CiscoCSCOBUYNov 22, 2017Stock 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.
When John Chambers was running this, it was a phenomenal growth story. Now it seems to be a US story plus, but is definitely not an aging growth story. Has a lot of cash and has become a dividend growth story. Feels it needs an acquisition, but has a very poor reputation in acquiring companies, integrating them and taking them forward. It will continue to benefit from the US government. It’s a company transitioning into a dividend paying, growth, mature tech company, and a longer growth story. Dividend yield of 3.2%.