Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO)
Cisco supplies the routers, switches, and security products that form the backbone of enterprise and carrier networks. It is expanding recurring software and cybersecurity revenue to reduce its reliance on hardware cycles.
Information Technology stock comparison
CSCO vs FFIV: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Cisco Systems, Inc. with F5, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Information
- Industry
- Same SIC
- Shared themes
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- Updated
- 2026-09-02
CSCO vs FFIV: quick comparison
| Company fact | CSCO | FFIV |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cisco Systems, Inc. | F5, Inc. |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California | — |
| Founded | 1984 | — |
| SEC industry | Computer Communications Equipment | Computer Communications Equipment |
| Fiscal year-end | July 25 | September 30 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-09-02 | 10-K · 2025-11-25 |
CSCO vs FFIV: audited financials
CSCO reported about 18.3× the revenue of FFIV in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, FFIV converted a larger share of revenue into net income (22.4% versus 18.0%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | CSCO | FFIV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $56.7B | $3.1B |
| Net income | $10.2B | $692M |
| Operating cash flow | $14.2B | $950M |
| Diluted EPS | $2.55 | $11.80 |
| Net margin | 18.0% | 22.4% |
CSCO: FY ending 2025-07-26 · FFIV: FY ending 2025-09-30. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
CSCO and FFIV share the SEC industry classification “Computer Communications Equipment,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
F5, Inc. (FFIV)
F5 makes application-delivery and security software that manages and protects traffic to apps across data centers and clouds.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. CSCO is classified by the SEC as Computer Communications Equipment, while FFIV is classified as Computer Communications Equipment. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study CSCO when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Study FFIV when…
- The AI capital-expenditure cycle
- Interest rates and the cost of long-duration growth
- Enterprise IT budgets and cloud migration
- Export controls and the US–China chip race
Shared research themes
Computer Communications Equipment (SEC industry)
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.CSCO's fiscal year ends July 25, while FFIV's ends September 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 27matched transaction rows for CSCOand 4 for FFIV. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
CSCO primary filings
FFIV primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving CSCO or FFIV
CSCO vs FFIV FAQs
Are CSCO and FFIV direct competitors?
Cisco Systems, Inc. and F5, Inc. share the SEC industry classification “Computer Communications Equipment.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.
Which is better, CSCO or FFIV?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this CSCO vs FFIV comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Cisco Systems, Inc. and F5, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
CSCO vs FFIV shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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