Cisco Systems, Inc.

(NASDAQ Global Select)
Bullish +65

Cisco Systems, Inc. $CSCO Position Increased by National Pension Service - MarketBeat

πŸ“ˆ National Pension Service increased its Cisco stake by 2.2% in Q4, adding 208,757 shares to a total holding of 9.53 million shares worth $734.2 million.

πŸ’° Cisco reported quarterly EPS of $1.06 and revenue of $15.84 billion, both surpassing analyst consensus estimates.

πŸš€ Revenue grew 12% year over year as demand for networking gear accelerates due to AI infrastructure spending.

πŸ“Š Bank of America raised its price target to $135 and Rosenblatt to $150 following the strong earnings report.

πŸ’Ό Several other institutional investors, including World Investment Advisors and Thrivent Financial, increased their holdings in Q3 or Q4.

πŸ’Έ EVP Thimaya Subaiya sold 1,744 shares worth $134,410, while EVP Oliver Tuszik sold 2,761 shares worth $316,438 under pre-arranged plans.

πŸ“‰ Zacks Research downgraded Cisco from 'strong-buy' to 'hold,' contrasting with upgrades from Wells Fargo and Piper Sandler.

πŸ’΅ Cisco announced a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share with an ex-dividend date of July 6th.

πŸ“ˆ The company set Q4 2026 EPS guidance between $1.160 and $1.180, indicating continued growth expectations.

🏒 Cisco maintains a market capitalization of $467.61 billion with a P/E ratio of 38.52.

Bullish Signals
  • Cisco reported earnings per share of $1.06, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.03.
  • Revenue reached $15.84 billion, exceeding expectations of $15.56 billion and growing 12% year over year.
  • Major analysts including Bank of America and Rosenblatt raised price targets to $135 and $150 respectively due to AI-driven demand.
  • National Pension Service increased its stake by 2.2%, adding significant capital to the position.
  • The company achieved a strong net margin of 20.14% and a return on equity of 28.44%.
  • Institutional investors like World Investment Advisors and Thrivent Financial increased their holdings significantly.
  • Cisco is positioned as a key beneficiary of the ongoing artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout.
  • The company has set forward guidance for Q4 2026 EPS between $1.160 and $1.180.
Risk Factors
  • Zacks Research downgraded Cisco Systems from a 'strong-buy' rating to a 'hold' rating.
  • Corporate insiders sold shares worth over $5.5 million in the last ninety days, though under pre-arranged plans.
  • The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 38.52 and a PEG ratio of 3.14, which may be considered high relative to growth.
  • Analyst consensus includes eight 'Hold' ratings alongside multiple 'Buy' ratings, indicating some caution.
Full Analysis
National Pension Service increased its stake in Cisco Systems (CSCO) by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, adding 208,757 shares to reach a total holding of 9.53 million shares valued at approximately $734.2 million. This move positions CSCO as the fund's 29th largest holding, representing about 0.5% of its portfolio. Other institutional investors also adjusted their positions, with World Investment Advisors increasing holdings by 15.4% and several others like Thrivent Financial and ABN AMRO significantly boosting stakes in the third quarter. Cisco reported robust quarterly financial results that exceeded analyst expectations, posting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.06 against a consensus of $1.03 and revenue of $15.84 billion versus an expected $15.56 billion. Revenue grew 12% year over year, driven by strong demand for networking infrastructure linked to the artificial intelligence buildout. The company achieved a net margin of 20.14% and a return on equity of 28.44%, with Q4 2026 EPS guidance set between $1.160 and $1.180. Wall Street sentiment remains largely positive following the earnings beat, with major firms like Bank of America raising their price target to $135 and Rosenblatt lifting theirs to $150, citing improving fundamentals and AI-driven demand. However, analyst ratings are mixed, with Wells Fargo, Piper Sandler, and New Street Research maintaining or upgrading targets while Zacks Research downgraded the stock to a 'hold.' The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share payable on July 22nd.