CiscoCSCODON'T BUYOct 13, 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.
Caught up in a big transitional situation in the technology industry. What used to be done mechanically, in terms of switching, is now being done with software. If you are the biggest manufacturer in electronic switches, how do you transition yourself into the new world without losing market share? It turns out to be more difficult than people thought. Even though they had a dominant position 10 years ago, it has been losing market share, and he thinks it is a really difficult period for the stock. He wouldn’t recommend it.