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 MSFT: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Cisco Systems, Inc. with Microsoft Corporation 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
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-07-29
CSCO vs MSFT: quick comparison
| Company fact | CSCO | MSFT |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Cisco Systems, Inc. | Microsoft Corporation |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California | Redmond, Washington |
| Founded | 1984 | 1975 |
| SEC industry | Computer Communications Equipment | Services-Prepackaged Software |
| Fiscal year-end | July 25 | June 30 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2025-09-03 | 10-K · 2026-07-29 |
How the businesses differ
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Microsoft sells productivity software, the Windows operating system, and the Azure cloud platform, and has become a leading distributor of generative AI through its partnership with OpenAI. Its enterprise footprint spans nearly every large organization in the world.
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 MSFT is classified as Services-Prepackaged Software. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
Which 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 MSFT 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
US markets
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 MSFT's ends June 30. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for CSCOand 7 for MSFT. 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
MSFT 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.
CSCO vs MSFT FAQs
Are CSCO and MSFT direct competitors?
Cisco Systems, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation sit in the same Information Technology sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, CSCO or MSFT?
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 MSFT comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
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