Core Insights - Cisco has introduced significant advancements to enhance secure and scalable AI across various market segments, including the launch of the Cisco N9100, the first NVIDIA partner-developed data center switch based on NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet switch silicon [3][4] - The collaboration between Cisco and NVIDIA aims to provide customers with a flexible and interoperable architecture for building, managing, and securing AI infrastructure at scale, catering to neocloud, enterprise, and telecom customers [3][5] Product Innovations - The Cisco N9100 series switches will be available for order before the end of the year, offering a choice between Cisco NX-OS or SONiC operating systems, enhancing Ethernet capabilities for AI networks [4][5] - Cisco's Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA focuses on performance, security, and resiliency, integrating new security and observability features to protect AI deployments [5][8] Industry Collaboration - Cisco, NVIDIA, and other telecom partners have unveiled the first AI-native wireless stack for 6G, which aims to support the increasing demand for connected devices and services in the AI era [6][8] - The partnership emphasizes a shared vision of an AI-powered future, with advancements that accelerate AI adoption across enterprises, neoclouds, and telecom providers [6][8] Customer Feedback - Industry leaders have praised Cisco's N9100 series for its ability to simplify operations and enhance performance, highlighting the importance of operational simplicity in scaling AI infrastructure [7][9] - Customers have expressed excitement about the N9100 series and its compliance with NVIDIA Cloud Partner reference architecture, which is expected to streamline deployments and improve efficiency [7][9] Security and Observability - Cisco AI Defense now integrates with NVIDIA NeMo Guardrails to enhance cybersecurity for AI applications, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected within organizational data centers [8] - The integration of Splunk Observability Cloud allows teams to monitor the performance and security of their AI application stack, providing real-time insights into infrastructure health [8] Ecosystem Expansion - Cisco has expanded its ecosystem by validating NVIDIA Run:ai software for intelligent AI workload orchestration and supporting Nutanix solutions for Kubernetes and storage [8] - The collaboration with NVIDIA aligns with the new NVIDIA AI Factory for Government, providing a comprehensive reference design for AI workloads in regulated environments [8]

Core Insights - Cisco has launched the Secure AI Factory in collaboration with NVIDIA to provide a comprehensive solution for enterprises to utilize their data securely for agentic AI at scale [2][5] - The solution includes Cisco AI PODs integrated with VAST InsightEngine, designed to accelerate retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, ensuring AI agents have immediate access to necessary data [3][7] - The architecture supports low-latency model interaction and high-performance networking, enabling near-real-time business insights while maintaining security and governance [4][11] Company Collaboration - The partnership between Cisco, NVIDIA, and VAST Data aims to create a validated architecture that enhances enterprise AI adoption and secures data through AI Defense [5][7] - VAST Data is the first vendor to integrate with Cisco AI PODs, providing an NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design for enterprise customers [8] Technical Capabilities - The new capabilities allow for faster data extraction and retrieval, reducing RAG pipeline latency from minutes to seconds, thus facilitating near-real-time AI responses [11] - The architecture is designed to support multiple agents and workloads simultaneously, enabling continuous operation and dynamic learning for AI agents [11] Market Impact - The integration of these technologies represents a significant milestone in the evolution of enterprise AI, allowing intelligent agents to operate securely and collaboratively at an unprecedented scale [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares have declined 10.8% in the past month, slightly outperforming the Zacks Computer Networking industry's decline of 11% and the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's decline of 13.9% [1] Group 1: Market Challenges - Cisco's share price has been affected by a challenging macroeconomic environment and the rising threat of recession due to tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, increasing the possibility of a trade war [1] - The company is facing stiff competition in the networking business [1] Group 2: AI and Security Growth - Cisco is aggressively pushing into AI, expanding its portfolio with AI factory architecture developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, which is expected to drive AI-driven revenues [2] - At the end of the first half of fiscal 2025, Cisco had AI infrastructure orders worth over $700 million and is on track to surpass $1 billion in AI infrastructure orders for fiscal 2025 [2] - Orders for AI-powered robotics and industrial security have grown more than 40% in the first half of fiscal 2025, with over 50% growth in the second quarter alone [3] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships - Cisco's expanded partnership with NVIDIA aims to offer solutions for building AI-ready data center networks, with security being a core component [7] - The launch of 800-gig Nexus switches based on Cisco's 51.2 terabit Silicon One chip is expected to drive orders from AI-based cloud customers [7] Group 4: Security Business Performance - Cisco's security business is benefiting from strong demand for Cisco Secure Access and XDR, gaining over 1,000 customers in the past 12 months, with each product having roughly one million enterprise users [10] - The company has integrated Talos into Splunk's Enterprise Security 8.0 and launched several new solutions, including Cisco AI Defense, which addresses security challenges associated with AI adoption [11][12] Group 5: Financial Guidance - For fiscal 2025, Cisco expects revenues to be between $56 billion and $56.5 billion, with non-GAAP earnings projected between $3.68 and $3.74 per share [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cisco's fiscal 2025 revenues is $56.42 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 4.86% [13] Group 6: Valuation and Stock Performance - Cisco shares are trading at a premium with a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 3.72X, higher than the industry average of 3.54X and competitors like NETGEAR and Extreme Networks [14] - The stock is currently trading below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bearish trend [17] Group 7: Investment Outlook - Cisco's expanding and innovative portfolio positions the company for sustained growth in the evolving tech landscape, particularly with its AI initiatives and security footprint [19] - The company carries a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting it may be a good time for investors to accumulate the stock [19]

Core Insights - Cisco Systems is expanding its AI portfolio through collaboration with NVIDIA, aiming to increase AI-driven revenues, with orders exceeding $700 million by the end of the first half of fiscal 2025 and projected to surpass $1 billion in the same fiscal year [1][3] - The company is experiencing significant growth in AI-driven enterprise orders, with over 40% growth in the first half of fiscal 2025 and more than 50% in the second quarter alone [2][3] - Despite the positive outlook for AI growth, Cisco shares have declined 6.2% year-to-date due to macroeconomic challenges and competitive pressures in the networking sector [3][18] AI and Security Developments - Cisco's partnership with NVIDIA focuses on creating AI-ready data center networks, enhancing security and management of AI infrastructure [7][10] - The introduction of various AI-driven products, including the Webex AI Agent and Cisco AI Defense, aims to improve customer experience and address security challenges associated with AI adoption [9][15] - Security orders have more than doubled in the fiscal second quarter, with revenues reaching $2.11 billion, driven by advanced analytics and threat detection capabilities [12][15] Financial Performance and Guidance - For fiscal 2025, Cisco expects revenues between $56 billion and $56.5 billion, with non-GAAP earnings projected between $3.68 and $3.74 per share, indicating a year-over-year revenue growth of 4.88% [16][18] - Cisco has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.07% [17] - The stock is currently trading at a premium price/sales ratio of 4.13X, higher than its historical median and the industry average, suggesting a stretched valuation [18][19]