Where Does Cisco Systems Stock Rank Among Competitors?
As of February 11, 2026, Cisco‘s stock has surged 40% over the past year, outperforming peers like HPE and ANET. However, its 8.9% LTM revenue growth trails the group, including ANET’s 27.7%. While CSCO shows solid LTM operating (22.5%) and FCF (22.0%) margins, Arista Networks and Fortinet exhibit stronger efficiency. With a moderate P/E of 32.76, Cisco faces a challenge to accelerate growth amid the AI and data-center boom, where pure-plays might offer higher upside, as investors scrutinize returns on AI infrastructure investments.
- CSCO’s 22.5% operating margin is solid but lags ANET’s 42.9%, reflecting ANET’s cloud-focused model and software differentiation.
- CSCO’s 8.9% revenue growth lags peers like ANET (AI/cloud) and PANW/FTNT (cybersecurity demand), as Cisco faces a more mature market.
- CSCO’s 40.3% surge outpaced peers, fueled by AI networking wins and Splunk integration, elevating its PE to 32.8 on strong expectations.
Here’s how Cisco Systems stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| CSCO | HPE | ANET | DELL | PANW | FTNT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 338.4 | 31.7 | 177.0 | 83.3 | 112.2 | 66.3 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 57.7 | 34.3 | 8.4 | 104.1 | 9.6 | 6.6 |
| PE Ratio | 32.8 | 556.8 | 52.7 | 16.0 | 100.5 | 35.4 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 8.9% | 13.8% | 27.8% | 10.8% | 15.3% | 14.8% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 22.5% | 4.8% | 42.9% | 6.7% | 13.2% | 31.0% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 22.1% | 1.8% | 47.9% | 4.3% | 38.6% | 30.9% |
| 12M Market Return | 40.3% | 15.4% | 20.4% | 13.5% | -15.4% | -18.9% |
For more details on Cisco Systems, read Buy or Sell CSCO Stock. Below we compare CSCO’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCO | 8.9% | 5.3% | -5.6% | 10.6% | |
| HPE | 13.8% | 13.8% | 3.4% | 2.2% | |
| ANET | 27.8% | – | 19.5% | 33.8% | 48.6% |
| DELL | 10.8% | 8.1% | -13.6% | 1.1% | |
| PANW | 15.3% | 14.9% | 16.5% | 25.3% | |
| FTNT | 14.8% | – | 12.3% | 20.1% | 32.2% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCO | 22.5% | 22.1% | 24.1% | 27.3% | |
| HPE | 4.8% | 4.8% | 8.3% | 8.4% | |
| ANET | 42.9% | – | 42.0% | 38.5% | 34.9% |
| DELL | 6.7% | 6.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% | |
| PANW | 13.2% | 13.5% | 8.5% | 5.6% | |
| FTNT | 31.0% | – | 30.3% | 23.4% | 21.9% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCO | 32.8 | 30.1 | 23.2 | 16.4 | |
| HPE | 556.8 | 557.9 | 10.8 | 10.9 | |
| ANET | 52.7 | – | 57.7 | 65.5 | 53.4 |
| DELL | 16.0 | 19.3 | 24.5 | 23.0 | |
| PANW | 100.5 | 107.6 | 45.1 | 203.3 | |
| FTNT | 35.4 | – | 34.8 | 64.1 | 54.0 |
Still not sure about CSCO stock? Consider portfolio approach.
Why HNI Portfolios Choose Multi-Asset Over Stock Picking
When uncertainty drives daily trading, smart money focuses on the bigger picture. Our partner’s wealth strategies help you navigate changing market cycles.
Would a portfolio with 10% commodities, 10% gold, and 2% crypto protect you better if markets crash 20%? In today’s volatile landscape, diversifying beyond stocks is critical. We’ve crunched the numbers and found that multi-asset allocation is key. Our wealth management partner helps HNIs implement these strategies, using tools like the Trefis High Quality Portfolio to optimize the equity portion.