Core Insights - Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares increased by 34.6% over the past 12 months, driven by a strong focus on AI and growing security capabilities [1] - The company's stock performance outpaced the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector and competitors like Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Arista Networks (ANET) [1] AI Infrastructure Growth - AI infrastructure orders from webscale customers reached $2 billion in fiscal 2025, doubling initial expectations [6] - In Q1 fiscal 2026, product orders from service providers and cloud customers surged by 45% year-over-year, with hyperscaler AI infrastructure orders hitting $1.3 billion [6][7] - Cisco anticipates $3 billion in AI infrastructure revenues from hyperscalers in fiscal 2026, supported by a robust pipeline exceeding $2 billion for high-performance networking products [6][7] Networking and Security Demand - The first-quarter fiscal 2026 results were bolstered by strong demand for AI infrastructure and campus networking solutions [7] - Networking product orders grew in the high teens for five consecutive quarters, driven by hyperscale infrastructure and enterprise routing [7][8] - The industrial IoT portfolio benefited from increased AI workloads, with orders growing over 25% year-over-year in Q1 fiscal 2026 [9] Product Innovations - Cisco introduced the Cisco 8223 routing system and the P200 chip, aimed at enhancing network capacity and security for AI workloads [10] - New features in Cisco AI Assistant and enhancements to the Webex Customer Experience portfolio are set to improve organizational efficiency [11] Strategic Partnerships - Cisco's collaboration with NVIDIA enhances networking capabilities for AI clusters, driving enterprise AI orders [12] - The Cisco Secure AI factory with NVIDIA aims to provide secure AI-ready data centers for various providers [12] Financial Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Cisco expects revenues between $60.2 billion and $61 billion, up from $56.7 billion in fiscal 2025 [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 revenues is $60.81 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 7.34% [14] Valuation Concerns - Cisco shares are considered overvalued, with a Value Score of D and a forward price/sales ratio of 5.01X, higher than industry peers [15] - The stock is currently rated as a Hold, suggesting a cautious approach for investors [18][19]

Summary of Cisco's Earnings Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cisco - **Date**: November 18, 2025 Key Industry Insights - Cisco merged opportunities in Enterprise, Sovereign, and New Cloud sectors, revealing over $200 million in orders to showcase AI-driven growth opportunities and update market information, primarily involving systems and optical products [2][3] - AI revenue is derived mainly from Series A K, Silicon One, and optical products, with systems and optical products each accounting for 50% of the revenue [2][9] - Demand for DCI (Data Center Interconnect) related products has significantly increased, particularly for coherent pluggable optics [2][9] Core Business Strategies - Cisco's deep involvement in the design process with Hyper Scalers and the implementation of a Silicon strategy have reduced reliance on external supply chains, enabling success in the AI sector and effectively addressing supply chain challenges [2][8] - Collaboration with NVIDIA on the N9,200 switch may lower profit margins due to the use of external chips, but the integration of software and enterprise sales channel advantages enhances customer satisfaction and market competitiveness [2][11] Market Position and Competition - Cisco believes that white box switches do not pose a substantial threat to its market position and gross margins, as it possesses silicon technology and operating systems, maintaining close relationships with Hyper Scaler customers to meet complex network demands [2][13] - The company is optimistic about the growth of its security business, targeting a long-term growth rate of 15% to 17% annually, despite recent underperformance due to a transition period between old and new products [4][17] Financial Performance and Projections - Cisco's $2 billion pipeline includes opportunities from Sovereign enterprises and emerging cloud vendors, with the timing of project rollouts dependent on market demand and project progress [5][6] - The company expects that the conversion of orders to revenue typically takes about six months, but it can be quicker, around 90 days, depending on external factors [7] Product Development and Customer Needs - The hybrid work trend has impacted Cisco's collaboration business, which remains stable due to a strong product portfolio and cash flow generation capabilities [4][19] - Cisco's strategy for product updates involves a gradual approach, allowing customers to transition from older products to newer models, ensuring service continuity and security [15][16] Future Outlook - Cisco is optimistic about the future, particularly in AI and security sectors, and is positioned to leverage its dual technology strengths in networking and security [21][22] - The company emphasizes the importance of enhancing remote participant experiences in hybrid work environments and continues to focus on AI advancements as a key growth area [22][23] Additional Considerations - The transition to cloud subscriptions in the Slunk business has altered revenue recognition methods, leading to short-term revenue softness but aligning with long-term strategic goals [18] - Cisco's diverse supply chain strategy, including both proprietary and third-party components, ensures production stability and mitigates risks associated with single supply chain dependencies [11]

Summary of Cisco Systems FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cisco Systems (NasdaqGS:CSCO) - **Date of Conference**: November 18, 2025 - **Speaker**: Mark Paterson, CFO Key Industry Insights - **Growth Drivers**: Cisco identifies several key growth drivers for the upcoming 12 to 24 months, including: - AI networking and infrastructure - Cybersecurity enhancements, particularly following the acquisition of Splunk - A significant campus refresh opportunity due to aging equipment and increased security needs [11][15][17] Financial Performance - **Recent Earnings**: Cisco reported strong earnings with broad-based order growth across geographies and customer markets, indicating a robust demand for its products [15][12] - **Order Growth**: The company achieved $1.3 billion in new orders from top hyperscalers in Q1, significantly exceeding its previous target of $1 billion [20][26] - **Revenue Projections**: Cisco anticipates over $3 billion in revenue from AI-related orders this fiscal year, up from $1 billion last year [28][26] AI and Hyperscaler Engagement - **AI Infrastructure**: Cisco's role in AI has evolved, with a focus on providing critical technology for hyperscalers and enterprise AI applications. The company aims to double its previous year's order growth, targeting $4 billion in AI-related orders [25][26] - **Web Scalers**: Cisco has seen over 100% growth in orders from four different web scalers, indicating strong demand for its AI infrastructure solutions [43][42] Campus Upgrade Cycle - **Multi-Year Opportunity**: The campus upgrade cycle is expected to be a multi-year, multi-billion dollar opportunity driven by aging equipment, security risks, and the need for AI application deployment [80][81] - **Product Innovations**: Cisco has introduced a comprehensive refresh of its campus switches and security products, integrating AI capabilities to meet evolving customer needs [81][82] Competitive Landscape - **Market Position**: Cisco reported a 13% global order growth, with a 9% growth excluding web scale, indicating strong competitive positioning despite a competitive market [93][96] - **Customer Adoption**: The transition to new platforms in campus networking technologies is happening faster than previous launches, showcasing strong customer adoption [96][95] Silicon One Strategy - **Strategic Asset**: Silicon One is highlighted as a critical asset for Cisco, providing technological advantages and cost savings, which are appealing to hyperscalers [102][108] - **Future Plans**: Cisco plans to have all high-powered systems based on Silicon One by FY2029, enhancing control over its supply chain and gross margins [109][108] Security Business Dynamics - **Revenue Trends**: Cisco's security business is experiencing a transition to cloud offerings, which may temporarily impact revenue recognition but is expected to lead to stronger long-term growth [125][126] - **Customer Adoption**: The company has seen a growing customer base for its new security technologies, with 3,000 new customers added recently [127][126] Supply Chain and Pricing Strategy - **Component Costs**: Cisco is facing memory price increases and supply chain challenges but has managed to maintain stable gross margins [145][146] - **Pricing Adjustments**: The company implemented a price increase at the beginning of the quarter to address rising component costs, which has helped mitigate some margin pressures [154][153] Government Exposure - **Public Sector Growth**: Cisco's public sector business, particularly in defense and intelligence, is performing well, with mid to upper single-digit growth expected [160][161] Capital Return Strategy - **Share Buybacks**: Cisco plans to continue its share buyback program, with a run rate of $1 billion per quarter, while also supporting its dividend [169][170] Investor Insights - **Networking Importance**: The critical role of networking in AI and hyperscale environments is emphasized, highlighting the ongoing demand for Cisco's networking solutions [174][175] - **Market Opportunities**: Even amidst concerns about an AI bubble, Cisco sees significant opportunities in networking spend associated with AI growth projections [177][178]

Networking giant Cisco has acquired EzDub, a Y-Combinator-backed consumer startup that provides real-time translation services. Cisco announced the acquisition over the weekend, but the company didn’t disclose the size of the deal.EzDubs was founded by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, Amrutavarsh Kinagi, and Kareem Nassar in 2023. Notably, Nassar had previously worked at Cisco’s Speech AI group before co-founding the startup. The company raised $4.2 million in seed funding led by Venture Highway, which was founde ...

Core Insights - Zoom Communications is evolving from a pandemic-focused video meeting platform to a diversified collaboration provider, offering solutions like Zoom Phone, Contact Center, Workvivo, and AI-driven Zoom Workplace [1] Financial Performance - In Q2 of fiscal 2026, Zoom reported revenue of $873.97 million from the Americas, a 4.6% year-over-year increase; EMEAC contributed $200 million, up 5.7%; and Asia Pacific generated $148.3 million, growing 4.2% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for Q3 fiscal 2026 revenues are $870.53 million for the Americas (up 3%), $194.32 million for EMEAC (up 4%), and $149 million for Asia Pacific (up 3.2%) [4] - Zoom shares have appreciated 2.4% year to date, while the Zacks Internet – Software industry and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector have increased 26.5% and 22.4%, respectively [6] Strategic Initiatives - Zoom is expanding its market reach through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships, including collaborations with AWS and PwC, to enhance enterprise penetration globally [3][8] - The company is focusing on AI-driven product enhancements, such as AI Companion 3.0, to resonate with multinational and hybrid workforces [3][8] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Microsoft and Cisco are also expanding their global reach, with Microsoft leveraging its Office 365 ecosystem and Cisco investing in local data centers for Webex [5] - Zoom differentiates itself through AI-driven innovation and platform flexibility, which is crucial for building global momentum [5] Valuation Metrics - Zoom's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 5.14X, compared to the industry's 6.01X, indicating a relatively favorable valuation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q3 fiscal 2026 earnings is $1.42 per share, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 2.9% [13]

Group 1 - Cisco is hosting its annual AI Collaboration and Customer Experience event, WebexOne, from September 28 to October 1, 2025, in San Diego, featuring luminary customers and partners [1][2] - The event will focus on trending topics such as generative AI, customer experience, and conferencing technology, showcasing Cisco's latest innovations and strategies [2][5] - Attendees will have access to over 200 hours of learning through 82 classes and labs, along with 100+ breakout sessions featuring top customers and Cisco speakers [3] Group 2 - More than 50 Webex customers and partners, including Conagra Brands and Kennedy Space Center, will discuss their collaboration with Cisco to enhance customer experiences using AI [5] - Notable speakers include Ryan Reynolds, who will deliver the closing keynote on creative leadership and innovation, and Deepu Talla from NVIDIA, who will discuss the future of AI [5] - Cisco executives will present the company's vision for AI and customer experience, highlighting the integration of new technologies with Cisco's product portfolio [5]

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems Inc. is expected to report earnings with a gain of $0.98/share on $14.61 billion in revenue, while the Whisper number suggests a gain of $1.01/share, indicating market anticipation for strong performance [5]. Group 1: Earnings and Financial Performance - The company has shown steady earnings growth over the past few years, with earnings of $3.21 in 2020, $3.22 in 2021, $3.36 in 2022, and $3.89 in 2023. However, earnings are projected to decline to $3.73 in 2024, with a recovery expected to $3.79 in 2025 and $4.01 in 2026 [6]. - Cisco's current price-to-earnings ratio stands at 19, which is 0.8 times that of the S&P 500, suggesting a relatively attractive valuation compared to the broader market [6]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Technical Analysis - The stock recently reached a multi-decade high and is trading above its 21, 50, and 200-day moving averages, indicating strong technical performance. Investors are keenly watching for potential price movements following the earnings report [7]. Group 3: Company Background and Offerings - Cisco Systems, founded in 1984, has evolved into a leader in digital networking and communications technology, providing a wide range of products and services that form the backbone of the modern Internet [8][9]. - The company's offerings include networking hardware, software-defined networking, wireless technologies, security solutions, and collaboration platforms, which support businesses in creating secure and robust networks [10][11]. - Cisco's solutions cater to various sectors, including enterprises, governments, and service providers, with a focus on connectivity, security, and collaboration [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems is set to report its fiscal fourth quarter earnings, with expectations of strong performance driven by its AI initiatives and partnerships, particularly with Nvidia [1][6][16] Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Cisco's Q4 sales are projected to increase by 7% to $14.6 billion compared to $13.64 billion in the same quarter last year [6] - Q4 earnings per share (EPS) are expected to rise by 11% to $0.97, up from $0.87 in the prior period [6] - For fiscal 2025, total sales are anticipated to grow by 5% to $56.59 billion, with annual EPS expected to increase over 1% to $3.79 [7] Group 2: AI Initiatives - Cisco's unified silicon architecture, "Silicon One," is designed to support high-performance networking for AI and machine learning workloads [2] - The company offers a range of AI solutions, including AI infrastructure, AgenticOps for IT automation, and AI-enhanced Webex collaboration tools [9][10][11] - Cisco's partnership with Nvidia includes being the only third-party silicon vendor in Nvidia's Spectrum-X Ethernet platform, the first Ethernet networking platform for AI [2] Group 3: Stock Performance and Valuation - Cisco's stock has increased nearly 60% over the past year, reaching a 52-week high of $72 per share [3] - The stock trades at 17.9 times forward earnings, which is a 26% discount compared to the S&P 500's 24.4 times forward earnings multiple [13] - Cisco has exceeded earnings expectations for 31 consecutive quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 3.94% over the last four quarters [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Zoom Communications, Inc. has demonstrated strong stock performance, gaining 7.6% over the past three months, outperforming both the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 index [1][2] Group 1: AI-Driven Innovation - The company's growth is significantly driven by its AI innovations, particularly the adoption of Zoom AI Companion, which has seen nearly 40% quarter-over-quarter growth [2][5] - Zoom has begun monetizing its AI offerings with the launch of Custom AI Companion, receiving positive feedback from Global 2000 trial customers [6] Group 2: Enterprise Segment Growth - Zoom's enterprise revenues grew approximately 6% year-over-year, accounting for 60% of total revenues, an increase of two percentage points from the previous year [7] - The number of customers contributing over $100,000 in trailing 12-month revenues increased by 8% year-over-year, representing 32% of total revenues in the fiscal first quarter [7] Group 3: Positive Financial Outlook - For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Zoom expects total revenues between $1.195 billion and $1.2 billion, with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share anticipated between $1.36 and $1.37 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 2.96% [10] Group 4: Competitive Positioning - Zoom is positioning itself as an AI-first platform to differentiate from competitors like Cisco's Webex and Microsoft's Teams [4][12] - Recent enterprise wins, such as the Boston Celtics upgrading to Zoom Workplace Enterprise Plus, highlight the company's growing adoption in large enterprises [8]

Industry Overview - Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) is becoming a leading network standard, driven by the cloud business model, which offers an affordable, scalable, and easily deployable solution for unified collaboration communication, particularly popular among large enterprises by 2025 [1] - The UCaaS market is projected to grow from $56.14 billion in 2025 to $175.83 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.65% during the forecast period [6] Technological Advancements - The UCaaS market will see deeper AI integration in 2025 to enhance communication, a shift towards mobile-first platforms, increased adoption of Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC), and a focus on security and compliance [2] - AI-powered capabilities such as virtual assistants, automated chatbots, and predictive intelligence will improve communication efficiency and enhance the remote work experience [3] - The introduction of 5G networks is transforming video and audio conferencing by enabling fast, low-latency communication, with advancements like 5G network slicing improving video call quality [4] Key Players - RingCentral (RNG), Cisco Systems (CSCO), and Crexendo (CXDO) are key players positioned to benefit from the growing UCaaS market [6] - RingCentral has been recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS for ten consecutive years, bolstered by strategic partnerships with companies like AT&T and Cox Communications [8][9] - Cisco has also been recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS for the sixth consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to innovation through its Webex platform [11] - Crexendo has expanded its presence in the UCaaS sector and won the Unified Communications Excellence Award for the fourth time, showcasing its leadership and innovation [15] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RingCentral's 2025 earnings is $4.20 per share, which has increased by a penny in the past 30 days [10] - Cisco's 2025 earnings estimate is $3.72 per share, reflecting a 1.92% increase over the past 30 days [14] - Crexendo's 2025 earnings estimate is 28 cents per share, which has risen by 12% over the past 30 days [17]