Cisco Systems Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NASDAQ:CSCO)

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Investors acquired 107,384 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 47% compared to the average volume of 73,008 call options.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Deborah L. Stahlkopf sold 6,586 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.31, for a total value of $772,603.66. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 177,223 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,790,030.13. This trade represents a 3.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Charles Robbins sold 21,400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.03, for a total transaction of $2,568,642.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 637,085 shares in the company, valued at $76,469,312.55. The trade was a 3.25% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 51,324 shares of company stock worth $5,559,834. 0.01% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Cisco Systems

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cozad Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Cisco Systems by 0.3% during the first quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,203 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,033,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Financial Insights Inc. raised its position in Cisco Systems by 1.5% during the first quarter. Financial Insights Inc. now owns 6,220 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $483,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC raised its position in Cisco Systems by 2.3% during the first quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 5,061 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $393,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co raised its position in Cisco Systems by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 33,666 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,596,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pacific Sage Partners LLC raised its position in Cisco Systems by 0.7% during the first quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 16,185 shares of the network equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,256,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.33% of the company’s stock.

Key Cisco Systems News

Here are the key news stories impacting Cisco Systems this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Cisco introduced Cloud Control, a unified “agentic” platform for managing and defending critical IT infrastructure, reinforcing its push into AI-driven networking and enterprise automation. Cisco Unveils Agentic Platform for Operating and Defending Critical IT Infrastructure
• Positive Sentiment: The company also rolled out Live Protect and other cybersecurity tools designed to defend against AI-powered attacks, which could support future security software revenue. Cisco launches platform to defend against AI-powered cyber threats
• Positive Sentiment: Cisco highlighted a major AI networking opportunity, saying AI agents generate far more traffic than humans, which suggests stronger demand for its networking gear and related services. Cisco highlights AI networking opportunity as agents generate 450 percent more traffic than humans
• Positive Sentiment: HSBC upgraded Cisco Systems (CSCO) to Buy and sharply raised its price target, citing a stronger-than-expected AI infrastructure demand trend. HSBC Upgrades Cisco Systems (CSCO) on Surging AI Infrastructure Demand
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target on Cisco but kept a Neutral rating, signaling support for the name without a strong bullish call. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on Cisco Systems to 125 from 116
• Neutral Sentiment: Trade chatter and options activity show strong investor interest, but these signals are more reflective of momentum than a clear fundamental change. 3 Stocks At The Center Of Trump’s AI Security Order
• Negative Sentiment: The stock has also run up sharply in recent weeks, so some of the AI optimism may already be priced in despite the company’s strong execution. Cisco Systems (CSCO) Is Up 8.2% After Record AI-Focused Quarter And New Cloud Control Platform – Has The Bull Case Changed?

Cisco Systems Trading Down 1.2%

NASDAQ CSCO opened at $126.50 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market cap of $498.59 billion, a PE ratio of 41.07, a P/E/G ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.01. Cisco Systems has a one year low of $63.87 and a one year high of $129.42. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $96.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.33.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 13th. The network equipment provider reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $15.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.56 billion. Cisco Systems had a net margin of 20.14% and a return on equity of 28.44%. Cisco Systems’s quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.96 earnings per share. Cisco Systems has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.160-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.270-4.290 EPS. Analysts expect that Cisco Systems will post 3.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Cisco Systems Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 6th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 6th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. Cisco Systems’s payout ratio is currently 54.55%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on CSCO. DZ Bank upgraded shares of Cisco Systems to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. CICC Research lifted their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $96.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, May 18th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Cisco Systems from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $95.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Cisco Systems from $87.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $119.50.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc is a global technology company that designs, manufactures and sells networking hardware, software and telecommunications equipment. Its core business focuses on enabling enterprise and service-provider networks through products such as routers, switches, network security appliances and wireless systems. Over time Cisco has broadened its portfolio to emphasize software-defined networking, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and edge computing solutions that help organizations build and manage modern IT environments.

In addition to hardware, Cisco offers a growing range of software platforms and subscription services for network management, security, analytics and collaboration.