CiscoCSCOHOLDApr 06, 2016Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Sep 04, 2026. Market Open.
Like Apple it was sort of a sleeper last year. It sells processes and analogue chips, very different than GPU's. Is involved in networking products and services. The AI stack explosion needed their products and technology. It is fully priced according to analysts' price targets.
Kudos on that choice, because it's not been a market darling (since the dot-com bubble). Riding coattails of stronger players in the space, catching the halo effect. The old adage: "No one ever went broke taking a profit" -- good risk management.
Prefers, and owns, ANET.
Part of IT infrastructure, but $27B acquisition of Splunk really helped drive security business. Finally hit a new high (previous high was March 27, 2000). Phenomenal allocator of capital. Compelling buy. Every year, buys back stock and raises dividend.
Finally growing revenues again, he's looking for mid-high single-digit revenue growth. AI will bring a much higher recurring revenue stream. Its solutions are so embedded in businesses, he's not worried about clients trying to go it alone with AI.
Took a pretty good hit at the start of the year, but has recovered almost all of that. Unlike a pure growth stock, this tends to get lumped in with the momentum or growth stocks, but scores better on a valuation basis. Scores in the top 10% for him on valuation. Trading at 7.4X EBITDA and 14X PE. If we are going to get another round of cyclical recovery in the US, as manufacturing picks up again, there will be incremental spends to companies in IT services like this. 3.7% dividend yield. No debt and they have cash in the balance sheet.