智通财经APP获悉，思科(CSCO.US)将于周三美股盘后公布2026财年第二季度业绩。华尔街分析师预测， 每股收益为1.02美元，同比增长8.5%。营收预计将达到151.2亿美元，较去年同期增长8.1%。 在互联网泡沫破裂后的多年停滞之后，思科的复苏得益于其成功的业务多元化，通过收购Webex、 AppDynamics和Splunk等公司，成功实现了从网络硬件到软件和服务领域的多元化发展。此外，过去一年 来，思科的股价表现优于大盘，持续受益于人工智能投资周期，其中最引人注目的是其获得了13亿美元的 人工智能基础设施订单。 投资者将关注管理层对公司人工智能基础设施业务发展势头及其积压订单的评论。截至10月底，公司剩余 履约义务(RPO)为429亿美元，同比增长7.2%。 上周，瑞银分析师David Vogt重申了对思科的"买入"评级，目标价为90美元。根据行业调查，这位分析师预 计，在核心企业市场改善的推动下，思科的营收将高于他此前预测的150.5亿美元。Vogt预计，产品订单量 将实现接近两位数的增长，而上一季度的增幅为13%。 尽管人工智能订单难以预测，但Vogt指出，思科的主要人工智能合作伙伴之一Met ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the journey of a UX research lead at Microsoft, highlighting the transition from architecture to user experience and AI research, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the tech industry. Group 1: Career Path and Education - The individual transitioned from a background in architecture to user experience, enrolling in a user experience course and later pursuing a master's degree in user experience and interaction design [2][4]. - Initial career steps included an internship at Korn Ferry, leading to a full-time role, followed by a position at Cisco as a UX research lead, before joining Microsoft [4][5]. Group 2: AI Research Insights - Continuous evaluation of AI is crucial, as it requires ongoing assessment to ensure trustworthy user experiences, revealing inconsistencies and areas for improvement [8][9]. - AI can lower barriers for individuals with disabilities but may also create new inequities if not designed with accessibility in mind, necessitating the inclusion of diverse user groups in research [10][11]. Group 3: Upskilling and Impact - Gaining fluency in AI concepts is more important than deep technical knowledge, allowing for effective communication between technical teams and user needs [12][13]. - Building a portfolio that emphasizes the intersection of AI and user experience is essential for demonstrating value to hiring managers, showcasing frameworks and evaluation studies [15].

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems, Inc. is experiencing significant growth and diversification, with strong earnings expectations and a bullish analyst outlook, driven by its expansion into software and services, particularly in AI infrastructure [1][5][6]. Financial Performance - Cisco is expected to report a fiscal second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $0.82, reflecting a 6.5% increase from $0.77 in the same quarter last year [2]. - For the fiscal year ending July 2026, analysts project an EPS of $3.30, up 7.5% from $3.07 in fiscal 2025, with further growth expected to $3.53 in fiscal 2027 [3]. Stock Performance - Cisco shares have increased by 25.4% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 18.6% gains but lagging behind the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund's 27.1% gains [4]. - The stock recently reached a record closing price of $80.25, marking its first all-time high since the dot-com era peak in 2000 [5]. Analyst Sentiment - The consensus opinion on Cisco stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating from analysts. Out of 24 analysts, 13 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," and 10 give a "Hold" rating [6]. - The average analyst price target for Cisco is $85.90, indicating a potential upside of 15.4% from current levels [6].

Core Viewpoint - Cisco Systems Inc has reached a historic high in stock price after a prolonged period of stagnation, largely attributed to the surge in spending in the artificial intelligence sector [1][18]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Market Context - Cisco's stock price rose by 0.9% to $80.25, marking a new high not seen in 25 years, with a total market capitalization of $317.1 billion [1][18]. - The stock's peak in March 2000 is viewed as the pinnacle of the internet bubble, and comparisons are being drawn between the current market dynamics and those of the late 1990s [1][21]. - The stock's recovery is seen as a reflection of investor confidence, despite concerns that it resembles a utility company rather than an innovative firm [11][27]. Group 2: Historical Context and Comparisons - Cisco was once the most valuable company globally during the internet boom, with a market cap exceeding $500 billion, but saw its value plummet by over 85% after the bubble burst [5][24]. - The company has since transformed and increased its stock price by over 800%, although its market cap remains more than 40% below its peak during the internet bubble [11][27]. - Comparisons are being made between Cisco and Nvidia, with some analysts suggesting that both companies are at the center of a potential AI bubble similar to the internet bubble era [3][21]. Group 3: AI Infrastructure and Future Outlook - Cisco's recent stock surge is primarily driven by strong revenue expectations, with the company poised to benefit from significant investments in AI infrastructure [12][29]. - The company anticipates sales of up to $61 billion for the fiscal year ending in July, exceeding Wall Street's expectations by approximately $1 billion [15][29]. - Former CEO John Chambers expressed optimism about AI's growth trajectory, predicting a significant increase in productivity by 2026 and dismissing concerns about an AI bubble [30][32]. Group 4: Strategic Insights and Industry Dynamics - Chambers highlighted the broad applications of AI across various sectors, including retail, automotive, and healthcare, emphasizing the rapid adoption by major companies [30][32]. - He warned that companies lacking a clear AI strategy may face severe challenges, while those with robust plans could thrive through strategic acquisitions and partnerships [32][33]. - The competitive landscape is expected to shift, with larger firms potentially facing setbacks, while mid-sized and smaller companies may encounter greater risks [32][33].

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]

Core Insights - Cisco has acquired EzDubs, a startup specializing in real-time translation services, although the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed [1] - EzDubs was founded in 2023 and has raised $4.2 million in seed funding from notable investors [2] - The acquisition aims to integrate EzDubs' technology into Cisco's communication platform, enhancing features like live translation in Webex [3][4] Company Overview - EzDubs was co-founded by Padmanabhan Krishnamurthy, Amrutavarsh Kinagi, and Kareem Nassar, the latter having prior experience at Cisco [2] - The startup has developed consumer applications that supported call translations for over 30 languages, which will be discontinued by December 15 [5] Industry Context - The translation services market is valued at approximately $40 billion, indicating significant demand and potential for enterprise-focused solutions [10] - Recent acquisitions in the translation space include Palabra AI's acquisition of Talo and TransPerfect's acquisition of Unbabel, highlighting ongoing consolidation in the industry [8][9]

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]