Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational company, based in California, that provides a range of networking services/solutions.
It is one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The company focuses on designing and selling Internet Protocol (IP) based networking and communications and information technology (IT) industry products, designed “to simplify and secure customers’ network infrastructures.”
Its products and technologies are grouped into the following categories: Switching; Next-Generation Network (NGN) Routing; Service Provider Video; Collaboration; Wireless; Data Center; Security; and Other Products.
Cisco has a broad range of products for transporting data, voice, and video. Its products are used by personal residences, commercial businesses, enterprise businesses, public institutions, service providers, and telecommunications companies.
Products include: routers, switches, wireless systems, security systems, WAN acceleration, energy and building management systems and media aware networks, IP video and phones, vIP Cameras, VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones and gateway-systems, WiFi Access points, Nexus Switches, Routers, Cisco Wireless LAN products, and Catalyst switches.
According to the company’s 2013 annual report, Cisco Systems is attempting to make a market transition towards more programmable, flexible, and virtual networks, known as software defined networking (SDN).
The company was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner (both members of the Stanford University computer support staff). Their company was at the forefront of selling routers that supported multiple network protocols.
The two decided to call their company “Cisco” after the city name “San Francisco” and the company logo was designed to represent the two main towers of the Golden Gate Bridge.
In 1990 Cisco Systems went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the stock ticker symbol ‘CSCO’.
Between 1992 and 1994 Cisco acquired a number of Ethernet switching companies, including: Grand Junction, Kalpana, and Mario Mazzola’s Crescendo Communications.
The company’s main competitors are: Alcatel-Lucent; ; Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; Dell Inc.; F5 Networks, Inc.; Fortinet, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; International Business Machines Corporation; Microsoft Corporation; Motorola Solutions, Inc.; Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Polycom, Inc.; Symantec Corporation; and VMware, Inc.; among others.
Overview
- Chairman and CEO: John Chambers
- President and COO: Gary Moore
- Type: Public
- Industry: Networking
- Listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange
- NASDAQ stock ticker symbol: CSCO
- S&P 500 Component
- Revenue: $48.607 billion USD (2013)
- Net income: $9.983 billion USD (2013)
- Diluted earnings per share: $1.86 USD (2013)
- Employees: 75,000 (approximately)
- Corporate headquarters: 170 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, California, USA
- Corporate contact number: (408) 526-4000
- Investor relations contact number: (408) 227-CSCO
- Website: http://www.cisco.com/
| Net revenues (in $ millions) | 2013 | 2012 |
| Product | $38,029 | $36,326 |
| Service | $10,578 | $9,735 |
| Total revenue | $48,607 | $46,061 |
| Cost of sales and operating expenses (in $ millions) | ||
| Cost of sales | $19,167 | $17,852 |
| Research and development | $5,942 | $5,488 |
| General and administrative | $2,264 | $2,322 |
| Amortization of purchased intangible assets | $395 | $383 |
| Restructuring and other charges | $105 | $304 |
| Total operating expenses | $18,244 | $18,144 |
| Income data (in $ millions) | ||
| Operating income | $11,196 | $10,065 |
| Interest income | $654 | $650 |
| Interest expense | $(583) | $(596) |
| Other income (loss), net | $(40) | $40 |
| Interest and other income, net | $31 | $94 |
| Income before provision for income taxes | $11,227 | $10,159 |
| Provision for income taxes | $1,244 | $2,118 |
| Net income | $9,983 | $8,041 |
| Provision for income taxes | $9,923 | $7,390 |
| Balance sheet data (in $ millions) | ||
| Total assets | $101,191 | $91,759 |
| Total liabilities | $42,063 | $40,458 |
| Total Cisco shareholders’ equity | $59,120 | $51,286 |
| Cash flow data (in $ millions) | ||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $12,894 | $11,491 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | $(11,768) | $(3,815) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | $(3,000) | $(5,539) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $7,925 | $9,799 |
| Common share data (in $) | ||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $1.87 | $1.50 |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $1.86 | $1.49 |
Source: “Cisco Systems, Inc. 2013 Form 10-K”