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Better Tech Stock: Arista Networks vs. Cisco Systems
The Motley Foolยท 2025-06-24 07:45
Core Insights - Arista Networks and Cisco Systems represent two distinct investment opportunities in the networking infrastructure and software market, with Arista focusing on high-growth data centers and cloud-scale networks, while Cisco serves a broader range of sectors as a diversified market leader [1][2] Company Performance - Over the past five years, Arista's stock increased nearly 540%, while Cisco's stock advanced about 50%, compared to a 90% rise in the S&P 500 [2] - From fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2024, Cisco's revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of less than 1%, while its adjusted EPS rose at a CAGR of nearly 4% [9][12] - In contrast, Arista's revenue rose at a CAGR of 24% and adjusted net income increased at a CAGR of 30% during the same period [12][13] Competitive Landscape - Cisco is the largest networking hardware company, known for its proprietary chips and software, creating a "sticky" ecosystem with integrated security and network observability services [4][8] - Arista utilizes Broadcom's chips and open-source software, providing flexibility that appeals to customers seeking alternatives to Cisco's ecosystem [5][6] - Cisco remains a leader in end-to-end deployments, while Arista primarily focuses on cloud and data center markets [7][8] Growth Prospects - Analysts expect Cisco's revenue and EPS to grow at a CAGR of 5% and 9%, respectively, from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2027, driven by subscription expansion and AI tailwinds [15] - Arista's revenue and EPS are projected to increase at a CAGR of 19% and 15%, respectively, benefiting from cloud and AI market growth and expansion into enterprise markets [16] Investment Valuation - Cisco trades at 17 times forward adjusted earnings with a forward dividend yield of 2.5% [15] - Arista's stock is priced at 33 times its forward adjusted earnings and has never paid a dividend [16]