Short interest for Cisco Systems gives investors a sense of the degree to which investors are betting on the decline of Cisco Systems's stock. Short interest data is updated every two weeks.

Cisco Systems Stock (NASDAQ:CSCO), Short Interest Report

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.

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Cisco Systems Inc

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in CSCO usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 8 extraordinary options activities for Cisco Systems. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 50% leaning bullish and 50% bearish. Among these notable options, 4 are puts, totaling $395,874, and 4 are calls, amounting to $229,107.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $40.0 to $55.0 for Cisco Systems over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Cisco Systems's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Cisco Systems's whale activity within a strike price range from $40.0 to $55.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Cisco Systems Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1715022945_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/16/24</td>
<td>$1.39</td>
<td>$1.35</td>
<td>$1.38</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$276.0K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/10/24</td>
<td>$0.89</td>
<td>$0.69</td>
<td>$0.74</td>
<td>$46.50</td>
<td>$108.3K</td>
<td>724</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$9.45</td>
<td>$9.35</td>
<td>$9.45</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$53.8K</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$8.4</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$42.5K</td>
<td>409</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$41.0K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>805</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Cisco Systems, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Cisco Systems</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 6,167,430, with CSCO's price down by -0.12%, positioned at $47.07.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 9 days.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Cisco Systems, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Check Out What Whales Are Doing With CSCO

RSA&nbsp;CONFERENCE 2024 --&nbsp;Cisco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), the leader in enterprise networking and security, today announced new industry-shaping innovations across the Cisco Security Cloud&nbsp;to both power and protect the AI revolution. The new capabilities across Cisco&#39;s unified, AI-driven, cross-domain security platform help companies better protect their applications, devices, users and data as well as detect, respond and recover faster from incidents.

Cisco is Delivering on Platform Strategy with Rapid Innovation Across Cisco Security Cloud

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Cisco Systems.
Looking at options history for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) we detected 10 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 50% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 50% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $231,887 and 8, calls, for a total amount of $381,855.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $30.0 to $55.0 for Cisco Systems during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Cisco Systems stands at 4814.67, with a total volume reaching 1,232.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Cisco Systems, situated within the strike price corridor from $30.0 to $55.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Cisco Systems Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714659552_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$9.35</td>
<td>$8.85</td>
<td>$8.85</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$164.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">317</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$17.4</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$89.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$67.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">237</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$17.0</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$64.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">81</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$17.65</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$60.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">81</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">34</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Cisco Systems, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Cisco Systems</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,740,705, with CSCO's price down by -0.19%, positioned at $46.75.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 13 days.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Cisco Systems options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

What the Options Market Tells Us About Cisco Systems

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments">high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy </a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the information technology sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEI#NYSE">MEI</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.58%</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Saree Boroditsky initiated coverage on the stock with a Hold rating and a price target of $12 on April 9, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Sidoti &amp; Co. analyst John Franzreb downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral on March 7, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On April 8, Methode Electronics said CFO Ronald Tsoumas is retiring from the company, effective July 12, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Corning Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.57%</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Meta Marshall maintained an Overweight rating with a price target of $35 on April 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained a Neutral rating and increased the price target from $34 to $36 on April 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Jan. 30. Corning reported a fourth-quarter FY23 core sales decline of 10% year-on-year to $3.27 billion, beating the consensus of $3.25 billion.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.34%</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjeereinstated a Neutral rating with a price target of $53 on April 22. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Tal Liani upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy and boosted the price target from $55 to $60 on April 15. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 78%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 25, Cisco announced new multifunctional collaboration devices for hybrid work.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38482010/dominos-pizza-yum-china-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-monday">Domino&#8217;s Pizza, Yum China And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Monday</a>

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts' Views On 3 Tech Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

In today's rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) against its key competitors in the Communications Equipment industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Cisco Systems Background</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cisco Systems Inc</td>
<td>14.70</td>
<td>4.23</td>
<td>3.45</td>
<td>5.76%</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$8.22</td>
<td>-5.89%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Motorola Solutions Inc</td>
<td>34.75</td>
<td>79.42</td>
<td>5.95</td>
<td>109.76%</td>
<td>$0.88</td>
<td>$1.46</td>
<td>5.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nokia Oyj</td>
<td>22.84</td>
<td>0.90</td>
<td>0.91</td>
<td>2.08%</td>
<td>$0.66</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>-20.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Juniper Networks Inc</td>
<td>37.22</td>
<td>2.56</td>
<td>2.07</td>
<td>2.82%</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>-5.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F5 Inc</td>
<td>23.77</td>
<td>3.75</td>
<td>3.91</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>$0.2</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>-1.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ciena Corp</td>
<td>29.25</td>
<td>2.23</td>
<td>1.53</td>
<td>1.72%</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>$0.47</td>
<td>-1.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Calix Inc</td>
<td>100.35</td>
<td>2.49</td>
<td>1.92</td>
<td>0.01%</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>$0.12</td>
<td>-9.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Viavi Solutions Inc</td>
<td>399.50</td>
<td>2.44</td>
<td>1.77</td>
<td>1.53%</td>
<td>$0.04</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>-10.54%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Extreme Networks Inc</td>
<td>18.58</td>
<td>13.27</td>
<td>1.10</td>
<td>3.68%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.18</td>
<td>-6.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Digi International Inc</td>
<td>71.47</td>
<td>2.06</td>
<td>2.55</td>
<td>-0.56%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>-2.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Harmonic Inc</td>
<td>13.10</td>
<td>2.42</td>
<td>1.82</td>
<td>21.56%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.08</td>
<td>1.68%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Clearfield Inc</td>
<td>36.54</td>
<td>1.45</td>
<td>2.08</td>
<td>-1.71%</td>
<td>$-0.0</td>
<td>$0.0</td>
<td>-60.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aviat Networks Inc</td>
<td>26.02</td>
<td>1.62</td>
<td>1.10</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.04</td>
<td>4.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>67.78</td>
<td>9.55</td>
<td>2.23</td>
<td>12.25%</td>
<td>$0.18</td>
<td>$0.51</td>
<td>-8.94%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
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 text-align: left;
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 background-color: #f2f4f8;
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 tr:hover {
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 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
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 .dividend-frequency {
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 }
 </style>Upon closer analysis of Cisco Systems, the following trends become apparent: 
<ul>
<li>
At 14.7, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio is 0.22x less than the industry average, suggesting favorable growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The current Price to Book ratio of 4.23, which is 0.44x the industry average, is substantially lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 3.45, which is 1.55x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
With a Return on Equity (ROE) of 5.76% that is 6.49% below the industry average, it appears that the company exhibits potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $3.7 Billion, which is 20.56x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The gross profit of $8.22 Billion is 16.12x above that of its industry, highlighting stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of -5.89% exceeds the industry average of -8.94%, indicating strong sales performance and market outperformance.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1714057252_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio assesses the extent to which a company relies on borrowed funds compared to its equity.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Cisco Systems can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:
<ul>
<li>
Cisco Systems exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers in the sector, as indicated by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company has a more favorable balance between debt and equity, which can be seen as a positive aspect for investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
The PE, PB, and PS ratios for Cisco Systems indicate that the company is undervalued compared to its peers in the Communications Equipment industry. However, the low ROE suggests that the company may not be utilizing its assets efficiently. On the other hand, the high EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth show strong financial performance and potential for future growth when compared to industry peers. Cisco Systems may need to focus on improving its return on equity to align with its strong operational performance.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Competitor Analysis: Evaluating Cisco Systems And Competitors In Communications Equipment Industry

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Cisco Systems.
Looking at options history for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) we detected 20 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 15% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 85% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $268,390 and 16, calls, for a total amount of $865,555.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $42.5 to $52.5 for Cisco Systems over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Cisco Systems's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Cisco Systems's whale activity within a strike price range from $42.5 to $52.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Cisco Systems Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713977152_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>$0.66</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$154.4K</td>
<td>23.8K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/19/24</td>
<td>$2.54</td>
<td>$2.53</td>
<td>$2.53</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$104.2K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td>448</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$6.45</td>
<td>$6.48</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$84.1K</td>
<td>427</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$4.05</td>
<td>$4.06</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$81.1K</td>
<td>18.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$0.24</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$80.8K</td>
<td>153</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Cisco Systems, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Cisco Systems's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 6,186,993, the CSCO's price is down by -0.39%, now at $48.13. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 21 days.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Cisco Systems options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on CSCO Options

<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/arcanedoor-cyberspies-hacked-cisco-firewalls-to-access-government-networks/">https://www.wired.com/story/arcanedoor-cyberspies-hacked-cisco-firewalls-to-access-government-networks/</a>
Network security appliances like firewalls are meant to keep hackers out. Instead, digital intruders are increasingly targeting them as the weak link that lets them pillage the very systems those devices are meant to protect. In the case of one hacking campaign over recent months, Cisco is now revealing that its firewalls served as beachheads for sophisticated hackers penetrating multiple government networks around the world.
On Wednesday, Cisco <a href="https://blog.talosintelligence.com/arcanedoor-new-espionage-focused-campaign-found-targeting-perimeter-network-devices/">warned</a> that its so-called Adaptive Security Appliances—devices that integrate a firewall and VPN with other security features—had been targeted by state-sponsored spies who exploited two <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/11/what-is-a-zero-day/">zero-day vulnerabilities</a> in the networking giant's gear to compromise government targets globally in a hacking campaign it's calling ArcaneDoor.
The hackers behind the intrusions, which Cisco's security division Talos is calling UAT4356 and which Microsoft researchers who contributed to the investigation have named STORM-1849, couldn't be clearly tied to any previous intrusion incidents the companies had tracked. Based on the group's espionage focus and sophistication, however, Cisco says the hacking appeared to be state-sponsored.
"This actor utilized bespoke tooling that demonstrated a clear focus on espionage and an in-depth knowledge of the devices that they targeted, hallmarks of a sophisticated state-sponsored actor," a blog post from Cisco's Talos researchers reads.
Cisco declined to say which country it believed to be responsible for the intrusions, but sources familiar with the investigation tell WIRED the campaign appears to be aligned with China's state interests.
&nbsp;
Cisco says the hacking campaign began as early as November 2023, with the majority of intrusions taking place between December and early January of this year, when it learned of the first victim. "The investigation that followed identified additional victims, all of which involved government networks globally," the company's report reads.
In those intrusions, the hackers exploited two newly discovered vulnerabilities in Cisco's ASA products. One, which it's calling Line Dancer, let the hackers run their own malicious code in the memory of the network appliances, allowing them to issue commands to the devices, including the ability to spy on network traffic and steal data. A second vulnerability, which Cisco is calling Line Runner, would allow the hackers' malware to maintain its access to the target devices even when they were rebooted or updated.
Cisco has released software updates to patch both vulnerabilities, and <a href="https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/resources/asa_ftd_attacks_event_response">advises</a> that customers implement them immediately, along with other recommendations for detecting whether they've been targeted.
The ArcaneDoor hacking campaign represents just the latest series of intrusions to target network perimeter applications sometimes referred to as "edge" devices like email servers, firewalls, and VPNs—often devices intended to provide security—whose vulnerabilities allowed hackers to obtain a staging point inside a victim's network. Cisco's Talos researchers warn of that broader trend in their report, referring to highly sensitive networks that they've seen targeted via edge devices in recent years. "Gaining a foothold on these devices allows an actor to directly pivot into an organization, reroute or modify traffic and monitor network communications," they write. "In the past two years, we have seen a dramatic and sustained increase in the targeting of these devices in areas such as telecommunications providers and energy sector organizations—critical infrastructure entities that are likely strategic targets of interest for many foreign governments."
&nbsp;
State-sponsored hackers' shift to compromising edge devices has become prevalent enough over the past year that Google-owned security firm Mandiant also <a href="https://therecord.media/chinese-russian-hackers-edge-devices">highlighted it in its annual M-Trends report</a> earlier this week, based on the company's threat intelligence and incident response findings. The report points to widely exploited vulnerabilities in network edge devices sold by Barracuda and Ivanti and notes that hackers—and specifically espionage-focused Chinese groups—are building custom malware for edge devices, in part because many networks have little or no way to monitor for compromise of the devices.
"They're systemically targeting security appliances that sit on the edge for access to the rest of the network," says John Hultquist, Mandiant's head of threat intelligence. "This is no longer an emerging trend. It's established."
Mandiant notes that it has observed Russian state-sponsored hackers targeting edge devices too: It's observed the unit of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, known as Sandworm, <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/russia-ukraine-cyberattacks-mandiant/">repeatedly hack edge devices</a> used by Ukrainian organizations to gain and maintain access to those victim networks, often for data-destroying cyberattacks. In some cases, the lack of visibility and monitoring in those edge devices has meant that Sandworm was able to wipe a victim network while holding on to its control of an edge device—then hit the same network again.
Hultquist notes, however, that China is unmatched in its discovery and use of network appliance zero days, like the ones it has used to run rampant through Cisco firewalls over the past several months. He expects more to come, as China's cyberspies continue to turn devices meant to protect target networks against their owners. "It's unlikely these zero days are being produced haphazardly. We suspect a well-resourced, coordinated effort is underway to find and exploit these vulnerabilities," Hultquist says. "Unfortunately, we'll almost certainly see several more zero-days in security&nbsp;appliances this year."

Legal

"'ArcaneDoor' Cyberspies Hacked Cisco Firewalls To Access Government Networks; Sources Suspect China Is Behind The Targeted Exploitation Of Two Zero-Day Vulnerabilities In Cisco's Security Appliances" - Wired

International Business Machines Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) is reportedly on the verge of acquiring cloud software provider&nbsp;HashiCorp&nbsp;Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCP#NYSE">HCP</a>), signaling potential growth for both entities.
An acquisition of HashiCorp would likely entail a premium above its current stock value,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/ibm-nears-deal-for-cloud-software-provider-cf146448?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported&nbsp;</a>The&nbsp;Wall Street Journal.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report suggested that a deal for HashiCorp is likely to materialize soon, although there&#8217;s a possibility it may not proceed.
HashiCorp, headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in cloud infrastructure setup, boasting partnerships with numerous tech giants, including&nbsp;Cisco Systems Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>),&nbsp;RedHat&nbsp;(owned by IBM), and&nbsp;Datadog Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>).
As per the report, IBM is undergoing a strategic shift towards&nbsp;hybrid-cloud&nbsp;and&nbsp;artificial-intelligence&nbsp;domains under the leadership of CEO Arvind Krishna.
The company&#8217;s recent endeavors include ventures into quantum computing and blockchain technologies,&nbsp;evident&nbsp;from its $5 billion acquisition of software firm&nbsp;Apptio&nbsp;last year, enhancing its automation capabilities.
Recent reports indicate&nbsp;Salesforce Inc&#8217;s&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) withdrawal from negotiations to acquire&nbsp;Informatica Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFA#NYSE">INFA</a>), signaling a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/04/38357035/whats-going-on-with-salesforce-and-informatica-stock-monday" rel="noreferrer noopener">cautious approach in the sector.</a>
Read Next:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38391805/ibms-moment-of-truth-as-earnings-expected-to-impress-with-strong-ai-influence-analy" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBM&#8217;s Moment Of Truth As Earnings Expected To Impress With Strong AI Influence, Analyst Says</a>
Price Action: HCP closed higher by 18.7% at $29.15 on Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Cisco Systems.
Looking at options history for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) we detected 10 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 50% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $354,242 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $494,175.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $42.5 to $52.5 for Cisco Systems over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Cisco Systems's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Cisco Systems's whale activity within a strike price range from $42.5 to $52.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Cisco Systems Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713802549_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.38</td>
<td>$2.37</td>
<td>$2.38</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$203.9K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td>863</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$0.97</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$165.3K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$0.99</td>
<td>$0.98</td>
<td>$0.99</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
<td>$85.9K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$85.5K</td>
<td>533</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$0.47</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$77.7K</td>
<td>37.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Cisco Systems, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is Cisco Systems Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,847,714, with CSCO's price up by 0.52%, positioned at $48.57.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 23 days.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Cisco Systems options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

A Closer Look at Cisco Systems's Options Market Dynamics

JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee reinstates Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Neutral and announces $53 price target.

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

JP Morgan Reinstates Neutral on Cisco Systems, Announces $53 Price Target

Cisco Systems, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) launched a new approach to securing data centers and clouds in response to the increasing demands the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/n38307642/cisco-reimagines-security-for-data-centers-and-clouds-in-era-of-ai" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;AI revolution has put on IT infrastructure.</a>
The company launched Cisco Hypershield to accelerate AI infrastructure with Cisco&#8217;s ethernet switching, silicon, and compute portfolio.
Cisco Hypershield protects applications, devices, and data across public and private data centers, clouds, and physical locations, the company said in a press release.&nbsp;
&#8220;Cisco Hypershield is one of the most significant security innovations in our history,&#8221; said&nbsp;Chuck Robbins, Cisco Chair and CEO.&nbsp;
Hypershield extends its reach by transforming every network port into a robust security enforcement point, introducing groundbreaking capabilities not only to cloud environments but also to data centers, factory floors, and hospital imaging rooms.
The company says this technology swiftly thwarts application exploits and halts lateral movement within minutes.
Hypershield is solving three key customer challenges &#8211; Distributed Exploit Protection, Autonomous Segmentation, and Self-qualifying Upgrades.
&#8220;With our data advantage and strength in security, infrastructure and observability platforms, Cisco is uniquely positioned to help our customers harness the power of AI,&#8221; Robbins said.
Price Action: CSCO shares are trading higher by 0.46% to $48.01 at last check on Thursday.
Photo: Shutterstock

Cisco Unveils AI-Powered Hypershield: 'One Of The Most Significant Security Innovations In Our History'

Cisco Launches Hypershield, Elevating Security For AI-Driven Data Centers And Cloud Environments

Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) is among the many beneficiaries of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38220808/arista-networks-gets-a-double-downgrade-buy-this-ai-stock-instead-says-analyst"> the artificial intelligence (AI) trend</a>.
The stock has underperformed the market over the last 12 months mainly due to weakness in Networking. However, the current estimates are &ldquo;adequately low&rdquo; and growth could accelerate from 2025 onwards, according to BofA Securities.
The Cisco Systems Analyst: Tal Liani upgraded the rating for Cisco Systems from Neutral to Buy, while raising the price target from $55 to $60.
The Cisco Systems Thesis: The company&rsquo;s Networking weakness is likely to be offset by Splunk, Security, and AI, Liani said in the upgrade note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
The analyst termed these as the &ldquo;three catalysts for growth acceleration&rdquo; and elaborated on them:
<ul>
<li>Splunk&#39;s acquisition offers &ldquo;great growth synergies.&rdquo;</li>
<li>Cisco confirmed on March 18 that it completed the $28-billion acquisition of Splunk.</li>
<li>Security growth is likely to accelerate, driven by firewall stabilization and the latest product launches.</li>
<li>Cisco Systems has recorded market share gains in the Ethernet-based AI buildouts of hyperscalers.</li>
<li>&ldquo;While the next two quarters may remain pressured, we believe this weakness is fully reflected in Street expectations and management guidance is adequately conservative,&rdquo; he added.</li>
</ul>
CSCO Price Action: Shares of Cisco Systems had risen by 0.45% to $48.71 at the time of publication on Monday.
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Upgrades

3 Catalysts To Drive Growth At Cisco: $28B Splunk Deal Offers 'Great Synergies,' Analyst Says

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Wells Fargo boosted the price target for Centene Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnc#NYSE">CNC</a>) from $89 to $93. Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Baxter maintained an Overweight rating. Centene shares fell 1.3% to close at $70.73 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNC/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Oppenheimer slashed the price target for Veru Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/veru#NASDAQ">VERU</a>) from $7 to $5. Oppenheimer analyst Leland Gershell reiterated an Outperform rating. Veru shares dipped 15.1% to close at $1.52 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VERU/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Oppenheimer cut JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpm#NYSE">JPM</a>) price target from $219 to $217. Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski maintained an Outperform rating. JPMorgan shares fell 6.5% to close at $182.79 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JPM/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Chardan Capital cut the price target for Notable Labs, Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ntbl#NASDAQ">NTBL</a>) from $9 to $7. Chardan Capital analyst Keay Nakae maintained a Buy rating. Notable Labs shares fell 4.1% to close at $1.16 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NTBL/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Rosenblatt lowered Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chtr#NASDAQ">CHTR</a>) price target from $334 to $297. Rosenblatt analyst Barton Crockett maintained a Neutral rating. Charter Communications shares fell 2.3% to close at $260.50 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CHTR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Wedbush raised PVH Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pvh#NYSE">PVH</a>) price target from $113 to $128. Wedbush analyst Tom Nikic upgraded the stock from Neutral to Outperform. PVH shares fell 2.6% to close at $105.59 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PVH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities raised the price target for Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) from $55 to $60. B of A Securities analyst Tal Liani upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. Cisco shares fell 2.1% to close at $48.49 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Stifel raised Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/masi#NASDAQ">MASI</a>) price target from $148 to $170. Stifel analyst Rick Wise upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy. Masimo shares fell 3.4% to close at $137.92 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MASI/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Keybanc boosted Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cdns#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>) price target from $335 to $340. Keybanc analyst Jason Celino maintained an Overweight rating. Cadence Design shares fell 1.4% to close at $305.85 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CDNS/analyst-ratingsD">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>JP Morgan raised Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lmt#NYSE">LMT</a>) price target from $475 to $518. JP Morgan analyst Seth Seifman upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight. Lockheed Martin shares fell 0.4% to close at $450.40 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/04/38244618/top-3-tech-stocks-that-may-explode-this-month"> Top 3 Tech Stocks That May Explode This Month </a>

Penny Stocks

CDNS

CHTR

MASI

NTBL

VERU

Cisco To Rally Around 24%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Monday

Cisco Systems shares are trading higher after B of A Securities upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy.

B of A Securities analyst Tal Liani upgrades Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) from Neutral to Buy and raises the price target from $55 to $60.

B of A Securities Upgrades Cisco Systems to Buy, Raises Price Target to $60

Arista Networks Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anet#NYSE">ANET</a>) shares tanked in premarket trading on Friday, amid concerns around <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38211388/nvidia-stock-trading-at-13-discount-to-long-term-average-other-ai-stocks-at-52-prem">AI stocks trading at a premium</a>.
Although ethernet could prevail in the AI era, the company is unlikely to be a big winner of this trend, according to Rosenblatt Securities.
The Arista Networks Analyst: Mike Genovese downgraded the rating for Arista Networks from Buy to Sell while slashing the price target from $330 to $210.
The Arista Networks Thesis: The stock is trading at a significant premium, as investors see the company as a &ldquo;large AI beneficiary,&rdquo; Genovese said in the downgrade note.
Check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">other analyst stock ratings</a>.
&ldquo;Investors have been debating Infiniband vs. Ethernet and assume ANET will thrive if Ethernet does,&rdquo; the analyst wrote. &ldquo;We believe Ethernet is a winning technology, but think most of the spoils will go to Nvidia Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>),&rdquo; he added.
&ldquo;While ANET will continue to compete with Cisco Systems Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) in Enterprise, the primary Data Center competitor is now Nvidia, which has significant advantages over Arista,&rdquo; Genovese further wrote.
ANET Price Action: Shares of Arista Networks had declined by 6.48% to $277.35&nbsp;at the time of publication on Friday.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38220237/nvidia-caitlin-clark-of-stock-market-says-analyst-ai-leaders-stock-performance-eps-">Nvidia, &#39;Caitlin Clark&#39; Of Stock Market, Says Analyst: AI Leader&#39;s Stock Performance, EPS Growth Leaves S&amp;P 500 Peers Biting Dust</a>

Short Ideas

Downgrades

ANET

NVDA

Arista Networks Gets A Double Downgrade: Buy This AI Stock Instead, Says Analyst

Analysts' ratings for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 7 analysts.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">6</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Insights from analysts' 12-month price targets are revealed, presenting an average target of $52.57, a high estimate of $58.00, and a low estimate of $48.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 6.2% from the previous average price target of $49.50.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712923221_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
The standing of Cisco Systems among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Atif Malik</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Marshall</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Niknam</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$47.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$48.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aaron Rakers</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Vogt</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Cisco Systems. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Cisco Systems compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for Cisco Systems's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Cisco Systems's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Cisco Systems analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Cisco Systems: A Closer Look</h2>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software like firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employees 80,000 employees and sells its products globally.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Cisco Systems's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization: Surpassing industry standards, the company's market capitalization asserts its dominance in terms of size, suggesting a robust market position.
Revenue Challenges: Cisco Systems's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 31 January, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -5.89%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: Cisco Systems's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 20.59% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Cisco Systems's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 5.76%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): Cisco Systems's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 2.63%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: Cisco Systems's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.25, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On Cisco Systems Through 7 Analysts

Citigroup analyst Atif Malik reinstates Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Neutral and announces $52 price target.

Citigroup Reinstates Neutral on Cisco Systems, Announces $52 Price Target

Innovation doesn&#39;t understand corporate hierarchy and titles. I saw this first-hand when I led the Global Innovation Programs at Cisco&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) and later advised leading Fortune 500 organizations on their AI strategy and AI roadmap. The boldest and most creative ideas always came from a select few employees who saw a problem and had the creativity and business-savviness to come up with a solution. They also had the drive, resilience and perseverance to get others on board to implement it.
These people weren&#39;t necessarily executives or board members. In fact, most are &quot;regular&quot; employees who are invested in their jobs and keen on making things work better &mdash; for all of us. These intrapreneurs possess a perfect blend of problem-solving and creative thinking skills with a sprinkle of entrepreneurial mindset &mdash; a goldmine for any organization in today&#39;s rapidly changing business and technological climate.
Today, intrapreneurs have an unprecedented opportunity to scale the impact of their ideas and supercharge their careers with the use of generative AI. Here&#39;s how.
<h2>Making the most of generative AI as an intrapreneur</h2>
In the right hands, generative AI is poised to transform business as we know it. McKinsey estimates that the technology can pour $2.6 - $4.4 trillion into the global economy each year. For this to happen, though, businesses need to change. And they need to change in major ways.
Research shows that at least 40% of employees would need to reskill as a result of generative AI transforming the way we work. In fact, 73% of organizations expect that some form of reskilling will be necessary for all employees.
This creates a perfect opportunity for intrapreneurs to scale their efforts and become an indispensable part of the digital transformation process within their organizations. First, however, they need to understand what they&#39;re working with.
<h2>Stay current</h2>
Don&#39;t fall prey to the illusory truth effect. Just because you&#39;re exposed to generative AI daily doesn&#39;t automatically mean you know how to use it. In fact, most of us are still learning how to make the best use of this technology.
That&#39;s because gen AI is evolving at an accelerated rate. For example, while it took decades to develop the early natural language processing programs of the &#39;60s, today we see the AI technology make leaps and bounds in progress within a span of a few weeks. We now have not only AI-generated images, text and code, but a few days ago, we also saw the first AI-generated short film.
This was unfathomable only a few years ago. The existing capabilities of large language models (LLM) are both unparalleled and increasingly growing. Intrapreneurs who are natural problem-solvers simply cannot afford to stay uninformed in this area. You must stay current, and that takes consistent exposure to the technology and experimenting with its capabilities.
<h2>Embrace ethical responsibility</h2>
The unprecedented opportunities of generative AI also present unprecedented challenges. Compliance and data security are paramount in this context. Before adopting any AI solutions, familiarize yourself with the internal AI governance framework of your organization. What are the limitations and best practices that the business has embraced?
Looking beyond your employer, there are also nationwide and statewide AI policies that businesses need to observe in order to prevent and limit any possible biases or misuse. For example, the AI Act by the European Commission is the first-ever legal framework that limits and moderates the use of AI in various contexts. A few years ago, the state of Illinois also passed the Video Interview Act, which requires employers who use AI in assessing candidate video interviews to be transparent with them. There are, of course, many other regulations that have been enacted or are underway that will impact how AI can and should be used.
Keeping abreast of your own policies, as well as regulatory changes and learning about the possible risks with every new iteration of the technology, will help you innovate in an ethical and responsible manner.
<h2>Look for quick wins, responsibly</h2>
Generative AI has been amazing for introducing quick wins. The threshold for entry is so low that there has been almost unanimous adoption across job roles to perform one task or another. If you haven&#39;t already, look at areas of the business where these tools can shave off time from you and your colleagues within the limits of your corporate AI strategy.
In line with the previous point on ethical use, start small. For example, if it takes you 30 minutes to comb through calls and emails to prepare for your next call, AI can do this for you in minutes. Create workflows that can replicate these gains across the team. Track everything. Once you have sufficient data, you can use your proof of concept for a company-wide implementation.
<h2>Build a coalition of the willing</h2>
The biggest gains from AI come in an interdisciplinary setting. One of the major appeals of generative AI is that it practically has no barrier to entry. Its use of human language means that tech and non-tech teams have a unique chance to collaborate and innovate together in ways they haven&#39;t been able to before.
Put this to good use by building best practice exchanges at work and within the wider AI community. Nurture cross-functional collaboration where employees have open access to others to ask questions, share know-how and experiment with new solutions.
<h2>Begin with a clear goal in mind</h2>
Regardless of the gains AI brings to the table, it would be hard to get anyone on board unless you have tangible data to demonstrate its value. In this context, it&#39;s not only about whether generative AI can solve a certain business problem (it most likely can). The question here is whether you know how to implement the technology in a way that&#39;s both ethical, responsible and undisruptive to other business processes.
Before you tackle any challenge, measure the time and effort it takes you and your team to perform a task without the use of AI. Then, measure how AI impacts that part of your job. Do the gains justify its use? Also, consider the possible risks and pushback you may encounter from other stakeholders. Address these challenges well in advance so that you can implement these solutions without too many hiccups.
Intrapreneurs who embrace AI will become the architects of the future. Blending their flair for creative problem-solving with the limitless capabilities of generative AI will be the silver bullet that helps companies survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. This creates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for intrapreneurs to not only stand out but rise through the ranks at speed. Start small, work responsibly, and never stop learning. The rest will follow.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/articles/how-corporate-intrapreneurs-can-harness-the-power-of-ai-to-transform-their-businesses-and-supercharge-their-careers-2024-04-09/">How Corporate &#39;Intrapreneurs&#39; Can Harness the Power of AI to Transform Their Businesses and Supercharge Their Careers</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

Education

How Corporate 'Intrapreneurs' Can Harness the Power of AI to Transform Their Businesses and Supercharge Their Careers

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