Cisco Systems(US:CSCO)2025-11-12 22:30Financial 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]