Cisco Systems (CSCO) vs F5 (FFIV)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Cisco Systems (CSCO) has outperformed F5 (FFIV) over the past year, gaining 70.2% versus a gain of 41.1%. Over five years, FFIV leads with a +128.4% price change compared with +112.5% for CSCO. Cisco Systems is the larger company by market cap ($462.82 billion vs $26.43 billion), about 17.5 times the size.
On valuation, Cisco Systems trades at a lower forward P/E (20.9x vs 25.8x for F5). Cisco Systems pays a dividend yielding 1.41%, while F5 does not currently pay one. F5 converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.4% versus 21.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CSCO | FFIV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $117.39 | $466.65 |
| Market cap | $462.82B | $26.43B |
| 1-day change | -0.47% | -0.67% |
| YTD return | +52.40% | +82.81% |
| 1-year return | +70.16% | +41.08% |
| 5-year return | +112.47% | +128.38% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.47 | 37.18 |
| Forward P/E | 20.89 | 25.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.31 | $12.55 |
| Dividend yield | 1.41% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.66 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $63.33B | $3.09B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.77% | +9.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $13.27B | $692.38M |
| Gross margin | 64.52% | 81.41% |
| Operating margin | 24.27% | 24.80% |
| Net margin | 20.95% | 22.42% |
| 52-week high | $130.37 | $472.25 |
| 52-week low | $66.81 | $223.76 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.96% | -1.19% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.99% | -6.55% |
| Average volume | 19.60M | 586.18K |
| Shares outstanding | 3.94B | 56.63M |
| Employees | 82,400 | 6,512 |
| Sector | Telecommunications | Telecommunications |
| Industry | Computer Communications Equipment | Computer Communications Equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Cisco Systems is about 17.5 times larger than F5 by market value ($462.82B vs $26.43B).
- CSCO has outperformed FFIV by 29.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Cisco Systems offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.41% vs 0.00%).
About Cisco Systems
CSCO stock →Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, develops, and sells technologies to power, help, secure, and draw insights from the internet in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China.
Telecommunications · Computer Communications Equipment · 82,400 employees
About F5
FFIV stock →F5, Inc. provides multicloud application security and delivery solutions in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region.
Telecommunications · Computer Communications Equipment · 6,512 employees
CSCO vs FFIV FAQ
Which is bigger, Cisco Systems or F5?
Cisco Systems (CSCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $462.82B compared with $26.43B for F5 (FFIV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CSCO or FFIV?
CSCO returned +70.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +41.08% for FFIV (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CSCO or FFIV?
CSCO has the lower trailing P/E at 35.5, versus 37.2 for FFIV. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cisco Systems or F5?
Cisco Systems pays a dividend yielding 1.41%, while F5 does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Cisco Systems and F5 in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Computer Communications Equipment industry within the Telecommunications sector.