Cisco Systems Option Alert: Jan 16 $67.5 Calls Sweep (48) near the Ask: 1500 vs 1487 OI

Cisco Systems Option Alert: Jan 16 $67.5 Calls Sweep (48) near the Ask: 1500 @ $4.75 vs 1487 OI; Ref=$64.43

Cisco Systems Option Alert: Sep 19 $70 Calls Sweep (22) near the Ask: 2500 vs 7970 OI

Cisco Systems Option Alert: Sep 19 $70 Calls Sweep (22) near the Ask: 2500 @ $2.76 vs 7970 OI; Ref=$64.7999

Cisco Systems Option Alert: Sep 19 $70 Calls Sweep (29) above Ask!: 2500 vs 7970 OI

Cisco Systems Option Alert: Sep 19 $70 Calls Sweep (29) above Ask!: 2500 @ $2.76 vs 7970 OI; Ref=$64.78

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) Stock

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 such as 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 employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.

CSCO


Three mega-cap names recently announced billions in share repurchase authorizations. Mega-cap generally refers to stock with market capitalizations of $200 billion or more. Below, I’ll detail exactly how large the

Buybacks Galore: 3 Mega-Caps Just Approved Billions in Buybacks

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AMD remains a strong buy with a $170 target price, thanks to its strong position in AI market, market share gains and competition with Intel and Nvidia.

AMD Closing Competitive GPU Gap With Nvidia, Gains Market Share From Intel In Client And Server Markets: Analyst



Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) latest earnings report exceeded analyst expectations, indicating a potential resurgence for the technology company. As a result, Cisco&#39;s stock price rose to new yearly highs, and investor

Cisco Roars Back: Is the Tech Giant Reborn?

Cisco Systems Inc

Benchmark analyst Cody Acree reiterated Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) with a Buy and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMD/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">$170&nbsp;price target</a>.
Acree recently hosted AMD&#8217;s Jean Hu, CFO, for a discussion with investors. He came away with further conviction in AMD&#8217;s strong fundamental position, its increasing competitiveness in the AI market, and its continued market share gains in both the Client and Server markets versus Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43728563/amc-networks-q4-earnings-subscriber-growth-cash-flow-despite-revenue-declines-impairment-charges-free-cash-flow-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMC Networks Q4 Earnings: Streaming Revenue And Subscriber Growth Cushions Revenue Decline</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18102022/newplot-12.png" alt="" class="wp-image-787133" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18102022/newplot-12.png 750w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18102022/newplot-12-300x260.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>
The analyst noted a focus on the company&#8217;s AI ramp of its next-generation MI350 GPU with a pulled-ahead schedule of mid-year 2025 versus the prior schedule of the second half. With the transition, AMD expects first-half 2025 Data Center revenue to be flat due to softer seasonality and its Instinct revenue to be flat as customers wait for the launch of the new platform.
AMD broadly expects MI350 to be much more directly competitive with Nvidia Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) Blackwell, with MI400 likely to be technically competitive with Rubin. Nvidia&#8217;s Blackwell delays and accelerated move-up of the MI350 launch proved that AMD is closing the competitive gap.
AMD noted ASICs only make up about 20% of the total AI silicon opportunity, thereby remaining adamant about not changing its focus priority from its primary GPU roadmap.
The analyst said that the company&#8217;s Client business continues to look solid as AMD gains market share momentum in both the Desktop and Notebook markets.
At a high level, for 2025, AMD is forecasting its PC TAM to grow by a mid-single-digit percentage year-on-year. However, based on the breadth of its client CPU portfolio and strong design win momentum, the company expects to grow its Client segment revenue well ahead of the market.
While the company expects its Client business to see normal first-quarter softer seasonality, in 2025, it is benefiting from its first win at Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) in the commercial client space.
In the server market, AMD continues to benefit from the strong adoption of its Gen 4 and new Gen 5 designs.
The company is seeing its EPYC processors gaining traction thanks to Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), Dell, and Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>).
Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Amazon Web Services, Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) launched over 100 AMD general-purpose and AI instances in just the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, EPYC CPU sales grew by a strong double-digit percentage annually, thanks to high-volume deployments with ServiceNow Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>), Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), and others. Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) exclusively used MI300X to power their Llama 405B frontier model on meta.ai.
Microsoft leveraged MI300X to power multiple GPT-4-based Copilot services.
With over 100 customer engagements in AI, AMD expanded its ROCm software suite.
International Business Machines Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), DigitalOcean Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCN#NYSE">DOCN</a>), and several other AI-focused Cloud Service Providers have begun deploying AMD Instinct accelerators for new instances. IBM also announced plans to enable MI300X on their watsonx.ai and data platform for training and deploying enterprise-ready generative AI applications.
AMD began volume production of MI325X in the fourth quarter. MI325 delivers significant performance and TCO advantages compared to competitive offerings, including H100.
AMD has passed key milestones and received unconditional regulatory approvals regarding its acquisition of ZT Systems. Additionally, AMD expects to divest ZT Systems&#8217; data center infrastructure production capabilities.
While industry capacity will likely remain tight, AMD noted it has successfully secured sufficient wafer capacity to support its customers&#8217; planned ramps through the end of this year and into 2026.
Price Action: AMD stock is up 1.10% at $114.35 at the last check on Tuesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43727973/taiwan-semiconductor-eyes-us-expansion-amid-taiwans-push-for-bigger-investments-and-advanced-chip-production" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor Eyes US Expansion Amid Push for Bigger Investments and Advanced Chip Production</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Wall Street climbed on Thursday, even as the Producer Price Index (PPI) sharply exceeded estimates in January, reigniting concerns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43692996/inflation-fears-mount-as-producer-prices-soar-to-35-put-fed-interest-rate-cut-on-ice">over persistent inflationary pressures. </a>
Despite the hotter-than-expected PPI reading—up 3.5% year-over-year in January, surpassing the 3.3% forecast—investors found some relief in certain PPI components that influence the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, which showed signs of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43701823/economists-breathe-sigh-of-relief-why-producer-inflation-isnt-as-bad-as-it-seems">cooling compared to December.</a>
Investor risk appetite remained supported by expectations of ceasefire talks in Ukraine following a conversation between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier. 
By midday trading in New York, all major indices were in positive territory, with technology stocks leading the gains. Among semiconductor stocks, Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) continued to rally, surging 10% after strong performances in prior sessions. 
The U.S. chipmaker benefited from renewed buying momentum following comments from Vice President J.D. Vance, who indicated that the Trump administration plans to ease regulations to accelerate AI chip innovation in the U.S.
Intel has now soared over 27% this week, tracking its best weekly performance since 1974. 
The U.S. dollar extended its decline as Treasury yields pulled back sharply, reversing Wednesday&#8217;s surge.
In commodities, gold edged up 0.4% to $2,918 per ounce, oil remained steady at $71 per barrel, and natural gas surged 2.4% to $3.66 per million British thermal units. 
Sentiment in cryptocurrency markets remained subdued, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) sliding 2.4% to trade below $96,000.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,903.94</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,088.51</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,493.13</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,261.64</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.6% to $606.89.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.3% to $445.18.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.9% to $532.98.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.4% to $224.58.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) lagged, down 1.2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
Stocks reacting to company earnings reports included:
<ul>
<li>Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): up 2.05%</li>
<li>Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZTS#NYSE">ZTS</a>): down 7.8%</li>
<li>Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>): down 2.5%</li>
<li>American Electric Power Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>): down 0.6%</li>
<li>Equinix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>): down 1.9%</li>
<li>Moody's Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCO#NYSE">MCO</a>): up 2.9%</li>
<li>Deere &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>): down 1.5%</li>
<li>PPL Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#NYSE">PPL</a>): down 1.8%</li>
<li>MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>): up 17.9%</li>
<li>Paycom Software Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYC#NYSE">PAYC</a>): flat</li>
<li>HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBS#NYSE">HUBS</a>): up 1.6%</li>
<li>Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LECO#NASDAQ">LECO</a>): up 11.7%</li>
<li>Curtiss-Wright Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CW#NYSE">CW</a>): down 0.5%</li>
<li>West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WST#NYSE">WST</a>): down 34%</li>
<li>CBRE Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRE#NYSE">CBRE</a>): up 1.1%</li>
<li>DTE Energy Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTE#NYSE">DTE</a>): up 2.4%</li>
<li>AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>): up 19.9%</li>
<li>Reddit Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>): down 8.8%. </li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43703014/robert-f-kennedy-confirmed-as-trump-secretary-of-health">Robert F. Kennedy, Vaccine Skeptic, Confirmed As Trump&#8217;s Secretary Of Health: Health Care Stocks To Watch</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Ryan DeBerardinis via Shutterstock

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Stocks Rise Despite Hot Producer Inflation, Intel Soars, Bitcoin Drops Below $96,000: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Wall Street analysts rerated Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) for its upbeat quarterly report Wednesday amid an exciting earnings season.
Cisco Systems reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43675860/cisco-systems-shares-climb-on-better-than-expected-q2-results-strong-forward-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">quarterly earnings of</a> 94 cents per share, topping the analyst consensus estimate of 91 cents. Quarterly revenue of $13.9 billion beat the $13.87 billion consensus estimate.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43691982/iron-mountain-q4-earnings-storage-and-data-center-revenue-growth-dividend-climbs-10-strong-2025-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iron Mountain Q4 Earnings: Storage And Data Center Revenue Growth, Dividend Climbs 10%, Strong 2025 Outlook</a>
Cisco Systems expects third-quarter EPS of 90 cents-92 cents, versus the 92 cent estimate, and revenue of $13.9 billion-$14.1 billion, versus the $13.86 billion estimate.
<ul>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained Cisco Systems with an Overweight and raised the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">price target from $69 to $73</a>.</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst James Fish reiterated Cisco Systems with a Neutral and raised the price target from $57 to $72.</li>
<li>Rosenblatt analyst Mike Genovese upgraded Cisco Systems to Buy from Neutral with an $80 price target.</li>
<li>BofA Securities analyst Tal Liani maintained Cisco Systems with a Buy and raised the price target to $76 from $72.</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng reiterated Cisco Systems with a Neutral and raised the price target from $56 to $63.</li>
</ul>
JP Morgan: Cisco&#8217;s second-quarter results reinforced the improvement in the demand cycle, revenue upsides for Core Networking driving greater confidence in upsides for fiscal 2025, alleviating concerns around increased scrutiny on Public Sector and Fed spending, highlighting moderate cost headwinds for tariffs, while also noting mitigation levers in the form of both pricing and supply chain flexibility, and downplaying concerns of temporary dislocations in demand trends from the pull-forward of orders to avoid tariffs.
While the macro backdrop remains mixed, Cisco noted priority from Enterprise customers to spend towards modernizing infrastructure and strong Cloud demand, including triple-digit order growth from Hyperscalers and improving demand trends from Telco customers to get their networks ready for AI-led traffic demand.
Regarding Enterprise adoption of AI, Cisco highlighted a significant uptick in interest for integrated systems, which Chatterjee expects to build to be a key driver of improvement in demand for the portfolio with the broader proliferation of AI investments to the Enterprises alongside continued momentum from Hyperscalers.
Additionally, the analyst expects Core Networking to benefit from Enterprise AI adoption and a pull-through of other parts of the portfolio, including Security, as securing data remains a top priority for Enterprises while pursuing AI deployments, where Cisco&#8217;s broader portfolio stands well positioned to benefit.
Piper Sandler: Cisco faced a good setup as Fish previewed, which, given the upside, guide-up, and narrative around data center refresh, AI-traction with hyperscalers, Splunk integration, new product launches, and Campus refresh potentially down the road, has sent shares &gt;5% higher after hours.
The debate from here will center around how much the lead-metric upside had been more straightforward compared to incremental demand versus Splunk contribution.
Estimates are still set up well following the guide raise, and Fish noted that Cisco could sustain mid-single-digit sales growth as the cycles contribute and the business transition is nearing an inflection point. Fish sought a better entry point and preferred other names.
Rosenblatt: Genovese had been arguing that Extreme Networks Inc
(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXTR#NASDAQ">EXTR</a>) and Juniper Networks Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>) deserve multiple expansions due to growth in software subscriptions, ARR, RPOs, and AI becoming a more significant driver of total business.
The analyst upgraded Cisco and raised the price target for the same reasons. For the second quarter, Cisco increased revenues by 9% to $14.0 billion and produced EPS of $0.94, exceeding consensus on each.
Total product orders grew 29% and 11%, excluding Splunk, with substantial improvement in Service Provider and Cloud orders. There was double-digit growth in ARR, RPOs, and subscriptions, which accounted for 56% of total revenue.
AI infrastructure orders with Web Scalers were more than $350 million in the quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to ~$700 million and putting Cisco on track to exceed $1 billion of AI infrastructure orders in fiscal 2025.
Other positives were triple-digit growth in Web-Scale orders and greater than 20% in Telco orders. Security revenues and orders more than doubled year-over-year. Cisco said it is starting to see AI orders from Enterprise customers.
BofA Securities: The second-quarter results and third-quarter guidance are above expectations. Excluding Splunk, orders were up 11%, Service Provider and Cloud orders up 63%, and double-digit Data Center and Campus order growth.
Demand is picking up on the back of high network utilization at the macro level following a few years of inventory absorption. AI infrastructure buildouts drive demand across Cloud, Service Provider, and Enterprise verticals.
Cisco was well prepared to address the improving demand, offering a solid portfolio of Optical, Routing, Silicon, and other solutions that cater to these needs. Liani expects continued growth in the second half and 2026.
The rerating reflects Liani&#8217;s belief that Networking should see renewed growth on normalization of Campus switching demand and Ethernet-based AI buildouts, new product announcements should support growth re-acceleration of its Security business, and noted Splunk synergies supporting growth initiatives in Security and Observability.
Additionally, Cisco&#8217;s shift to recurring and subscription revenue is positive and helps support the stock, with 50% of revenue now recurring.
Goldman Sachs: The strength in data center switching and improving Campus switching demand drove the upbeat quarter. Service Provider &amp; Cloud orders strength was driven by AI infrastructure readiness projects, with 20%+ growth in telco and triple-digit growth in webscale, including &gt;$350 million of back-end AI orders, which puts Cisco on track to exceed its $1 billion AI fiscal 2025 order target.
Public Sector orders were up on strength in international public sector demand. U.S. federal represents &lt;10% of total revenue, of which ~75% is the Department of Defense, which Cisco noted is less impacted by government efficiency efforts than civilian agencies.
Ng is encouraged by Cisco&#8217;s order momentum year-to-date, which increases visibility into fiscal 2026 and 2027 targets for 4%-6% annual revenue growth and its conservative outlook for gross margins, which reflect the full potential impacts for tariffs on China, Mexico, and China.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Price Action: CSCO stock is up 2.81% at $64.29 at last check Thursday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43692627/himax-q4-earnings-beats-estimates-automotive-and-ai-tech-drive-revenue-raises-outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Himax Q4 Earnings: Beats Estimates, Automotive And AI Tech Drive Revenue, Raises Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Upgrades

EXTR

JNPR

Cisco's AI Expansion and Cloud Growth Drive Analyst Upgrades And Price Hikes, Citing Growth Like Extreme & Juniper

Citigroup analyst Atif Malik maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $68 to $71.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $71

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) has been analyzed by 9 analysts in the last three months, revealing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $69.67, a high estimate of $80.00, and a low estimate of $61.00. This current average has increased by 13.6% from the previous average price target of $61.33. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739469629_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive Cisco Systems is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of 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>Mike Genovese</td>
<td>Rosenblatt</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ng</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$63.00</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Samik Chatterjee</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$73.00</td>
<td>$69.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aaron Rakers</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$72.00</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Vogt</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$61.00</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Atif Malik</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$68.00</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Marshall</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$68.00</td>
<td>$62.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Cisco Systems. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Cisco Systems compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Cisco Systems's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of Cisco Systems's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of 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>Delving into Cisco Systems's Background</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 such as 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 employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of Cisco Systems</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Challenges: Cisco Systems's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 31 October, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -5.64%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 19.59%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Cisco Systems's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 5.98%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Cisco Systems's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 2.19% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: Cisco Systems's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.71.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

What Analysts Are Saying About Cisco Systems Stock

Rosenblatt analyst Mike Genovese 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 $66 to $80.

Rosenblatt Upgrades Cisco Systems to Buy, Raises Price Target to $80

U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining around 150 points on Thursday.
The Dow traded up 0.33% to 44,513.97 while the NASDAQ rose 0.78% to 19,804.09. The S&amp;P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.51% to 6,082.97.
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Leading and Lagging Sectors Consumer discretionary shares jumped by 1.1% on Thursday.
In trading on Thursday, health care shares rose by just by 0.1%.
Top Headline
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results after Wednesday&#8217;s closing bell.
Cisco reported quarterly earnings of 94 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 91 cents. Quarterly revenue clocked in at $13.9 billion, beating the $13.87 billion consensus estimate.
Cisco said it sees third-quarter EPS between 90 cents and 92 cents, versus the 92 cent estimate, and revenue in a range of $13.9 billion to $14.1 billion, versus the $13.86 billion estimate. The company expects fiscal 2025 EPS between $3.68 and $3.74, versus the $3.66 estimate, and revenue in a range of $56 billion to $56.5 billion, versus the $55.98 billion estimate.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) shares shot up 34% to $508.36 after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and issued first-quarter revenue guidance above estimates.</li>
<li>Shares of Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BROS#NYSE">BROS</a>)got a boost, surging 30% to $83.96 following better-than-expected quarterly financial results.</li>
<li>Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EDSA#NASDAQ">EDSA</a>) shares were also up, gaining 88% to $3.50. The company announced a $15 million private placement.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Digital Ally, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGLY#NASDAQ">DGLY</a>) shares dropped 52% to $0.0746 after the company priced a $15 million underwritten public offering.</li>
<li>Shares of The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) were down 32% to $83.28 following downbeat quarterly revenue.</li>
<li>West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WST#NYSE">WST</a>) was down, falling 31% to $223.65 following weak FY25 guidance.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded down 0.4% to $71.10 while gold traded up 0.6% at $2,945.00.
Silver traded down 0.7% to $32.555 on Thursday, while copper rose 0.4% to $4.7220.
Euro zone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 rose 1.01%, Germany's DAX 40 rose 1.77% and France's CAC 40 rose 1.57%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.39%, while London's FTSE 100 fell 0.56%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed mostly lower on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.28%, China's Shanghai Composite Index falling 0.42%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index falling 0.20% and India's BSE Sensex falling 0.04%.
Economics
<ul>
<li>The Producer Price Index surged 3.5% year over year in January, according to Thursday&#8217;s release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</li>
<li>U.S. initial jobless claims declined by 7,000 from the previous week to 213,000 during the first week of February, down from market estimates of 215,000</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/02/43692962/top-3-consumer-stocks-you-may-want-to-dump-in-february">Top 3 Consumer Stocks You May Want To Dump In February</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

Eurozone

Commodities

Intraday Update

Markets

BROS

DGLY

EDSA

Nasdaq Surges 150 Points; Cisco Earnings Top Views

Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $56 to $63.

Goldman Sachs Maintains Neutral on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $63

JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $69 to $73.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $73

Piper Sandler analyst James Fish maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $57 to $72.

Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $72

Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $60 to $72.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $72

UBS analyst David Vogt maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $62 to $70.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $70

The Chinese hacker group, Salt Typhoon, has reportedly been exploiting vulnerabilities in routers of Cisco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>). The group continues to breach telecom networks and universities globally, according to a recent report.
What Happened: Recorded Future, a Cybersecurity firm has disclosed that Salt Typhoon had infiltrated five telecom and internet service providers globally. The group also compromised more than a dozen universities, spanning from Utah to Vietnam, between December and January. Among the affected entities are a U.S. internet service provider, a telecom company, and a U.S.-based subsidiary of a UK telecom firm.
Levi Gundert, head of Recorded Future&#8217;s research team, Insikt Group, said that Salt Typhoon remains highly active. The group has taken advantage of vulnerabilities in Cisco&#8217;s IOS software, which powers the company&#8217;s routers and switches, to gain complete control over targeted networks. Salt Typhoon is also tracked as RedMike by the Insikt Group. The report indicates that RedMike has attempted to access more than 1,000 Cisco network devices in the period from December 2024 to January 2025.
Cisco did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.
Analysts at Recorded Future have reported that Chinese hackers have infiltrated not only U.S. telecom companies but also telecom networks in South Africa, Thailand, and an Italian internet service provider. Additionally, the group has targeted a wide range of universities worldwide, seemingly for espionage purposes.
RedMike may have targeted these universities to gain access to research in telecommunications, engineering, and technology, with a focus on institutions such as UCLA and TU Delft, revealed the report. 
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Why It Matters: The activities of Salt Typhoon have been under scrutiny for some time. In December, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42713217/nine-telecommunication-companies-hacked-as-part-of-salt-typhoon">nine U.S. telecom firms were hacked as part of Salt Typhoon&#8217;s campaign</a>. The hackers gained access to the private communication of an unknown number of Americans, according to Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology.
Shortly after, AT&amp;T Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) and Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) announced that their<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42727432/att-and-verizon-contain-cyberattack-linked-to-chinas-salt-typhoon-group"> networks were secure following a cyberespionage </a>attack by Salt Typhoon, marking the first acknowledgment by the companies of the breach.
Despite media coverage, government reports, and sanctions from the U.S. Treasury, Salt Typhoon remains undeterred. Analysts at Recorded Future believe the group&#8217;s hacking campaign and victim list may be larger than what they have discovered so far.
The Trump administration has pledged to retaliate against China for the cyberattacks, advocating for a more aggressive deterrent strategy in cyberspace, though no concrete plan has been implemented yet. Meanwhile, China has consistently denied Beijing&#8217;s involvement in cyberattacks on U.S. systems and resorts to blaming the U.S. for exploiting Chinese networks
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<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43656665/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-weigh-in-on-3-tech-telecom-stocks-with-over-3-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In On 3 Tech &amp; Telecom Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Chinese Hacker Group Salt Typhoon Exploits Cisco Router Flaws, Targeting Telecom Networks And Universities Worldwide

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-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Needham raised Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) price target from $190 to $220. Needham analyst Laura Martin maintained a Buy rating. Fidelity National In Reddit formation shares closed at $216.47 on Wednesday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Barclays raised the price target for Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NYSE">COOP</a>) from $111 to $130. Barclays analyst Terry Ma maintained an Overweight rating. Mr. Cooper shares closed at $106.71 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Baird slashed The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) price target from $160 to $145. Baird analyst Vikram Kesavabhotla maintained an Outperform rating. Lyft shares closed at $122.23 on Wednesday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. cut the price target for Cybin Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYBN#NYSE">CYBN</a>) from $190 to $150. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Patrick Trucchio maintained a Buy rating. Cybin shares closed at $9.36 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Leerink Partners cut the price target for 10x Genomics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXG#NASDAQ">TXG</a>) from $25 to $12. Leerink Partners analyst Mike Kratky downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform. 10x Genomics shares closed at $12.00 on Wednesday. See how other analysts view this stock.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley cut Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYTK#NASDAQ">CYTK</a>) price target from $70 to $67. Morgan Stanley analyst Jeffrey Hung upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Cytokinetics shares settled at $42.18 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Mizuho increased MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>) price target from $56 to $60. Mizuho analyst Ben Chaiken maintained an Outperform rating. MGM shares closed at $34.37 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity raised HubSpot, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBS#NYSE">HUBS</a>) price target from $710 to $900. Canaccord Genuity analyst David Hynes maintained a Buy rating. HubSpot shares closed at $785.50 on Wednesday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Wedbush raised the price target for Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BROS#NYSE">BROS</a>) from $65 to $100. Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan maintained an Outperform rating. Dutch Bros shares settled at $64.71 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Barclays increased Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) price target from $56 to $61. Barclays analyst Tim Long maintained an Equal-Weight rating. Cisco shares closed at $62.53 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/02/43655479/top-3-utilities-stocks-that-may-collapse-in-q1">Top 3 Utilities Stocks That May Collapse In Q1</a></li>
</ul>

Pre-Market Outlook

COOP

CYBN

CYTK

MGM Resorts To Rally Around 75%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Thursday

WIIM

Cisco Systems shares are trading higher after Barclays raised its price target on the stock from $56 to $61. The company also announced it received over $700 million in AI orders over the last six months.

Barclays analyst Tim Long maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $56 to $61.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $61

<h3>Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>AppLovin (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) stock increased by 27.5% to $484.99 during Thursday's pre-market session. The company's market cap stands at $162.7 billion. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out yesterday. </li>
<li>OneConnect Financial Tech (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OCFT#NYSE">OCFT</a>) shares moved upwards by 8.53% to $3.56. The company's market cap stands at $138.8 million. </li>
<li>CEVA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEVA#NASDAQ">CEVA</a>) stock moved upwards by 8.48% to $34.41. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $812.9 million. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out today. </li>
<li>Inuvo (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INUV#AMEX">INUV</a>) stock increased by 7.89% to $0.51. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $71.6 million. </li>
<li>Himax Techs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMX#NASDAQ">HIMX</a>) shares moved upwards by 7.22% to $9.8. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $1.7 billion. As per the news, the Q4 earnings report came out today. </li>
<li>Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) shares rose 6.98% to $66.9. The company's market cap stands at $266.4 billion. As per the press release, Q2 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fastly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLY#NYSE">FSLY</a>) shares fell 21.4% to $7.92 during Thursday's pre-market session. The company's market cap stands at $1.1 billion. The company's, Q4 earnings came out yesterday. </li>
<li>Cyngn (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYN#NASDAQ">CYN</a>) stock decreased by 14.67% to $0.13. The company's market cap stands at $2.7 million. </li>
<li>Digital Ally (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGLY#NASDAQ">DGLY</a>) stock fell 14.13% to $0.13. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $1.0 million. </li>
<li>Datadog (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDOG#NASDAQ">DDOG</a>) stock decreased by 11.48% to $131.1. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $44.5 billion. The company's, Q4 earnings came out today. </li>
<li>Taoping (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAOP#NASDAQ">TAOP</a>) shares decreased by 9.53% to $0.27. The company's market cap stands at $3.5 million. </li>
<li>Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBRA#NASDAQ">ZBRA</a>) shares declined by 8.32% to $323.56. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $16.6 billion. The company's, Q4 earnings came out today. 
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</ul>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Movers

CEVA

DDOG

FSLY

HIMX

INUV

OCFT

TAOP

12 Information Technology Stocks Moving In Thursday's Pre-Market Session

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Thursday after a hotter-than-expected January inflation print, which was released on Wednesday.
The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones declined in premarket, whereas Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 were up.
Traders await the headline and core producer price index data for January which will be released before the market opens.
The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.61%, while the two-year yield was at 4.34%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool,</a> there is a 97.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.01%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.30%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) were mixed in premarket trading on Thursday. SPY fell 0.013% to $603.28, and QQQ was up 0.15% to $529.07, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks mostly declined on Wednesday after January&#8217;s CPI exceeded expectations at 3% year-over-year and 0.5% monthly, which was the fastest pace of growth since August.
Materials, energy, and real estate sectors led losses, while consumer staples and communication services advanced.
Megacap tech like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) fell, while Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) rebounded over 2% after a five-day losing streak. CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) surged 15% on strong earnings.
The Dow fell 225 points or 0.50% to 44,368.56, the S&amp;P 500 was down 0.27% and closed at 6,051.97, and the Nasdaq Composite was above the flatline by 0.031% at 19,649.95. Russell 2000 Index fell 0.87% to 2,255.89.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>0.031%</td>
<td>19,649.95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.27%</td>
<td>6,051.97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.50%</td>
<td>44,368.56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.87%</td>
<td>2,255.89</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
As President Donald Trump&#8216;s policies begin to take shape, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates said that investors should not expect immediate action from the Federal Reserve, as the central bank is likely to remain on the sidelines until there is more clarity on which proposals will be enacted.
However, he said that despite the uncertainty surrounding Trump's new agenda, earnings remain strong, and consumer spending continues, suggesting positive momentum, though tempered with caution. As the details of the administration&#8217;s plans unfold, both the market and the Fed are likely to remain in a wait-and-see mode.
Ed Yardeni and Eric Wallerstein from Yardeni Research highlighted that the policy side effects of Trump 2.0 go beyond just Fed-related economic data, such as inflation and labor market reports. They pointed out that President Trump's announcement that Russia had agreed to start negotiations &#8220;immediately&#8221; to end the war in Ukraine provided a boost to stocks.
Talking about Wednesday&#8217;s CPI print, Subho Moulik, Founder &amp; CEO, Appreciate said that higher inflation could prompt policymakers in Washington to maintain a higher-for-longer stance—as seen in December 2024 when a marginal CPI beat reinforced the Fed's cautious approach.
&#8220;This hawkish tilt could push U.S. bond yields higher, strengthen the dollar, and trigger further capital outflows from emerging markets,&#8221; he added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Thursday:
<ul>
<li>Initial jobless claims till Feb. 8 will be out at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
<li>The headline and core producer price index data for January will be released at 8:30 a.m., ET as well.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Deere &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>) was down 0.32% in premarket on Thursday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $3.11 per share on revenue of $7.70 billion.</li>
<li>GE Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NASDAQ">GEHC</a>) rose 0.13% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $1.26 per share on revenue of $5.33 billion before the opening bell.</li>
<li>Zebra Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBRA#NASDAQ">ZBRA</a>) declined 0.26% ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $3.94 per share on revenue of $1.32 billion.</li>
<li>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) advanced 3.31% ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.81 per share on revenue of $1.83 billion.</li>
<li>Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) was down 0.1% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $2.29 per share on revenue of $7.14 billion after the closing bell.</li>
<li>Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) was up 5.97% after it reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and revealed an AI order pipeline of $700 million for the six months ended Jan. 25.</li>
<li>Fastly Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLY#NYSE">FSLY</a>) dropped 20.26% after it reported a fourth-quarter loss of 3 cents per share. Whereas, the quarterly revenue came in at $140.58 million, beating the $138.27 million analyst consensus estimate.</li>
<li>HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBS#NYSE">HUBS</a>) was higher by 5.74% after it reported stronger-than-expected results for its fourth quarter.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 1.42% to hover around $70.36 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.43% to $2,916.84 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.3% at 107.615 level.
Asian markets were mixed on Thursday as India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and China's CSI 300 index declined. Australia's ASX 200, South Korea's Kospi, and Japan's Nikkei 225 index advanced. European markets were mostly higher in trade.
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Macro Notification

Market Summary

Futures

Treasuries

Federal Reserve

AMAT

COIN

TSLA

US Stocks Set For A Mixed Start Following Higher Inflation Print: Expert Says Earnings Remain Strong Despite Uncertainty

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) exceeded analyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43675860/cisco-systems-shares-climb-on-better-than-expected-q2-results-strong-forward-guidance">expectations</a> for the second quarter that ended on Jan. 25 and raked over $700 million in artificial intelligence orders in the six months. Massive demand from web-scale clients and inference potential were the central themes that are expected to lead the AI-driven infrastructure boom.
What Happened: Responding to a question by an analyst during the earnings call, CEO Chuck Robbins delved into demand from web-scale clients versus the deployments and deliveries by the company.
He said that many clients have already increased their initial order targets for 2025 by 50% and they say, &#8220;If you can build more, we will buy more.&#8221; However, Robbins said the demand was &#8220;very dynamic&#8221; and depended on their clients&#8217; evolving strategies.
Cisco&#8217;s &#8216;Silicon One&#8217; technology provides scalable network infrastructure solutions, helping web-scale companies efficiently manage the immense traffic demands of their data centers and optimize costs.
&#8220;On the $700,000,000 in AI orders, it&#8217;s a combination of systems, silicon optics and optical systems,&#8221; said Robbins. About half of these orders belong to the silicon and systems segments, he added.
Robbins further highlighted the massive potential of AI inference, suggesting the opportunity in inferencing &#8220;is an order of magnitude higher&#8221; than the training stage that the company has seen to date.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43648935/doordash-delivers-more-than-dinner-cfo-says-gained-share-in-new-verticals-like-grocery-and-retail-beyond-restaurants-thanks-to-exploding-monthly-users-record-order-frequency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DoorDash Surges To 42M Monthly Users As Grocery And Retail Sales Soar Amid Record Order Frequency</a>
Why It Matters: Cisco <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43675860/cisco-systems-shares-climb-on-better-than-expected-q2-results-strong-forward-guidance">beat earnings</a> and revenue estimates for the quarter, reporting earnings of $0.94 per share on the revenue $13.9 billion. Guidance for next quarter is $0.90-$0.92 EPS and $13.9-$14.1 billion in revenue. Full-year guidance is $3.68-$3.74 EPS and $56-$56.5 billion in revenue.
Price Action: Cisco rose by 0.16%% on Wednesday and advanced further by 6.59%% in after-hours after reporting earnings. The exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose by 0.059%.
Cisco shares have gained 5.80% on a year-to-date basis, whereas it was up by 25.97% over the last year.
The average price target among 28 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings">analysts tracked by Benzinga</a> is $59.5 with a ‘hold' rating. The estimates range from $44 to $78 apiece. Recent ratings from Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup suggest a $66.67 target, implying a potential upside of 0.03%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="382" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13003747/Cisco-ANR-1024x382.png" alt="" class="wp-image-780183" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13003747/Cisco-ANR-1024x382.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13003747/Cisco-ANR-300x112.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13003747/Cisco-ANR-768x287.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/13003747/Cisco-ANR.png 1063w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock
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Earnings Beats

General

Cisco Systems Lands $700M AI Gold Rush Amid Increased Appetite From Tech Giants: 'Build More And We Will Buy More,' Customers Tell CEO

Management

Cisco Says Gary Steele, President, Go-To-Market, Notified His Decision To Resign, Effective April 25, 2025, For An External CEO Opportunity - Filing

Press Releases

SmartRent Appoints Ana Pinczuk to its Board of Directors

Cisco Schedules Conference Call for Q2 Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results

NESsT, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, and Cisco Foundation Announce New Phase of Central-Eastern Europe Accelerator Program

Hitachi Vantara Announces New Converged Solution with Cisco for Red Hat OpenShift

Cisco Study: CEOs Embrace AI, But Knowledge Gaps Threaten Strategic Decisions and Growth

Cisco and Mistral AI Partner to Deliver on Cisco's Mission to Transform the Customer Experience with AI

Cisco Empowers Service Providers to Reimagine Networks for AI

Cisco Redefines Data Center Architecture with New Smart Switches, Embedding Services Directly into the Network

Cisco Study: CEOs in North America Embrace AI, But Knowledge Gaps Threaten Strategic Decisions and Growth

CISCO REPORTS SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:46 PMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$67.50	Jan 16, 2026	326	1532	1500	103	1487	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:24 PMFeb 14, 2025	CALL	$70.00	Sep 19, 2025	207	5416	2500	68	7970	SWEEP	BULLISH
03:24 PMFeb 14, 2025	CALL	$70.00	Sep 19, 2025	207	2916	2500	37	7970	SWEEP	BULLISH

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