Core Insights - CrowdStrike and Cisco Systems are prominent players in the cybersecurity sector, with CrowdStrike focusing on endpoint protection and AI-native cloud security through its Falcon platform, while Cisco is enhancing its offerings in Threat Intelligence, Detection, and Response [1][2] Industry Overview - The cybersecurity market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.28% from 2026 to 2030, driven by increasing complex attacks such as credential theft and social engineering [2] CrowdStrike Analysis - CrowdStrike's Falcon platform is recognized as the first multi-tenant, cloud-native security solution, securing various environments and endpoints [4] - The platform offers 29 cloud modules under a subscription model, with subscription sales increasing from 72% in fiscal 2017 to 95% in fiscal 2025 [5] - In Q3 fiscal 2026, Annual Recurring Revenues (ARR) from Falcon Flex customers reached $1.35 billion, growing over 200% year-over-year, indicating strong customer value perception [6] - However, CrowdStrike's revenue growth has decelerated from over 35% year-over-year in fiscal 2024 to an expected 21-22% in fiscal 2026, with projected revenues between $4.797 billion and $4.807 billion [7] Cisco Systems Analysis - Cisco Systems is expanding its security business with new products like Secure Access and AI Defense, achieving good customer adoption with nearly 3,000 customers purchasing new solutions in Q1 fiscal 2026 [8][10] - The acquisition of Splunk has contributed to strong growth in ARR and performance obligations, with significant deals enhancing Cisco's security portfolio [9] - Cisco's new products, such as Cisco Unified Edge and Cisco Data Fabric, are designed to support AI-related needs, further strengthening its market position [11][12] Earnings Estimates Comparison - CrowdStrike's fiscal 2026 earnings estimate is $3.71 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 5.6% [13] - In contrast, Cisco's fiscal 2026 earnings estimate is $4.10 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 7.61% [14] Price Performance and Valuation - Over the past six months, Cisco shares have risen by 11.2%, while CrowdStrike shares have decreased by 5.8% [16] - Cisco is trading at a forward sales multiple of 4.81X, significantly lower than CrowdStrike's 19.75X, making Cisco more attractive for value-seeking investors [17] Conclusion - Cisco Systems has a competitive edge over CrowdStrike due to its strong security portfolio and reasonable valuation, making it an appealing option for investors looking for growth in the cybersecurity sector [20][21]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported revenue of $56.7 billion for fiscal year 2025, representing a 5% year-over-year increase [18] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.81, up 2% year-over-year, with non-GAAP gross margins at 68.7% [18] - Non-GAAP operating income reached $19.5 billion, a 6% increase year-over-year, while non-GAAP net income was flat at $15.2 billion [18] - For Q1 of fiscal year 2026, revenue was $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP EPS at $1, up 10% year-over-year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The growth in Q1 was driven by a 15% year-over-year increase in networking revenue, with SP routing being the largest contributor [26] - Product orders grew by 13% year-over-year across all geographies and customer markets [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong demand for AI infrastructure from hyperscalers and telcos was noted, as they scale data centers and increase network capacity to handle AI traffic [26] - Enterprise customers are modernizing their networks for AI, indicating a broad market trend towards upgrading infrastructure [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco is focusing on capitalizing on AI opportunities, integrating Splunk to enhance digital resilience and unify customer data for AI model building [28][29] - The company aims to grow organically and inorganically, continue dividend growth, buy back shares, and return excess cash to shareholders [20] - Cisco is positioned to play a critical role in the AI transition, with a focus on AI infrastructure, security, data management, AI-native products, and customer services [21][22][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the strong performance in fiscal year 2025 and the record start to fiscal year 2026 [18][24] - The company anticipates significant growth opportunities driven by leadership in AI and secure networking [19][24] Other Important Information - Cisco returned 94% of free cash flow to shareholders in fiscal year 2025, with an annualized dividend per share of $1.64 and nearly $6 billion in share repurchases [20] - The board recommended stockholders vote against a proposal regarding the assessment of inclusion programs, which was not approved with approximately 99% of shares voting against it [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Key trends driving recent strong growth - Cisco noted strong Q1 performance with 8% revenue growth driven by networking strength and demand for AI infrastructure from hyperscalers and telcos [26] Question: Cisco's strategy for capitalizing on AI opportunities - Cisco highlighted broad AI opportunities, emphasizing the need for customers to upgrade networks and embed security deeply into their infrastructure [28] Question: How Cisco's purpose influences business strategy - Cisco's purpose guides its operations, focusing on community resilience, responsible innovation, and energy sustainability, which are seen as beneficial for long-term shareholder value [30][31]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported revenue of $56.7 billion for fiscal year 2025, representing a 5% year-over-year increase [18] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.81, up 2% year-over-year, with non-GAAP gross margins at 68.7% [18] - Non-GAAP operating income reached $19.5 billion, up 6% year-over-year, while non-GAAP net income was $15.2 billion, flat year-over-year [18] - For Q1 of fiscal year 2026, revenue was $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP EPS at $1, up 10% year-over-year [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The growth in revenue was driven by strong demand for AI infrastructure and campus networking solutions, with product orders growing 13% year-over-year [19] - Networking revenue specifically grew by 15% year-over-year in Q1, with SP routing being the largest contributor [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco experienced robust demand across all geographies and customer markets, indicating a broad-based growth [19] - The company noted strong demand from hyperscalers and telcos, which are increasing their network capacity to handle AI traffic [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco is focusing on capitalizing on the AI opportunity, integrating AI into its product offerings, and enhancing security within its network infrastructure [28] - The company aims to grow organically and inorganically, continue dividend growth, buy back shares, and return excess cash to shareholders [20] - Cisco's strategy includes building AI-ready data centers, modernizing workplaces, and ensuring digital resilience for customers [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the strong performance in fiscal 2025 and the positive outlook for fiscal 2026 [18][24] - The integration of Splunk is seen as crucial for enhancing digital resilience and enabling customers to unify their data for AI model building [29] Other Important Information - Cisco returned 94% of its free cash flow to shareholders in fiscal year 2025, with an annualized dividend per share of $1.64 and nearly $6 billion in share repurchases [20] - The company plans to publish its purpose report in mid-January 2026, detailing its commitment to community resilience, responsible innovation, and sustainability [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the key trends you are seeing with your customers and what is driving this performance? - Cisco noted strong Q1 performance driven by networking strength and demand for AI infrastructure, with customers modernizing their networks for AI [26] Question: Can you discuss Cisco's overall strategy for capitalizing on the AI opportunity and how the integration of Splunk is enhancing your position? - Cisco sees broad AI opportunities and emphasizes the need for customers to upgrade their networks and embed security deeply, with Splunk integration enhancing digital resilience [28] Question: How does Cisco's stated purpose influence your business strategy and create long-term value? - Cisco's purpose guides its operations, focusing on community resilience, responsible innovation, and sustainability, which are believed to drive durable growth for shareholders [30]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported revenue of $56.7 billion for FY 2025, representing a 5% year-over-year increase [17] - Non-GAAP EPS was $3.81, up 2% year-over-year, with non-GAAP gross margins at 68.7% [17] - Non-GAAP operating income reached $19.5 billion, up 6% year-over-year, while non-GAAP net income was $15.2 billion, flat year-over-year [17] - For Q1 FY 2026, revenue was $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP EPS at $1, up 10% year-over-year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software and subscriptions now account for more than half of Cisco's revenue, indicating a shift towards recurring revenue models [17] - Networking revenue grew by 15% year-over-year in Q1 FY 2026, driven by strong demand for AI infrastructure [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product orders grew 13% year-over-year across all geographies and customer markets in Q1 FY 2026 [18] - Strong demand from hyperscalers and telcos for AI infrastructure and increased network capacity was noted [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco is focusing on capitalizing on the AI transition, with a strategy that includes enhancing AI infrastructure, security, and data management [20][21] - The integration of Splunk is seen as crucial for building a comprehensive data fabric that allows customers to unify their data and build AI models [28] - The company aims to return more than 50% of free cash flow to shareholders, having returned 94% in FY 2025 [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the opportunities in the AI era, highlighting the need for modern infrastructure to support AI workloads [22] - The company anticipates strong growth driven by its leadership in AI and secure networking, positioning itself for what is expected to be its strongest year yet [18][23] Other Important Information - Cisco's annual meeting included discussions on corporate governance, executive compensation, and stockholder proposals, with significant support for most proposals [15] - The company plans to publish its purpose report in mid-January 2026, detailing its commitment to community resilience, responsible innovation, and sustainability [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Key trends driving recent company performance - Cisco noted strong Q1 performance with 8% revenue growth, driven by networking strength and demand for AI infrastructure from hyperscalers and telcos [25] Question: Cisco's strategy for capitalizing on AI opportunities - The company highlighted broad AI opportunities, emphasizing the need for customers to upgrade networks and embed security deeply into their infrastructure [27] Question: Influence of Cisco's purpose on business strategy - Cisco's purpose guides its operations, focusing on community resilience, responsible innovation, and sustainability, which are seen as beneficial for long-term shareholder value [29]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported Q1 revenue of $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP net income of $4 billion, up 9% [18][19] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1, reflecting a 10% growth, indicating that earnings are growing faster than revenue [5][18] - Total annualized recurring revenue (ARR) reached $31.4 billion, a 5% increase, with product ARR growing by 7% [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total product revenue was $11.1 billion, up 10%, while service revenue was $3.8 billion, up 2% year-over-year [19] - Networking product orders grew by 15%, driven by strong demand in service provider routing and AI infrastructure [19][22] - Security revenue declined by 2%, attributed to shifts towards cloud subscriptions and declines in prior-generation products [19][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product orders increased by 13% year-over-year, with service provider and cloud orders up 45%, public sector orders up 12%, and enterprise orders up 4% [21] - Orders from the Americas grew by 16%, EMEA by 8%, and APJC by 13% [21] - AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers totaled $1.3 billion in Q1, with expectations of $3 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2026 [9][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco aims to capitalize on the growing demand for AI infrastructure, positioning itself as a key provider for secure networking solutions [6][11] - The company is focusing on multi-year refresh opportunities in its product lines, particularly in enterprise routing and campus networking [40][41] - Strategic partnerships, such as with G42 and NVIDIA, are being expanded to enhance AI capabilities and infrastructure [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving a strong fiscal year 2026, driven by robust order growth and innovation [5][17] - The company anticipates challenges in the second half of the year due to tougher year-over-year comparisons [37] - Management highlighted the importance of modernizing network infrastructure to support AI workloads as a significant growth opportunity [15][41] Other Important Information - Cisco returned $3.6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, representing 125% of free cash flow in Q1 [5][22] - The company expects non-GAAP gross margin for Q2 to be in the range of 67.5%-68.5% and for fiscal year 2026 to be between $60.2 billion-$61 billion in revenue [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI orders and their evolution - Management clarified that the $3 billion revenue expectation from Hyperscale AI infrastructure is based on new orders totaling $1.3 billion in Q1, with expectations for at least double the orders from fiscal year 2025 [27][28] Question: Strength in AI orders and DRAM pricing impact - Management noted that the scale-across opportunity is emerging, with significant growth in pluggable optics and a shift towards cloud subscriptions impacting security revenue [32][33] Question: Growth in the rest of the business - Management indicated that excluding Hyperscaler growth, the rest of the business saw a 9% increase in orders, addressing concerns about overall growth rates [37] Question: Multi-year cycles and confidence in growth - Management highlighted the ongoing refresh opportunities in enterprise routing and campus switches, indicating a strong interest from customers [40][41] Question: Silicon One penetration and security revenue shifts - Management expects Silicon One to be fully rolled out by the end of fiscal 2029, with a focus on performance and programmability driving traction among Hyperscalers [46][47]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported Q1 revenue of $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP net income of $4 billion, up 9%, and non-GAAP earnings per share of $1, up 10% [5][18] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 68.1%, down 120 basis points year-over-year, while non-GAAP product gross margin was 67.2%, down 170 basis points [22] - Operating cash flow was $3.2 billion, down 12% due to investments in AI infrastructure [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total product revenue was $11.1 billion, up 10%, with networking revenue growing 15%, driven by service provider routing and AI infrastructure [19] - Security revenue decreased by 2%, reflecting declines in prior-generation products and a shift to cloud subscriptions [20] - Collaboration revenue was down 3%, while observability revenue increased by 6% [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product orders grew 13% year-over-year, with service provider and cloud orders up 45%, public sector orders up 12%, and enterprise orders up 4% [21] - Product orders were up across all geographic segments, with the Americas up 16%, EMEA up 8%, and APJC up 13% [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco is focusing on AI infrastructure, with expectations to recognize approximately $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenue from hyperscalers in fiscal year 2026 [9] - The company is expanding partnerships, including with G42 in the UAE and NVIDIA, to enhance its AI capabilities [11][12] - Cisco aims to capture the multi-year refresh opportunity in networking products as older models reach end-of-support [40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand for AI infrastructure and the critical role of secure networking as organizations deploy AI [6] - The company anticipates continued growth in AI-related orders and a robust pipeline exceeding $2 billion for NeoCloud and Sovereign Cloud [29][60] - Management acknowledged challenges in the security segment but remains committed to long-term growth targets [74] Other Important Information - Cisco returned $3.6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, representing 125% of free cash flow in Q1 [5] - The company expects revenue for Q2 to be in the range of $15 billion to $15.2 billion and for fiscal year 2026 to be between $60.2 billion and $61 billion [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI orders and pipeline - Management clarified that the $3 billion AI revenue target for fiscal 2026 is based on hyperscale AI infrastructure, with expectations for at least double the orders received in fiscal year 2025 [27][28] Question: Impact of DRAM pricing on gross margin - Management noted tightening supply and significant price increases in memory, which are factored into the updated guidance for Q2 and the year [33] Question: Growth in the rest of the business - Management indicated that excluding hyperscaler growth, the rest of the business grew 9% in Q1 from an orders perspective [37] Question: Multi-year cycles and refresh opportunities - Management highlighted the ongoing refresh opportunities in enterprise routing and campus switches, with faster adoption rates than previous launches [40] Question: Silicon One penetration and traction - Management expects Silicon One to be fully rolled out across the portfolio by the end of fiscal 2029, emphasizing its performance and programmability [46] Question: Security revenue normalization - Management anticipates that the normalization of the security revenue mix will take about four quarters, with a commitment to mid-teens long-term growth [74]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cisco reported Q1 revenue of $14.9 billion, an 8% increase year-over-year, with non-GAAP net income rising to $4 billion, up 9% [16][18] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) reached $1, reflecting a 10% growth, indicating that earnings are growing faster than revenue [16][18] - Total annualized recurring revenue (ARR) was $31.4 billion, a 5% increase, with product ARR growing by 7% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total product revenue was $11.1 billion, up 10%, while service revenue increased by 2% to $3.8 billion [17] - Networking products saw a significant growth of 15%, driven by service provider routing and AI infrastructure [17] - Security revenue declined by 2%, attributed to shifts towards cloud subscriptions and declines in prior-generation products [17][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product orders grew by 13% year-over-year, with service provider and cloud orders up 45% [18] - Orders from the public sector increased by 12%, while enterprise orders rose by 4% [18] - Geographic performance showed the Americas up 16%, EMEA up 8%, and APJC up 13% in product orders [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Cisco is focusing on AI infrastructure and secure networking as critical growth areas, with expectations of $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenue from hyperscalers in FY2026 [8][21] - The company is expanding partnerships, including with G42 and NVIDIA, to enhance its AI capabilities and product offerings [10][11] - Cisco aims to capitalize on the multi-year refresh opportunity in networking products as older models reach end-of-support [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand for AI-related products and the need for modern networking infrastructure to support AI initiatives [5][6] - The company anticipates continued growth in the second half of FY2026, driven by strategic investments and innovation [20][21] - Management acknowledged challenges in the supply chain, particularly regarding memory and optics, but remains optimistic about meeting demand [27][54] Other Important Information - Cisco returned $3.6 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, representing 125% of free cash flow in Q1 [4][19] - The company reported a non-GAAP gross margin of 68.1%, slightly down from the previous year but above guidance [19] - Total cash, cash equivalents, and investments at the end of Q1 were $15.7 billion [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on AI orders and WebScale opportunities - Management clarified that the $3 billion AI revenue target for FY2026 is based on existing customer orders, with expectations for at least double the orders from FY2025 [22][23] Question: Growth in enterprise orders and pipeline - The NeoCloud and Sovereign Cloud enterprise pipeline exceeds $2 billion, with $200 million booked in Q1, indicating strong future potential [23][24] Question: Impact of DRAM pricing on gross margin - Management acknowledged tightening supply and price increases in memory and optics but stated these factors are accounted for in their guidance [27][28] Question: Multi-year cycles and product refresh opportunities - Management highlighted the accelerated ramp of new products, indicating strong customer interest in modernizing network infrastructure [30] Question: Security revenue and future growth expectations - Management reiterated commitment to mid-teens long-term growth in security revenue, expecting normalization of the mix shift to take about four quarters [51][52]

Financial Performance - Q1 FY2026 revenue reached $14883 million, up 8% year-over-year[9, 26, 32, 33] - Non-GAAP EPS was $1.00, a 10% increase year-over-year[9] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 68.1%[9] - Non-GAAP operating margin was 34.4%[9] AI Momentum - Cisco secured $1300 million in AI infrastructure orders from hyperscale customers in Q1 FY26[6, 9, 18] - AI orders of over $200 million were taken from neocloud, sovereign, and enterprise customers in Q1 FY26[6, 18] - The company anticipates over $3000 million in AI infrastructure revenues in FY26[6, 12] - The AI opportunities pipeline is growing, exceeding $2000 million across neocloud, sovereign, and enterprise customers[9, 15] Recurring Revenue - Total RPO increased by 7% year-over-year to $42900 million, with product RPO up 10% year-over-year[9, 27] - Total ARR grew by 5% year-over-year to $31400 million, with product ARR up 7% year-over-year[9, 27] Capital Allocation - Cisco returned $3600 million to shareholders in Q1 FY26, including $2001 million in share repurchases[9, 35]

Cisco Systems, Inc. - The company is experiencing positive fundamental developments, with strong momentum in its shares [1] - On September 8, Cisco launched a suite of Splunk-powered offerings, including new Enterprise Security editions and AI observability tools, aimed at unifying security and data management [2] Quanta Services, Inc. - Quanta Services reported third-quarter earnings of $3.33 per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $3.26 per share [3] - The company achieved quarterly sales of $7.631 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $7.389 billion, with a revenue growth of 17.5% [2][3] Trane Technologies plc - Trane Technologies reported quarterly earnings of $3.88 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $3.78 per share [4] - The company reported quarterly sales of $5.743 billion, which fell short of the analyst consensus estimate of $5.787 billion [4] Stock Performance - Cisco shares increased by 2.2%, closing at $72.91 [6] - Quanta Services shares rose by 1.2%, closing at $453.83 [6] - Trane Technologies shares gained 4.4%, closing at $446.37 [6]