Cisco Systems Inc vs Palo Alto Networks Inc — how do they compare? Cisco Systems Inc trades at $111.56 (market cap $461.50B), while Palo Alto Networks Inc trades at $355.51 (market cap $287.61B). The key difference: Cisco Systems Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Cisco Systems Inc pays a 1.43% dividend while Palo Alto Networks Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CSCO | PANW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $461.50B | $287.61B |
Volume | 22,887,319 | — |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $130.00 | $357.53 |
52-Week Low | $66.20 | $141.67 |
Enterprise Value | $476.17B | $286.57B |
Dividend Yield | 1.43% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at $119.25, down 1.7% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and recent AI-driven news boosting sentiment. The company reported strong earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $1.06 exceeding the $1.03 estimate. Financials show solid profitability with a 64.33% gross margin and $10.18B net income for 2025, though valuation ratios like P/E of 39.03 appear elevated. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $130.38 price target, supported by 38 buy ratings.
Outlook remains positive due to AI cybersecurity demand and partnerships, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures. The stock offers growth potential from tech infrastructure trends, yet investors should monitor execution on AI initiatives and macroeconomic headwinds that could impact networking spending.
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) trades at $330.30, up 1.35% with a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings beats. The stock shows robust revenue growth to $9.22B in 2025 and a net income margin of 7.95%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 287.22 remain elevated. Recent news highlights cybersecurity sector tailwinds from AI-driven threats and IBM's client shifts, fueling positive sentiment.
Outlook is positive with 74% analyst buy ratings and a $336.65 consensus target, but high valuations and integration costs pose risks. Revenue growth and platformization strategy support upside, while competition and macroeconomic pressures require monitoring for sustained gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Cisco Systems, Inc. provides information technology and networking services. The Company offers enterprise network security, software development, data collaboration, cloud computing, and other related services. Cisco Systems serves customers in the United States.
Read more on CSCO →Palo Alto Networks is a pure-play cybersecurity vendor that sells security appliances, subscriptions, and support into enterprises, government entities, and service providers. The company's product portfolio includes firewall appliances, virtual firewalls, endpoint protection, cloud security, and cybersecurity analytics. The Santa Clara, California, firm was established in 2005 and sells its products worldwide.
Read more on PANW →