Compare Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) vs Upstart Holdings Inc (UPST) Price & Performance

Cisco Systems (CSCO) trades at $114.89, down 2.59% on the day, as the stock consolidates near recent highs. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS beating expectations at $1.22 versus $1.17, continuing a trend of earnings outperformance. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average trend while oscillators suggest potential near-term consolidation. Recent news highlights Cisco's AI-driven networking momentum with Splunk integration and partnerships with NVIDIA, supporting multi-year growth prospects in AI infrastructure.

Cisco presents a compelling investment case with robust profitability metrics (64.52% gross margin, 27.32% ROE) and analyst consensus pointing to 13% upside to the $129.77 price target. Key risks include competitive pressure in AI security from Datadog and CrowdStrike, and the stock's elevated valuation multiples (P/E 35.25, P/S 7.39) that require continued execution. The company's strong cash flow generation and dividend payments provide shareholder value support.

UPST trades at $24.02, up 0.67% on the day, but remains in a bearish technical trend. The company reported revenue of $1.02B for 2025 with a net income of $53.60M, marking a return to profitability after prior losses. Recent earnings have missed expectations, and cash flow from operations turned negative in 2025. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a consensus price target of $39.50, but technical indicators and recent price action near support levels reflect ongoing investor caution.

The outlook for UPST hinges on its ability to sustain revenue growth and improve earnings consistency amid a challenging credit environment. Opportunities exist if AI-driven lending gains scale, but risks include volatile cash flows, high debt levels, and sensitivity to economic cycles. The stock's current valuation leaves room for upside if execution improves, but near-term pressure persists.