N.Cisco Sy.Hewlett .Dell Tec.Extreme .Ciena  
Rev Chg LTM28.6%9.0%13.8%10.8%20.0%26.5%16.9%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg27.3%3.8%6.5%0.2%3.2%11.0%5.1%
Rev Chg Q28.9%9.7%14.4%10.8%13.8%33.1%14.1%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM6.6%2.4%3.7%2.6%3.3%7.4%3.5%
Op Mgn LTM42.8%23.2%4.8%6.7%2.7%8.2%7.4%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg41.1%24.2%7.2%6.1%1.5%7.2%7.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.1%0.7%-1.4%0.2%-0.1%1.7%0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM48.5%22.6%8.5%6.8%12.1%18.1%15.1%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg45.4%24.3%12.7%7.8%9.5%14.3%13.5%
FCF/Rev LTM47.2%20.7%1.8%4.3%10.0%14.5%12.2%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg44.6%22.7%4.6%5.0%7.7%11.2%9.4%

Valuation

ANETCSCOHPEDELLEXTRCIENMedian
NameArista N.Cisco Sy.Hewlett .Dell Tec.Extreme .Ciena  
Mkt Cap168.0309.828.8101.71.947.874.8
P/S18.75.20.81.01.69.33.4
P/EBIT43.621.417.512.853.3133.432.5
P/E47.828.0504.719.5212.3208.7128.3
P/CFO38.423.29.914.313.151.418.8
Total Yield2.1%5.7%2.6%6.5%0.5%0.5%2.3%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.1%2.4%1.4%0.0%0.0%0.7%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg2.6%5.4%5.4%7.2%4.5%4.4%4.9%
D/E0.00.10.80.30.10.00.1
Net D/E-0.10.00.60.2-0.00.00.0

Returns

ANETCSCOHPEDELLEXTRCIENMedian
NameArista N.Cisco Sy.Hewlett .Dell Tec.Extreme .Ciena  
1M Rtn-5.0%-8.4%-9.4%22.1%-3.1%13.5%-4.1%
3M Rtn7.1%1.2%-9.6%17.2%-14.3%54.4%4.1%
6M Rtn-4.2%19.1%-11.8%22.2%-35.1%157.0%7.5%
12M Rtn66.7%34.5%50.0%67.0%2.2%441.5%58.4%
3Y Rtn248.9%73.9%66.0%328.3%-17.0%565.4%161.4%
1M Excs Rtn-2.7%-6.0%-7.0%24.5%-0.8%15.9%-1.7%
3M Excs Rtn2.5%-0.3%-12.4%9.9%-18.8%53.7%1.1%
6M Excs Rtn-15.6%14.2%-15.1%19.0%-39.4%151.8%-0.4%
12M Excs Rtn45.4%11.7%25.8%42.3%-19.8%387.1%34.1%
3Y Excs Rtn190.3%3.9%-14.3%245.1%-88.8%491.5%97.1%

Comparison Analyses

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment
$ Mil20252024202320222021
Product5,8845,0293,7162,3781,831
Service1,119831665570487
Total7,0035,8604,3812,9482,318


Price Behavior

Price Behavior
Market Price$133.57 
Market Cap ($ Bil)168.0 
First Trading Date06/06/2014 
Distance from 52W High-17.6% 
   50 Days200 Days
DMA Price$134.71$129.02
DMA Trendupup
Distance from DMA-0.8%3.5%
 3M1YR
Volatility52.4%53.3%
Downside Capture208.20194.74
Upside Capture293.70210.19
Correlation (SPY)53.1%55.6%
ANET Betas & Captures as of 2/28/2026

 1M2M3M6M1Y3Y
Beta2.272.092.311.931.561.75
Up Beta2.651.481.831.111.071.27
Down Beta0.971.001.951.391.702.04
Up Capture199%307%302%269%370%1567%
Bmk +ve Days9203170142431
Stock +ve Days9183267143422
Down Capture295%250%229%210%142%111%
Bmk -ve Days12213054109320
Stock -ve Days12232957107328

[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with ANET
ANET66.2%53.2%1.14-
Sector ETF (XLK)30.0%26.8%0.9563.8%
Equity (SPY)19.6%18.9%0.8155.6%
Gold (GLD)71.9%26.3%2.055.3%
Commodities (DBC)19.3%17.3%0.8919.5%
Real Estate (VNQ)6.2%16.3%0.1919.5%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)-15.0%44.2%-0.2430.3%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 5-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with ANET
ANET51.4%45.7%1.06-
Sector ETF (XLK)17.7%24.7%0.6466.2%
Equity (SPY)13.1%17.0%0.6158.0%
Gold (GLD)24.1%17.3%1.148.3%
Commodities (DBC)11.2%19.0%0.4715.0%
Real Estate (VNQ)4.8%18.8%0.1627.2%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)6.4%56.7%0.3323.9%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Based On 10-Year Data
Annualized
Return
Annualized
Volatility
Sharpe
Ratio
Correlation
with ANET
ANET41.9%44.4%0.95-
Sector ETF (XLK)21.8%24.2%0.8261.2%
Equity (SPY)14.5%17.9%0.7055.2%
Gold (GLD)14.4%15.6%0.773.8%
Commodities (DBC)8.6%17.6%0.4016.4%
Real Estate (VNQ)5.6%20.7%0.2330.6%
Bitcoin (BTCUSD)67.5%66.8%1.0712.7%

Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date2272026
Short Interest: Shares Quantity14.9 Mil
Short Interest: % Change Since 215202617.3%
Average Daily Volume8.1 Mil
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1.8 days
Basic Shares Quantity1,257.7 Mil
Short % of Basic Shares1.2%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More
 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
2/12/20264.8%-1.7% 
11/4/2025-8.6%-12.1%-16.3%
8/5/202517.5%19.6%19.5%
5/6/2025-4.8%7.1%4.9%
2/18/2025-6.4%-16.4%-24.0%
11/7/2024-7.1%-10.5%-1.7%
7/30/202411.3%3.9%9.5%
5/7/20246.5%14.5%8.2%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive141215
# Negative10128
Median Positive6.1%11.3%12.5%
Median Negative-6.0%-9.9%-10.5%
Max Positive20.4%28.8%25.7%
Max Negative-15.7%-16.7%-24.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More
Report DateFiling DateFiling
12/31/202502/17/202610-K
09/30/202511/05/202510-Q
06/30/202508/06/202510-Q
03/31/202505/07/202510-Q
12/31/202402/19/202510-K
09/30/202411/08/202410-Q
06/30/202407/31/202410-Q
03/31/202405/08/202410-Q
12/31/202302/13/202410-K
09/30/202310/31/202310-Q
06/30/202308/01/202310-Q
03/31/202305/02/202310-Q
12/31/202202/14/202310-K
09/30/202211/01/202210-Q
06/30/202208/02/202210-Q
03/31/202205/03/202210-Q

Insider Activity

Expand for More
#OwnerTitleHoldingActionFiling DatePriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
1Giancarlo, Charles H by TrustSell1062026133.798,0001,070,2912,379,258Form
2Duda, KennethPresident and CTODirectSell12192025123.1630,0003,694,6721,598,069Form
3Duda, KennethPresident and CTOChildrens' TrustSell12192025123.1616,0001,970,493140,787,769Form
4Duda, KennethPresident and CTOFoundationSell12192025123.1610,0001,231,55765,568,094Form
5Giancarlo, Charles H by TrustSell12032025128.098,0001,024,7493,302,765Form

ANET Trade Sentinel


Stock Conviction

OVERWEIGHT (Score 9-10)

CONVICTION RATIONALE

The analysis yields a probability-adjusted skew greater than 2.0x. This high score is driven by the combination of a 'WIDENING' competitive moat in the primary AI growth segment and a 'STRONG' secular sector trend. While the downside risk of a capex pause is significant, its probability is outweighed by the high likelihood of the powerful AI upgrade cycle continuing, which underpins the 'High Conviction Bull' thesis.

STOCK ARCHETYPE
High-Beta Compounder

Arista's high revenue growth (~28%), premium valuation (P/S > 20x), and central role in the secular AI build-out align with a high-beta growth profile, despite its revenue being tied to cyclical Capex. The market is valuing its potential for sustained, high-speed compounding driven by a structural technology shift.

INVESTMENT THESIS
AI-Driven 400G/800G Ethernet Upgrade Cycle Capture in 2026-2027

The primary long thesis is Arista's position as the leading provider of high-speed Ethernet switching for AI and cloud data centers. As hyperscalers aggressively build out GPU clusters, they require Arista's best-in-class, low-latency network fabrics to connect them, creating a durable, multi-year upgrade cycle from 100G/200G to 400G and 800G.

Mechanism: Arista captures value by selling high-performance, high-margin hardware (switches, routers) and attaching recurring, high-margin software (EOS, CloudVision) and support services. The increasing complexity and speed requirements of AI networking drive a favorable mix shift to higher ASP products.
Supporting Evidence:
  • AI-related revenue forecast for 2025 was doubled to $1.5B, with a projection of $2.75B in 2026, indicating massive acceleration.
  • Deferred Revenue of $4.7B (+87% YoY) as of Q3 2025 provides exceptionally high near-term visibility.
  • Dominant competitive position in the 'Hyperscale AI Innovator' customer segment, which is the epicenter of AI infrastructure spending.
  • Market is in a supply deficit for high-speed switching, providing Arista with strong pricing power.
PRIMARY RISK
Hyperscaler Capital Expenditure 'Digestion' in 2026

The single largest risk is a slowdown or pause in spending from Arista's top two customers, Microsoft and Meta. Due to extreme customer concentration (historically ~40% of revenue), any signal of 'capital optimization' or 'inventory digestion' after massive 2025 build-outs would immediately pressure revenue growth and trigger a significant multiple compression.

Mechanism: A reduction in purchase orders from one or both key customers would cause a material revenue miss relative to expectations. Given the stock's high valuation, even a slight deceleration in growth could lead to a significant de-rating, as the market is pricing in near-perfect execution of the AI growth story.
Supporting Evidence:
  • High Customer Concentration is identified as a 'STRUCTURAL' impact risk.
  • The top tangible risk for the next 6 months is identified as 'Cloud Titan CapEx 'Digestion' Narrative Emerges in Q4 Earnings' with a 'CRITICAL' impact level.
  • The stock's negative reaction to a cautious gross margin forecast in November 2025 demonstrates its high sensitivity to any signs of slowing momentum.
Key KPI Watchlist
KPI Threshold Rationale
Product Revenue Growth (YoY)> 20%This is the primary metric reflecting share gains and demand velocity within the core high-speed switching market. A drop below 20% would signal a material deceleration.
Deferred RevenuePositive Sequential GrowthThis is the best leading indicator of future revenue. A stall or decline in this metric would be a strong early warning that the pipeline is weakening before it's visible in reported revenue.
Non-GAAP Gross Margin> 62%Management has guided for 62-63%. Holding above this floor is critical to prove that pricing power is intact and that competitive threats (e.g., Nvidia) or mix shifts are not eroding profitability.
Core Investment Debate

The AI Supercycle vs. Hyperscaler Concentration

BULL VIEW

Arista is the key plumbing for the multi-year AI buildout. Massive deferred revenue and superior technology create a durable growth runway, insulating it from short-term capex shifts.

CORE TENSION

Whether explosive AI-driven demand can sustainably outrun the immense risk of dependency on the capex cycles of two main customers (Microsoft, Meta).


PREVAILING SENTIMENT
BULLISH

The $4.7B in deferred revenue and management's doubling of the 2025 AI revenue forecast provide strong, forward-looking evidence that the bull case is currently winning.

BEAR VIEW

Extreme customer concentration makes the stock highly vulnerable. Any 'digestion' or 'optimization' in cloud spending would immediately halt Arista's growth narrative and compress its high valuation.

Next 6 months: Risks and Catalysts
Timeline Event & Metric To Watch
Feb 12, 2026
Q4 2025 Earnings & Q1 2026 Guidance
Watch: Commentary on cloud customer 'demand pause' or 'inventory digestion'. Sequential revenue guidance for Q1 2026.
March 16-19, 2026
Nvidia GTC 2026 Conference
Watch: Performance metrics and customer adoption announcements for Nvidia's competing Spectrum-X Ethernet platform.
Anytime (Next 6 months)
Macro Data: Fed Commentary / 10-Yr Treasury
Watch: 10-Year Treasury Yield breaking above a key technical level (e.g., 4.5%) or hawkish Fed statements.
Anytime (Next 6 months)
U.S. Export Control Announcements
Watch: Inclusion of 'high-performance networking' equipment in new export restrictions to China by the BIS.
Key Events in Last 6 Months
Date Event Stock Impact
8/1/2025
Key Customer Meta Platforms Provides Tepid Guidance
Details: Following Meta's earnings report, concerns about the pace of its future capital expenditures weighed on supplier stocks, including Arista, ahead of its own report.
Fell notably by -4.58%
$123.22 -> $117.57
8/6/2025
Q2 2025 Earnings Report
Details: Arista delivered a significant revenue and earnings beat and raised its full-year guidance, citing unprecedented demand for its AI networking solutions.
Surged +17.5%
$118.12 -> $138.78
9/10/2025
Investor Conference Presentation
Details: Following a presentation at a major technology conference (e.g., Citi Global Tech), the stock rallied as management likely reiterated the strength of AI-driven demand.
Surged +6.21%
$141.91 -> $150.72
10/8/2025
Positive Analyst Commentary & Sector Momentum
Details: The stock surged on a high-volume day, likely driven by positive analyst reports and a broader rally in AI-related infrastructure stocks ahead of earnings season.
Surged +8.31%
$145.29 -> $157.36
11/4/2025
Q3 2025 Earnings Report
Details: Despite beating revenue and EPS estimates, the stock fell sharply after the company's Q4 gross margin forecast of 62-63% fell short of analyst expectations.
Plummeted -8.55%
$153.55 -> $140.42
1/27/2026
Key Customer Microsoft Reports Strong Capex
Details: Microsoft announced strong Q4 2025 results with robust capital expenditure guidance, fueling positive sentiment for key AI infrastructure suppliers like Arista.
Rose significantly by 2.07%
$143.72 -> $146.69
Risk Management
Position Sizing

4%-6%

NORMAL

Stock trades with Explosive volatility (4.36x S&P 500). While the Bullish sentiment and high visibility are compelling, the Expensive valuation prevents an aggressive size. Capping exposure to Normal manages drawdown risk.

Diversification Alternatives
NVDA
SECTOR

Offers a fully integrated, 'full stack' hardware and software solution for AI, reducing vendor complexity. Its CUDA ecosystem creates an unparalleled competitive moat.

Core Thesis: The indispensable provider of GPUs and increasingly networking for the global AI infrastructure buildout, capturing value across the entire AI data center stack.
AVGO
SECTOR

Diversified exposure across AI infrastructure, including best-in-class networking silicon and custom ASIC solutions for hyperscalers, providing a broader, less concentrated bet on the theme.

Core Thesis: A technology leader in semiconductor and infrastructure software, benefiting from the increasing complexity of AI networks and the trend of hyperscalers developing custom silicon.
How Is The Market Pricing ANET?

Arista Networks is re-rating from a niche Cloud Titan supplier to the foundational enabler of the AI networking supercycle, evidenced by its $3.25B AI revenue target for 2026, while expanding its share in the enterprise campus market.

Filter all news through the lens of AI-driven Ethernet adoption and enterprise market share gains against Cisco.

What will confirm the thesis

Named design wins for AI clusters beyond existing hyperscalers (e.g. Oracle, emerging AI labs); Ethernet gaining share from InfiniBand in AI back-end networks (cite: Dell'Oro Group); Enterprise/Campus revenue growth accelerating above 20% YoY; announcements of new 800G or 1.6T switching platforms.

What will damage the thesis

Deceleration of capex spending plans from Microsoft or Meta; announcements of either major customer adopting a competitor's technology (e.g. Nvidia Spectrum-X) or white-box solutions for AI back-end networks; campus switching market share stalling or declining.

Noise: Real but irrelevant to thesis

Quarterly fluctuations in Cloud Titan revenue mix – lumpy orders are inherent to the business model and already guided; short-term gross margin dips due to higher sales to hyperscalers – a known and accepted trade-off for volume; general data center spending forecasts – too broad, the key is specific AI-related buildouts.

Repricing Catalyst

The explicit doubling-down on AI as the primary growth engine. Management raised its AI networking revenue target to $3.25 billion for FY2026, up from a $1.5 billion actual in FY2025. This quantifies the transition from a secondary tailwind to the core driver of forward growth, compelling the market to value Arista as a primary AI infrastructure beneficiary, not just a cloud hardware vendor.

What ANET Makes & Who Pays
TTM figures based on Q4 2025 Earnings Press Release, Feb 12 2026
Data Center & AI Networking Platforms
$7.5B TTM (83% of Total) · 64% Margin
What It Is

High-speed (100G to 800G) Ethernet switches (e.g., 7060X/7388X series for AI leaf, 7800R4 for AI spine), routers, and the unified Extensible Operating System (EOS) software that runs across all hardware.

Who Pays & How

Microsoft (26% of FY2025 revenue) and Meta (16% of FY2025 revenue) pay for scalable, high-performance, and programmable network infrastructure for their massive data centers. The primary lock-in is the single EOS software image, which drastically simplifies network automation and management at hyper-scale, making a shift to a competitor's disparate operating systems operationally complex and costly.

Per-unit sale of hardware (switches, routers) with bundled perpetual software licenses for the core EOS operating system.
Competition
Cisco - Nexus Series Switches
Cisco has a larger sales force and a deeply entrenched position in enterprise networking, which it tries to leverage into the data center.
Arista's EOS provides a single, modern, Linux-based software image across all products, enabling superior automation, reliability, and programmability at scale, which is a decisive advantage in cloud and AI environments.
Network Services & Subscriptions
$1.5B TTM (17% of Total) · 64% Margin
What It Is

CloudVision network management and automation software, technical support services, and other subscription-based software.

Who Pays & How

The same customers who buy the hardware pay for ongoing support and advanced software features to manage the entire network as a single, cohesive fabric, reducing operational overhead.

Recurring subscriptions for software (e.g., CloudVision) and multi-year contracts for technical support and services.
Competition
Cisco - DNA Center
Cisco's large installed base of campus and enterprise hardware provides a captive audience for its management software.
CloudVision's deep integration with EOS and its state-based architecture offers more powerful network-wide automation and telemetry than legacy solutions.
ANET Evolution: Price Return by Era
2004–2014 · The Data Center Disruption
Software-First Upstart Takes on the Incumbents +0% (2014 - 2014)
Founded by industry veterans, Arista focused on a single, Linux-based operating system (EOS) to run on high-performance, merchant silicon switches. This software-driven approach directly challenged Cisco's hardware-centric, proprietary model, winning early traction with high-frequency trading firms and a nascent cloud market that needed speed and programmability. The era culminated with its successful IPO in June 2014.
2015–2022 · The Cloud Titan Era
Becoming the Backbone of the Cloud +618% (Feb 2019 - Feb 2024)
Arista's focus on scale and automation made it the vendor of choice for hyperscale data center operators, most notably Microsoft and Meta. During this period, Arista became synonymous with building the massive, reliable networks that power the world's largest cloud services. The company expanded into adjacent markets like campus networking (2018) to diversify, but its identity and growth were defined by its deep entrenchment with the 'Cloud Titans'.
2023–Present · The AI Networking Pivot
Wiring the Brains of AI +37% (Feb 2025 - Feb 2026)
As generative AI created an explosion in demand for new network architectures, Arista pivoted to position itself as the key enabler of high-performance Ethernet fabrics for AI clusters. The narrative shifted from just connecting servers to connecting GPUs. Management began quantifying the AI opportunity, setting aggressive revenue targets ($1.5B in 2025, guiding to $3.25B in 2026) to capitalize on the market's demand for AI infrastructure plays.
Market Is In Wait-and-See Mode
Price structure is showing early stress, with SMA alignment beginning to break down. Relative to SPY: Mildly ahead of the market but 'relative strength' trend is softening; monitor for rotation out. Volume and momentum are supportive. OBV (on-balance volume) and up/down volume character favor buyers. Earnings history is clearly negative. The market punished the print and the drift confirms distribution. Thesis is under pressure.
① Structure
-1
Structural pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by trend regime, SMA cross events, proximity to 52W high, and relative strength vs SPY.
② Volume / Momentum
+2
Volume/Momentum pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by institutional footprint score, OBV divergence, and momentum character.
③ Catalyst
-2
Catalyst pillar score (-4 to +4). Driven by earnings day reaction, 20D post-earnings drift, and post-earnings volume character.
Combined Score
-1 / 12
1 Price Structure & Trend Potential Bottoming · -
2 Momentum Pausing
3 Relative Strength vs. SPY Mild Outperformance
4 Institutional Footprint & Volume Mild Accumulation
5 Volatility Normal
6 Key Price Levels Range · Vol Falling
7 Earnings Reaction History Inconsistent
8 How the Verdict Is Derived Three Pillars