Cisco Systems is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter 2025 earnings on Wednesday after the market close, with investors closely watching for a strong finish to a successful year and guidance on the path ahead.
Wall Street analysts, according to LSEG data, anticipate the networking and security giant will report earnings of 98 cents per share on revenue of approximately $14.6 billion. These figures would represent year-over-year growth of 12.1% in earnings and 7.1% in revenue.
The company’s stock has surged more than 20% year-to-date, fueled by strong demand for cybersecurity solutions and investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence infrastructure. This momentum follows a robust third quarter, where Cisco surpassed earnings and revenue expectations and provided an optimistic forecast. During that period, the company announced it had already secured over $1 billion in AI-related orders, exceeding its full-year target.
While analysts widely expect a solid fourth-quarter performance, the primary focus will be on the company’s fiscal 2026 outlook, particularly amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment.
The role of artificial intelligence in Cisco’s growth story remains a key point of debate. Wells Fargo expressed strong optimism, anticipating the monetization of Cisco’s AI order backlog and highlighting sovereign AI projects as a significant future growth driver. Morgan Stanley also sees potential for further stock valuation expansion if the company’s AI results or growth outlook surprise to the upside.
However, some analysts urge caution. Evercore ISI recently downgraded the stock, arguing that Cisco’s AI narrative will take time to develop as it competes with rivals like Broadcom. The firm noted that while Cisco’s valuation multiple has already expanded based on AI orders, the company will need to start reporting AI-specific revenue to be fully credited as a market winner.
Beyond AI, analysts are monitoring the health of Cisco’s core business. Barclays is watching for updates on product order growth, momentum in Wifi-7 and switching products, and management’s commentary on customer spending. Similarly, Citi noted that while Cisco is poised to benefit from the expanding AI networking market, elevated Wall Street expectations for a campus network refresh cycle could limit the stock’s immediate upside.
Analysts will also seek clarity on any potential impact from tariffs, though Barclays noted that Cisco’s resilient supply chain should help mitigate significant disruptions. Morgan Stanley summarized the general sentiment, expecting a strong quarterly report driven by enterprise infrastructure modernization but a potentially conservative top-line forecast for the upcoming fiscal year.
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