Cisco Systems 株価情報 (NASDAQ: CSCO)

最新ニュース Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) 株価情報

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff-25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.

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８月３日（水）午前８時３０分（米国東部時間）に公表される消費者物価指数（CPI）速報に先駆け、主要指数先物は神経質な値動きを示している。債券利回りは消費者物価指数発表前に低下している。今回の報告が価格圧力の緩和が続いていることを確認した場合、米連邦準備制度理事会（FRB）は利上げを余儀なくされる可能性がある。経済学者やストラテジストは、FRB総裁のジェローム・パウエル氏が今月末に予定されている＜ジャクソンホール・シンポジウム＞で、利上げ見通しについてさらに明確な見解を示すと予想している。

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Cisco Systems Inc

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Paltalk Says On Oct. 8, An Order Granting Motion For Final Judgement Was Entered Into District Court for the Western District of Texas In Connection With Co.'s Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Cisco

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the information technology sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRX#NASDAQ">XRX</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 9.81%</li>
<li>Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah maintained a Hold rating and lowered the price target from $14 to $11 on Aug. 14. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Asiya Merchant initiated coverage on the stock with a Sell rating and a price target of $11 on June 28. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Sept. 17, Xerox said CFO Xavier Heiss will retire on Feb. 1, 2025.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest XRX news.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="878" height="828" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071017/image-59.png" alt="" class="wp-image-587363" style="width:636px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071017/image-59.png 878w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071017/image-59-300x283.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071017/image-59-768x724.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 878px) 100vw, 878px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">HP Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.06%</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Asiya Merchant downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral with a price target of $37 on Oct. 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral with a price target of $37 on Sept. 27. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Sept. 25, HP reported the acquisition of Vyopta for an undisclosed price.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest HPQ news.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="825" height="772" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071034/image-60.png" alt="" class="wp-image-587364" style="width:600px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071034/image-60.png 825w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071034/image-60-300x281.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071034/image-60-768x719.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.03%</li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group analyst Amit Daryanani maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $55 to $60 on Sept. 20. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>New Street Research analyst Pierre Ferragu upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $57 on Aug. 15. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Oct. 1, VAST Data expanded its partnership with Cisco to deliver end-to-end, full stack AI infrastructure.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> trend in CSCO stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent100924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="911" height="827" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071248/image-61.png" alt="" class="wp-image-587367" style="width:581px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071248/image-61.png 911w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071248/image-61-300x272.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09071248/image-61-768x697.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px" /></a></figure>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/10/41238686/jim-cramer-ast-spacemobile-is-just-too-hot-recommends-buying-this-tech-stock">Jim Cramer: AST SpaceMobile Is &#8216;Just Too Hot,&#8217; Recommends Buying This Tech Stock</a></li>
</ul>

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Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Tech Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

The stock market&#39;s insatiable appetite for high-growth stories often leaves a trail of undervalued opportunities in its wake. Blue-chip stocks are the corporate world&#39;s stalwarts and frequently get overshadowed by the allure of the latest market darlings. This creates a unique opportunity for investors seeking stability and consistent returns, offering the potential for capital appreciation and attractive dividend yields.
<h2>Cisco Systems: Networked for Value and Dividends</h2>
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) is a tech sector giant with a legacy, and the company is proving that it can still be a powerhouse in today&#39;s changing market. The company designs, manufactures, and sells a comprehensive portfolio of Internet Protocol-based networking products and services. Cisco&#39;s product portfolio spans switching, routing, wireless, security, collaboration, computing, and more, serving businesses of all sizes, public institutions, governments, and service providers. Cisco distributes its products through direct sales, system integrators, and a global network of distributors.
Cisco&#39;s robust business model and solid financial performance make it a compelling investment for those seeking capital appreciation and a consistent income stream. The company recently delivered solid second-quarter results for fiscal year 2024, and its current dividend yield of 3.05% underscores Cisco&#39;s commitment to shareholder value.
A closer look at Cisco&#39;s valuation reveals potential undervaluation. Its current P/E ratio of 17.65 sits below the industry average of 38.5, suggesting that the market may undervalue Cisco&#39;s future earnings potential. A lower P/E ratio indicates that investors pay less for each dollar of Cisco&#39;s earnings when compared to its peers. Additionally, Cisco&#39;s P/B ratio of 4.6, which measures its market capitalization relative to its book value, suggests a potential discount.
Cisco&#39;s solid fundamentals, combined with its attractive dividend yield and potential for undervaluation, make it a strong contender for value and dividend investors. Moreover, Cisco&#39;s MarketRank score, which measures the overall quality of a company, places Cisco in the 98th percentile, indicating that the company is ranked higher than 98% of companies evaluated by MarketBeat. This suggests that Cisco&#39;s financial health and growth potential are strong.
<h2>Dow Inc.: A High-Yield Dividend Play&nbsp;</h2>
Dow Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dow#NYSE">DOW</a>) is a global leader in manufacturing and distributing specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and plastics, and it has emerged as a compelling opportunity for investors seeking a balance of growth and income. While Dow has faced some recent challenges, its 5.06% dividend yield is a testament to its commitment to shareholder returns. The dividend yield makes Dow a compelling consideration, particularly in an environment where many investors seek stability and a steady income stream.
Since its spin-off from DuPont in 2019, Dow has carved out a strong position in the materials science sector, operating in three principal divisions: Performance Materials &amp; Coatings, Industrial Intermediates &amp; Infrastructure, and Packaging &amp; Specialty Plastics. These divisions cater to many industries, including automotive, construction, electronics, and food manufacturing.
Dow&#39;s stock price has exhibited relative volatility recently due to missed earnings expectations and fluctuating profit numbers. However, it&#39;s essential to consider that Dow shares have experienced a remarkable rise of approximately 115% over the past four years. This long-term upward trajectory suggests a strong foundation and potential for further growth.
Dow&#39;s strong brand recognition, diversified product portfolio, and focus on innovation and sustainability drive its current valuation, with Dow&#39;s analyst community predicting a 5% upside on the stock. It is also essential to consider that Dow&#39;s debt levels have steadily decreased over the past few years, signifying a commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Despite the challenges and volatile market conditions, Dow&#39;s position as a global leader in the materials science sector, coupled with its solid dividend yield, makes it a compelling investment opportunity. Dow Inc. could be a worthwhile addition to your portfolio for investors seeking a well-established company with a strong dividend and potential for growth.
<h2>Chevron Corp.: Energy Fueled by Growth and a Generous Dividend</h2>
Chevron Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvx#NYSE">CVX</a>) is a leading integrated energy company known for its stability and 37-year commitment to delivering consistent and increasing returns to shareholders. This integrated energy giant offers investors a strong 4.32% dividend yield, with an annual dividend far outpacing its peers.
Chevron&#39;s recent acquisition of Hess Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hes#NYSE">HES</a>) for $53 billion is a testament to its commitment to growth. The deal will add world-class assets to Chevron&#39;s portfolio, solidifying its position as a dominant player in the energy sector. While the acquisition faces legal challenges and potential delays, analysts expect it to ultimately be completed, adding further momentum to Chevron&#39;s growth trajectory.
The second quarter of 2024 saw Chevron deliver strong results, highlighting its healthy fundamentals. The company reported earnings of $4.4 billion, or $2.43 per share, for the quarter, demonstrating its ability to navigate a challenging market environment. The company&#39;s global production also rose by 11% during the quarter, driven by the successful integration of PDC Energy, strong execution in the Permian and DJ Basins, and a rise in the company&#39;s global exploration acreage position.
Chevron&#39;s appeal extends beyond its dividend yield. The company is a value investing favorite, with Warren Buffett&#39;s Berkshire Hathaway holding a significant 6.7% stake. This investment underscores Chevron&#39;s long-term stability and potential for capital appreciation.
<h2>Finding Value in Unassuming Giants</h2>
In a market obsessed with growth at any cost, a sense of caution and a focus on value can be a powerful strategy. These blue-chip stocks represent the bedrock of their respective industries, offering a steady stream of income and the potential for long-term growth. Remember, the market has proven that consistency often outperforms flashiness, so as you explore the market, take notice of these gems. They might just be the missing pieces you need to build a robust and resilient portfolio.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/these-3-blue-chips-slipped-under-the-markets-radar/">3 Blue Chip Opportunities the Market Overlooked&mdash;Now&#39;s Your Chance</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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3 Blue Chip Opportunities the Market Overlooked—Now's Your Chance

Ciena Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cien#NYSE">CIEN</a>) can be considered a legacy company in the computer and technology sector when it comes to the Internet. It was one of the original manufacturers of optical fiber, which provided networking switches and connectivity solutions since 1992. The company has managed to stay relevant, unlike so many internet boom companies, and remains on the cutting edge of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Ciena is essential to the AI boom as it provides one of the crucial elements required&nbsp;for&nbsp;AI deployment: high bandwidth&nbsp;and low latency connectivity.
Ciena operates in the computer and technology sector, competing with networking companies like Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnpr#NYSE">JNPR</a>), which was acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hpe#NYSE">HPE</a>), and Infinera Co. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/infn#NASDAQ">INFN</a>) which is being acquired by Nokia Oyj (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nok#NYSE">NOK</a>).
<h2>How Ciena Is Essential to the AI Revolution </h2>
Ciena is a leader in the optical networking segment, as its products enable long-distance, high-capacity data transmission solutions for the backbones of numerous networks. Data transmission volumes will only grow, driven by AI deployment and cloud computing. Its optical transceivers enable low-latency transmission, which is essential for AI applications to relay responsiveness and fast performance. Its Blue Planet AI-powered software-defined network (SDN) enables network operators to program, automate, and manage networks, orchestrate end-to-end services, and scale bandwidth on demand as needed.
<h2>Cloud Providers Lead the Recovery &nbsp;</h2>
Ciena is approaching positive normalization after many volatile years driven by the pandemic shortage and post-pandemic inventory glut. Cloud providers are leading the recovery, building out networks to support cloud and growing AI traffic.&nbsp;Data centers are a big chunk of Ciena&#39;s cloud provider clients. Three of the four major cloud providers are driving demand for Ciena&#39;s 400 ZR, a high-capacity datacenter interconnect (DCI) capable of transmitting 400 GB ethernet over DCI links, targeting a minimum of 80 kilometers.
Ciena&#39;s other client group, service providers, is experiencing a gradual recovery as the inventory glut is digested. Ciena still expects the U.S. to recover fully in a few quarters, while Europe continues to lag due to geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds.
<h2>Gloomy Headline Numbers Underscore Improving Metrics </h2>
Ciena&#39;s third-quarter of 2024 earnings report was a sign of relief as results underscore the recovery occurring, enabling a turnaround after many negative quarters. The company reported EPS of 35 cents, beating analyst expectations by 6 cents. GAAP net income was $14.2 million, down from $29.7 million last year. Adjusted net income was $50.8 million, which was also lower than the $89.1 million non-GAAP income in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 11.8% YoY to $942.3 million, which was better than expected compared to the consensus estimates of $928.31 million. Ciena reported a strong book-to-bill ratio above 1, indicating stronger demand that it can fulfill.
<h2>Ciena Issues Flat Guidance </h2>
Ciena expects revenues of $1.06 billion to $1.14 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 versus $1.12 billion in consensus estimates. Adjusted gross margin is expected to be in the low 40% range, and adjusted operating expenses are expected to be around $350 million. Full-year 2024 revenues are estimated at around $4 billion, with a 4% to 8% CAGR long-term. CIEN stock tumbled 7% the following days.
Ciena CEO Gary Smith commented, &quot;We delivered strong results for the fiscal third quarter that reflect growing momentum with cloud providers and continued gradual recovery with service providers. With leading innovation that is well-aligned with our customers&#39; focus on building cloud and AI-capable infrastructures, we are well-positioned to continue to gain share and deliver profitable growth.&quot;
On Oct. 2, 2024, Ciena announced a $1 billion stock buyback program commencing in fiscal 2025 and ending in fiscal 2027. CIEN stock surged 7% on the announcement.
<h2>CIEN Is Forming a Potential ABCD Reversal Pattern </h2>
An ABCD pattern is a harmonic reversal pattern comprised of two higher peaks and one higher low. The pattern resembles a rising lightning bolt. A market structure high (MSL) sell trigger often triggers the reversal.
<img alt="Ciena CIEN stock chart" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.marketbeat.com/logos/articles/med_20241006191744_charta-cien.jpg" style="height:753px; width:915px" />
CIEN stock initially sold off on its earnings report and guidance to a swing low of $50.83, forming the C-point. Shares rallied higher through the B-point pre-earnings peak at $59.42 to continue higher toward an imminent D-point, which could trigger a reversal. The daily anchored VWAP support is rising at $56.78. The daily relative strength index (RSI) is rising to the 75-band. Fibonacci (Fib) pullback support levels are at $62.91, $57.69, $53.76, and $50.83. 
Ciena&#39;s average consensus price target is $61.00, and its highest analyst price target&nbsp;is&nbsp;$68.00.&nbsp;Analysts have given it 10 Buy ratings and three Hold ratings.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/ciena-stock-powers-the-ai-cloud-boomdont-miss-out/">Ciena Stock Powers the AI Cloud Boom&mdash;Don&#39;t Miss Out</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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Ciena Stock Powers the AI Cloud Boom—Don't Miss Out

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.
Stocks rocketed higher on Friday as fresh data revealed nonfarm payrolls surged by 254,000 in September. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.1%, defying projections that it would hold steady at 4.2%.
The S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.22% for the week, while the Dow eked out a 0.09% gain. The Nasdaq, despite entering Friday with losses exceeding 1%, managed a 0.1% weekly rise, marking a notable turnaround.
Crude oil prices jumped again on Friday, capping off a nearly 9% weekly gain. The surge came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following Iran's missile attack on Israel.
Chinese tech stocks, represented by the iShares MSCI China ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NASDAQ">MCHI</a>), enjoyed another week of strong gains, driven by growing enthusiasm <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41192510/labor-market-surprises-with-strength-energy-stocks-rally-on-israel-iran-tensions-chinese-tech-giants">for domestic stimulus efforts.</a>
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41156900/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-demand-for-next-gen-blackwell-gpu-platform-insane-everyone-wants-to-hav">&#8220;Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Demand For Next-Gen Blackwell GPU Platform Insane: &#8216;Everyone Wants To Have The Most, And Everyone Wants To Be First,'&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/ananya-gairola">Ananya Gairola</a>, reports that Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the overwhelming demand for the new Blackwell GPU platform, confirming it is in full production and expected to drive significant revenue growth despite investor concerns over delays.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41136347/is-dogecoins-bullish-momentum-over-after-18-retreat-from-recent-highs-not-yet-say-a">&#8220;Is Dogecoin&#8217;s Bullish Momentum Over After 18% Retreat From Recent Highs? Not Yet, Say Analysts,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, highlights that despite Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) experiencing an 18% drop, analysts like Santiment and Ali Martinez believe its bullish potential remains strong, citing increased whale activity and technical signals of further upside.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/41100053/apples-iphone-16-pro-demand-correction-in-sight-analyst-highlights-delivery-trends-">&#8220;Apple&#8217;s iPhone 16 Pro Demand Correction In Sight: Analyst Highlights Delivery Trends Across Global Markets,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anusuya-lahiri-0">Anusuya Lahiri</a>, reports that a JPMorgan analyst sees stabilizing delivery times for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone 16 Pro models, indicating a demand correction ahead, as lead times for base models moderate across key markets like the U.S., China, and Europe.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41162458/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-said-prime-video-will-have-meaningfully-fewer-ads-than-rivals-2-month">Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Said Prime Video Will Have &#8216;Meaningfully Fewer Ads&#8217; Than Rivals. 2 Months Later, Streaming Giant Is Reportedly Set To Get More Ads</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/09/41096549/cisco-set-for-technical-breakout-as-golden-cross-signals-strength-analyst-predicts-stock">Cisco Set For Technical Breakout As Golden Cross Signals Strength: Analyst Predicts Stock Will &#8216;Quietly&#8217; Climb Higher</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41135042/reliable-tesla-number-cruncher-forecasts-biggest-delivery-beat-in-3-years-fund-manager-says-this">Reliable Tesla Number Cruncher Forecasts Biggest Delivery Beat In 3 Years: Fund Manager Says This Could Change The Stock&#8217;s Narrative</a>
The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/10/41189534/spirit-airlines-bankruptcy-chatter-has-critics-blaming-biden-heres-what-history-shows-about-">&#8220;Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy Chatter Has Critics Blaming Biden: Here&#8217;s What History Shows About Carrier Mergers,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anthony-noto-0">Anthony Noto</a>, explores how Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAVE#NYSE">SAVE</a>) is in bankruptcy talks, with critics blaming the blocked JetBlue merger, while history shows that mergers in the airline industry often lead to job losses regardless of financial struggles.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41140319/humana-faces-sharp-decline-in-medicare-star-ratings-for-2025-braces-for-2026-revenue-hit">&#8220;Humana Faces Sharp Decline In Medicare Star Ratings For 2025, Braces For 2026 Revenue Hit,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/vandana-singh">Vandana Singh</a>, reports that Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) is anticipating a major drop in Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, with only 25% of members enrolled in plans rated four stars or above, which could lead to significant revenue losses in 2026.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/41086177/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-faces-employee-revolt-over-full-time-return-to-office-mandate-73-consider-">&#8220;Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Faces Employee Revolt Over Full-Time Return To Office Mandate, 73% Consider Quitting: Survey,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/kaustubh-bagalkote">Kaustubh Bagalkot</a>, reports that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) CEO Andy Jassy is facing internal backlash as 73% of surveyed employees consider leaving due to a new full-time return-to-office policy starting in 2025, sparking concerns over morale and retention.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41141152/cramer-says-hot-money-flowing-from-nvidia-apple-into-china-focus-on-alibaba-if-you-must">Cramer Says &#8216;Hot Money&#8217; Flowing From Nvidia, Apple Into China, Focus On Alibaba &#8216;If You Must&#8217;</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/09/41084907/japans-nikkei-plummets-over-2-000-points-amid-change-of-guard-while-chinese-market-extends-stimulus">Japan&#8217;s Nikkei Plummets Over 2,000 Points Amid Change Of Guard, While Chinese Market Extends Stimulus-Driven Run: What&#8217;s Driving Sentiment In Asia</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41114769/boeing-dips-in-pre-market-as-struggling-plane-maker-considers-raising-10b-through-stock-sale-amid-st">Boeing Dips In Pre-Market As Struggling Plane Maker Considers Raising $10B Through Stock Sale Amid Strike</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.
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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Spirit Airlines — And Dogecoin Drops But Whale Activity Remains High

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) shares are trading <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">marginally higher on Friday.</a>
The software behemoth reportedly agreed to fund CoreWeave, a cloud-computing provider valued at about $23 billion, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-03/cisco-nears-investment-in-coreweave-at-23-billion-valuation?srnd=phx-technology&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> Bloomberg.
Major tech companies have been making substantial investments to enhance infrastructure for AI development. The rise of artificial intelligence applications like ChatGPT and the training of large language models has driven increased demand for cloud computing services, per a Reuters report.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41149788" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI Valuation Soars To $157B In Latest Funding Round</a>
CoreWeave&#8217;s chief executive officer&nbsp;is Michael Intrator. CoreWeave counts NVIDIA Corporation, Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Jane Street, and Fidelity, among its investors.
The latest deal allows existing shareholders of Cisco such as employees to tender $400 million to $500 million of their holdings, Bloomberg reported earlier.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/09/41096549/cisco-set-for-technical-breakout-as-golden-cross-signals-strength-analyst-predicts-stock" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cisco Set For Technical Breakout As Golden Cross Signals Strength: Analyst Predicts Stock Will &#8216;Quietly&#8217; Climb Higher</a>
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, CSCO stock has lost over 1% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYZ#BATS">IYZ</a>) and First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIBR#NASDAQ">CIBR</a>).
Earlier this month, &nbsp;VAST Data, an AI data platform company, announced it has extended its collaboration with&nbsp;Cisco to<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/g41121126/vast-data-expands-partnership-with-cisco-to-deliver-end-to-end-full-stack-ai-infrastructure" rel="noreferrer noopener"> further simplify AI deployments for enterprises.&nbsp;</a>
&#8220;As AI adoption grows, it&#8217;s clear that data centers will be a pivotal proving ground where business is won and lost. The challenge is that the complexity with managing, configuring, updating, and patching a modern data center is only getting harder with AI,&#8221; said&nbsp;Jeremy Foster, SVP and GM of Cisco Compute.
Price Action: CSCO shares are trading higher by 0.57% to $52.73 premarket at last check Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock
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What's Going On With Cisco Systems Stock Friday?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Cisco Systems. Our analysis of options history for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) revealed 12 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 66% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $262,915, and 7 were calls, valued at $262,318.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $40.0 to $57.5 for Cisco Systems during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Cisco Systems's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Cisco Systems's whale activity within a strike price range from $40.0 to $57.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Cisco Systems Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727727334_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$2.91</td>
<td>$2.91</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$91.6K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>315</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$1.4</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$66.1K</td>
<td>7.7K</td>
<td>444</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$0.61</td>
<td>$0.62</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$47.1K</td>
<td>466</td>
<td>116</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/01/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.91</td>
<td>$0.93</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$46.5K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>513</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Cisco Systems, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Cisco Systems Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 13,639,008, the price of CSCO is up 0.38% at $53.22. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 44 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Cisco Systems</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $60.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Cisco Systems with a target price of $60. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Cisco Systems with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

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Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Cisco Systems

<h3>Consumer And Business Finances Are Healthy&nbsp;</h3>
The customers in the economy have the capacity to spend, which means economic activity should keep churning.
&ldquo;As is well known, household and corporate balance sheets are strong,&rdquo; Deutsche Bank&rsquo;s Binky Chadha wrote in a Sept. 12 note. &ldquo;This is very different from past down cycles.&ldquo;
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16af8947-bfb8-4001-8b6d-7c823cdb3c09_2412x1518.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16af8947-bfb8-4001-8b6d-7c823cdb3c09_2412x1518.png" style="height:393px; width:624px" /></a>
Consumer and business finances are healthy. (Source: Deutsche Bank)
You&rsquo;ll continue to read unsettling news headlines about how the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/i/135828718/about-credit-cards" rel="">absolute</a><a href="https://www.tker.co/i/135828718/about-credit-cards" rel="">&nbsp;levels</a>&nbsp;of debt are historically high. But what actually matters is how that debt measures&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/i/135828718/about-credit-cards" rel="">relative</a><a href="https://www.tker.co/i/135828718/about-credit-cards" rel="">&nbsp;to the capacity</a>&nbsp;to service that debt, which is historically strong.
And by the way, even though sentiment surveys suggest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/retail-sales-jump-sentiment-down" rel="">consumers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/weekly-macro-soft-vs-hard-data" rel="">business managers</a>&nbsp;are more pessimistic than usual, the hard data confirm that they all continue to spend &mdash; probably because they have the financial capacity to do so.
<h3>The Stock Market Decouples From Trump</h3>
It&rsquo;s not uncommon to hear people argue that Donald Trump&rsquo;s policy platform would be more favorable for the stock market than his Democrat opponent. Indeed, for a while it seemed that the stock market would move higher as Trump&rsquo;s odds of winning the November presidential election improved.
&ldquo;This relationship has broken down recently,&rdquo; RBC&rsquo;s Lori Calvasina observed in her September 23 research note.
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F261e5ac1-5f45-4adf-8005-0965e2620acb_1041x700.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F261e5ac1-5f45-4adf-8005-0965e2620acb_1041x700.png" style="height:420px; width:624px" /></a>
Stocks have continued to rally even as Trump&rsquo;s election odds have fallen. (Source: RBC)
This type of divergence isn&rsquo;t totally unprecedented. For example, history shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/corporate-tax-reform-vs-earnings-chart" rel="">even amid corporate tax reform</a>&nbsp;that led to higher tax rates, corporations eventually figured out how to grow earnings. And their stock prices followed suit.
Just because the person who ends up in the White House may be less business friendly than their opponent doesn&rsquo;t mean that businesses will fail to grow earnings.
<h3>Compound Interest Is More Powerful Than Any Political Party</h3>
An investor who only invested in the stock market when a Democrat was president has done marginally better than the investor who only invested when a Republican was president.
However, both got totally smoked by the investor who stayed invested regardless of who occupied the White House. From&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/investment-directions-fall-2024" rel="">BlackRock&rsquo;s Gargi Chaudhuri</a>: &ldquo;At the index level, staying invested has been more important than which party wins the presidency. Investors who held the course as political winds changed earned nearly double those who shifted their strategy based on the election in the last decade &mdash; a trend only magnified over the very long term.&rdquo;
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52b72fc2-c72a-4fd3-8b2c-914f013141c8_1167x795.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52b72fc2-c72a-4fd3-8b2c-914f013141c8_1167x795.png" style="height:425px; width:624px" /></a>
Staying invested is more important than which party wins the presidency. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/investment-directions-fall-2024" rel="">BlackRock</a>)
This is a reminder that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/best-investment-advice-time" rel="">time in the market beats timing the market</a>. You don&rsquo;t want to miss out on the incredible wealth generating power of compound interest.
<h3>U.S. Companies Are Crushing It</h3>
Teeing off&nbsp;<a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240913IPR23903/draghi-to-meps-europe-faces-a-choice-between-exit-paralysis-or-integration" rel="">Mario Draghi&rsquo;s controversial paper</a>&nbsp;on European competitiveness, Deutsche Bank&rsquo;s Jim Reid shared an interesting observation about U.S. vs. European companies in his Chart of the Day on Wednesday. From his note (emphasis added):
<blockquote>Earlier this month, Mario Draghi&rsquo;s long-awaited report on European Union competitiveness contained an abundance of recommendations for the continent, including how it needed to spend up to &euro;800bn extra a year to become more competitive with the US and China. Buried in the report was a fascinating line that said &ldquo;...there is no EU company with a market capitalisation over &euro;100 billion that has been set up from scratch in the last fifty years, while all six US companies with a valuation above &euro;1 trillion have been created in this period.&rdquo; &hellip; I thought it would be worth graphically representing Draghi&rsquo;s point. Today&rsquo;s CoTD shows the top 25 companies by size in the S&amp;P 500 and Stoxx 600 against the year the companies&#39; origins can be traced. There is some nuance here. For example, ASML is the third largest EU company and although it was incorporated in 1984, it emerged from a joint venture out of ASM (1968) and Phillips (1891). So the company wasn&rsquo;t started from scratch within the last 50 years.&ldquo;
</blockquote>
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd66c97-30d1-4789-980e-79d8cf3a4525_1507x778.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cd66c97-30d1-4789-980e-79d8cf3a4525_1507x778.png" style="height:322px; width:624px" /></a>
There&rsquo;s no EU company that was created in the past 50 years that&rsquo;s worth more than &euro;100 billion. (Source: Deutsche Bank)
As I wrote in the April 21 TKer: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s clearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/dangerous-to-underestimate-corporate-america" rel="">something special going on right now in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;that helps explain why its stock market has performed so well on the global stage. Maybe it&rsquo;s the culture of innovation. Maybe it&rsquo;s the business-friendly regulation. Maybe it&rsquo;s the relatively strong corporate governance practices. Maybe it&rsquo;s how&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/dimon-quarterly-earnings-pressure" rel="">shareholders incentivize company executives</a>&nbsp;and employees. Whatever it is, it&rsquo;s helping to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/i/143327848/the-mother-of-all-market-narratives-earnings" rel="">drive earnings higher</a>. As a result, investing in the U.S. stock market has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/long-term-chart-us-stock-prices-since-1824" rel="">a winning trade for a long time</a>, and there&rsquo;s little reason to believe it won&rsquo;t continue to be in the years to come.&ldquo;
<h3>There Are No Borders In Business</h3>
Sure, U.S. companies probably benefit from operating in the largest economy in the world. But if you&rsquo;re a big company, then you probably do at least some business outside of your home country.
In fact, as this&nbsp;<a href="https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/adv/insights/market-insights/guide-to-the-markets/?slideId=international/gtm-gbleqmkt" rel="">chart</a>&nbsp;from JPMorgan shows, publicly traded companies in the U.K., Europe, and Japan generate most of their revenue abroad.
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7abe329b-9fe1-41cb-ac22-578f629f7db4_878x510.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7abe329b-9fe1-41cb-ac22-578f629f7db4_878x510.png" style="height:362px; width:624px" /></a>
Publicly traded companies in the U.K., Europe, and Japan generate most of their revenue abroad. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/adv/insights/market-insights/guide-to-the-markets/?slideId=international/gtm-gbleqmkt" rel="">JPMorgan</a>)
This is a reminder that you don&rsquo;t necessarily have to buy stocks outside of your home country to get foreign exposure. If you want exposure to foreign forms of management and corporate governance, that&rsquo;s another story.
<h3>Are More Job Openings Coming?</h3>
The labor market has been cooling. Notably, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/job-openings-july-2024-economic-tailwind-fades" rel="">once massive tailwind of excess job openings has faded</a>.
But are we about to get a rebound in job openings?
&ldquo;The stock price of staffing firms points to a rebound in job openings,&rdquo; Apollo&rsquo;s Torsten Slok wrote in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apolloacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DailyAndWeeklyIndicatorsForTheUSEconomy-092124.pdf" rel="">chartbook</a>&nbsp;shared&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apolloacademy.com/strong-economy-but-weak-labor-market/" rel="">on September 21</a>.
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F525eb901-c2cf-443b-9b39-b7954577b5f8_1435x792.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F525eb901-c2cf-443b-9b39-b7954577b5f8_1435x792.png" style="height:344px; width:624px" /></a>
HR industry stocks suggest job openings could rise. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apolloacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/DailyAndWeeklyIndicatorsForTheUSEconomy-092124.pdf" rel="">Apollo</a>)
I can&rsquo;t say this is the most compelling case for a recovery in job openings. After all, it&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/dont-forecast-economy-with-single-metric" rel="">just one metric</a>, and it&rsquo;s up against a lot of data that point to a labor market slowdown.
But who knows? Maybe this recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/federal-reserve-rate-cut-september-2024" rel="">rate cut from the Fed</a>&nbsp;will spark another labor market boom.
For more, read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/job-openings-july-2024-economic-tailwind-fades" rel="">A once massive economic tailwind has faded</a>&nbsp;&#128168; and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/jobs-report-june-2024-cooling" rel="">The labor market is cooling</a>&nbsp;&#128188;
<h3>Nvidia Is No Cisco</h3>
Every once in a while, you&rsquo;ll hear someone compare today&rsquo;s AI boom to yesterday&rsquo;s Dotcom bubble. And sometimes, people will argue this by comparing the current trajectory of Nvidia&rsquo;s&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stock price to that of Cisco (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) back in the day.
One thing to note about the AI boom is that there&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://substack.com/@samro/note/c-17858171" rel="">tangible demand</a>&nbsp;for the technology. And that&rsquo;s translating into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/p/nvidia-earnings-q1-2024-ai-demand-boom" rel="">meaningful earnings growth</a>&nbsp;for companies like Nvidia. And those earnings have made for a more palatable valuation story.
&ldquo;Nvidia bears no resemblance to dot-com market leaders like Cisco (see below) whose P/E multiple also soared but without earnings to go with it,&rdquo; JPMorgan&rsquo;s Michael Cembalest observed in his&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/content/dam/jpm-pb-aem/global/en/documents/eotm/a-severe-case-of-covidia-prognosis-for-an-ai-driven-us-equity-market.pdf" rel="">September 3 note</a>.
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F595e70f4-c35f-4809-ac91-7ac53457d7c2_1027x676.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F595e70f4-c35f-4809-ac91-7ac53457d7c2_1027x676.png" style="height:411px; width:624px" /></a>
Nvidia&rsquo;s valuation doesn&rsquo;t appear as stretched as Cisco&rsquo;s during the dotcom bubble. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/content/dam/jpm-pb-aem/global/en/documents/eotm/a-severe-case-of-covidia-prognosis-for-an-ai-driven-us-equity-market.pdf" rel="">JPMorgan</a>)
Analysts across industry groups see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/i/149001094/ai-is-a-tailwind-for-profit-margins" rel="">AI technology boosting profit margins</a>&nbsp;for the companies they cover. Unfortunately, we&rsquo;ll only know in hindsight if AI delivers all that we hope for.
<h3>What Labor Costs Look Like Across Industries&nbsp;</h3>
Every industry is unique in terms of how much it costs to staff a company to keep operations running. This is important to understand when analyzing the impact of changes in wage costs.
&ldquo;Our analysis of the latest company filings reveals that S&amp;P 500 labor costs equal 12% of total revenues for the aggregate index and 14% of revenues for the median stock,&rdquo; Goldman Sachs&rsquo; David Kostin wrote in his September 20 note. &ldquo;Exposure to labor costs vary at the sector level, from 20% in Industrials to 3% in Energy.&rdquo;
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85d8b686-6c94-446d-a2d1-360b1691cec5_2124x1538.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85d8b686-6c94-446d-a2d1-360b1691cec5_2124x1538.png" style="height:452px; width:624px" /></a>
Exposure to labor costs vary across sectors. (Source: Goldman Sachs)
<h3>The Bottom Line</h3>
&ldquo;The good news is that profit expectations continue to rise,&rdquo; Carson Group&rsquo;s Sonu Varghese&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carsongroup.com/insights/blog/the-new-record-high-for-markets-is-not-a-sugar-high/" rel="">wrote</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday. &ldquo;Expected earnings per share for the S&amp;P 500 over the next 12 months is now at $266, about 10% higher than it was at the end of last year.&rdquo;
<a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4571abdb-5f61-4291-acfc-32d5a3aab839_2943x3961.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4571abdb-5f61-4291-acfc-32d5a3aab839_2943x3961.png" style="height:450px; width:334px" /></a>
The outlook for earnings is looking up. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carsongroup.com/insights/blog/the-new-record-high-for-markets-is-not-a-sugar-high/" rel="">Carson Group</a>)
&ldquo;As our friend Sam Ro (who writes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tker.co/" rel="">TKer Substack</a>), says, earnings are the most important driver of stock prices,&rdquo; he added.
I couldn&rsquo;t have said it better myself!
A version of this post was originally published on <a href="https://www.tker.co/p/research-chart-roundup-sept-2024?publication_id=26696&amp;post_id=149247825&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=2dvdoy&amp;triedRedirect=true">Tker.co</a>.

You Said You Love Charts. So Here Are More Charts!

While Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) may not be making loud headlines, it's quietly setting the stage for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/golden-cross">strong technical breakout</a>. 
With a Golden Cross in play, tech analyst Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41023540">recently</a> tipped Cisco stock on CNBC&#8217;s &#8216;Halftime Report Final Trades&#8217; predicting the stock will "quietly hit a fresh high for the year."
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="454" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30094933/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-5.09.49-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-572503" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30094933/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-5.09.49-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30094933/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-5.09.49-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
This optimism comes even as Cisco's 2024 has been marked by significant layoffs. The company reduced its headcount by 7% in August after an earlier 4,000-employee reduction in February.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41084112/mark-zuckerberg-says-orion-is-probably-going-to-be-the-next-major-platform-after-phones-metas-new-ar">Mark Zuckerberg Says, Orion &#8216;Is Probably Going To Be The Next Major Platform After Phones&#8217; — Meta&#8217;s New AR Wearables Real-Life Tony Stark Glasses In The Making?</a>
However, according to the company&#8217;s own statement, these cuts are seen as part of Cisco's strategy to &#8220;invest in key growth opportunities.&#8221; Despite the workforce shakeup, Cisco has reported its second-best year ever, with nearly $54 billion in revenue.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="628" height="454" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30095156/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-7.10.11-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-572511" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30095156/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-7.10.11-PM.png 628w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/30095156/Screenshot-2024-09-30-at-7.10.11-PM-300x217.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent093024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
From a technical standpoint, the Golden Cross signals a bullish trend as Cisco's share price stands at $53.05—above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $49.06 and $48.74, respectively. The stock's eight-day SMA of $52.46 and 20-day SMA of $50.76 further indicate that trading momentum is bullish across short, medium, and long-term indicators.
Even with some selling pressure, Cisco's stock has surged 5.91% in the past month and is up nearly 5% year-to-date. 
Lebenthal's bullish forecast aligns with these upward technical signals, hinting at further gains ahead. 
Investors may want to keep a close watch on this stealthy giant, as its Golden Cross could propel Cisco stock to new highs despite the challenges it has faced this year.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/24/09/41008140/intuitive-machines-rockets-240-year-to-date-forms-golden-cross-after-4-8b-nasa-contract">Intuitive Machines Rockets 240% Year-To-Date, Forms Golden Cross After $4.8B NASA Contract</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Signals

Cisco Set For Technical Breakout As Golden Cross Signals Strength: Analyst Predicts Stock Will 'Quietly' Climb Higher

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Cisco Systems.
Looking at options history for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) we detected 10 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 10% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 80% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $253,853 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $605,961.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $45.0 to $57.5 for Cisco Systems over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Cisco Systems's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Cisco Systems's whale trades within a strike price range from $45.0 to $57.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Cisco Systems 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727383582_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$1.2</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$172.3K</td>
<td>26.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$1.08</td>
<td>$1.05</td>
<td>$1.06</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$155.3K</td>
<td>28.5K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$140.0K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
<td>$1.06</td>
<td>$1.06</td>
<td>$52.50</td>
<td>$105.4K</td>
<td>28.5K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$0.65</td>
<td>$0.64</td>
<td>$0.65</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$66.1K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Cisco Systems</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Cisco Systems, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Cisco Systems Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 16,463,200, with CSCO's price up by 0.7%, positioned at $53.02.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 48 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Cisco Systems</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $60.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Cisco Systems with a target price of $60. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Cisco Systems with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Cisco Systems Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/24/final-trades-paypal-citizens-financial-cisco-systems-and-the-iyr.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management said PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) continues to make new highs. &#8220;I am rolling up my stop-loss, but staying <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL/analyst-ratings">with the trade,&#8221; he added</a>.
On Sept. 23, Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Keane maintained PayPal with a Buy and raised the price target from $74 to $94.
Brian Belski of BMO Capital Markets said Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>) has a 4% dividend yield and 18% free cash flow yield.
On Sept. 20, Citizens Financial Group announced the appointment of Claude E. Wade to the company&#8217;s board of directors, effective March 1, 2025. The company also said Wendy Watson will retire from the board after her current term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders in April 2025.
Don't forget to check out our<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here</a>
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners said Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) will quietly hit a fresh high for the year.
On Aug. 16, HSBC analyst Stephen Bersey upgraded Cisco from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $46 to $58.
Shannon Saccocia of NB Private Wealth named iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYR#NYSE">IYR</a>) as her final trade.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>PayPal gained 0.1% to close at $78.40 during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>Citizens Financial shares fell 0.7% to settle at $40.76 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF rose slightly by 0.03% during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>Cisco shares gained 0.6% to close at $52.52 on Tuesday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41003853/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-views-on-3-tech-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts&#8217; Views On 3 Tech Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Real Estate Fund Index

PYPL

Cisco, PayPal, Citizens Financial And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Information Technology sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$61.8K</td>
<td>117.4K</td>
<td>228.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$227.50</td>
<td>$75.6K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>26.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$154.0K</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WULF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$5.50</td>
<td>$29.3K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>7.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$38.5K</td>
<td>45.7K</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ORCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$54.0K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$445.8K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>U</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$41.9K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$425.00</td>
<td>$35.9K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on September 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 206 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 36 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.8K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 117424 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 228149 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on September 27, 2024. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $227.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $75.6K, with a price of $189.0 per contract. There were 12774 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 26097 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CSCO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 7000 contract(s) at a $54.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $154.0K, with a price of $22.0 per contract. There were 80 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 8636 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For WULF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WULF#NASDAQ">WULF</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 588 contract(s) at a $5.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.3K, with a price of $50.0 per contract. There were 2613 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 7229 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 301 contract(s) at a $23.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.5K, with a price of $128.0 per contract. There were 45768 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 6733 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ORCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 24 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2000 contract(s) at a $180.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 51 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.0K, with a price of $27.0 per contract. There were 5889 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5272 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 10 day(s) on October 4, 2024. This event was a transfer of 572 contract(s) at a $150.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $445.8K, with a price of $780.0 per contract. There were 1552 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3725 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 87 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 26 contract(s) at a $180.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.0K, with a price of $1500.0 per contract. There were 2601 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3586 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For U (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/U#NYSE">U</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 747 contract(s) at a $17.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.9K, with a price of $56.0 per contract. There were 5481 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3514 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 52 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 29 contract(s) at a $425.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.9K, with a price of $1240.0 per contract. There were 2716 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1721 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

INTC

MSFT

MSTR

ORCL

WULF

10 Information Technology Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: PayPal Holdings, Cisco Systems, Citizens Financial Group, iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF

In today's rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is essential for investors and industry enthusiasts to thoroughly analyze companies. In this article, we will conduct a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) against its key competitors in the Communications Equipment industry. By examining key financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Cisco Systems Background</h3>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cisco Systems Inc</td>
<td>20.46</td>
<td>4.56</td>
<td>3.92</td>
<td>4.74%</td>
<td>$3.64</td>
<td>$8.78</td>
<td>-10.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Motorola Solutions Inc</td>
<td>51.82</td>
<td>92.07</td>
<td>7.26</td>
<td>66.97%</td>
<td>$0.75</td>
<td>$1.34</td>
<td>9.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nokia Oyj</td>
<td>22.66</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1.06</td>
<td>-0.69%</td>
<td>$0.7</td>
<td>$1.94</td>
<td>-17.87%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ubiquiti Inc</td>
<td>37.53</td>
<td>138.22</td>
<td>6.81</td>
<td>171.67%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.2</td>
<td>3.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Juniper Networks Inc</td>
<td>54.79</td>
<td>2.84</td>
<td>2.50</td>
<td>0.76%</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>$0.69</td>
<td>-16.82%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>F5 Inc</td>
<td>23.63</td>
<td>4.24</td>
<td>4.70</td>
<td>4.85%</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>-1.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ciena Corp</td>
<td>62.48</td>
<td>2.93</td>
<td>2.14</td>
<td>0.49%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>-11.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Calix Inc</td>
<td>1303.33</td>
<td>3.41</td>
<td>2.76</td>
<td>-1.06%</td>
<td>$-0.01</td>
<td>$0.11</td>
<td>-24.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Harmonic Inc</td>
<td>29.29</td>
<td>4.16</td>
<td>2.91</td>
<td>-3.13%</td>
<td>$-0.01</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>-11.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Digi International Inc</td>
<td>58.54</td>
<td>1.74</td>
<td>2.31</td>
<td>1.74%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>-6.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aviat Networks Inc</td>
<td>20.11</td>
<td>1.09</td>
<td>0.71</td>
<td>1.33%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.04</td>
<td>33.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>166.42</td>
<td>25.17</td>
<td>3.32</td>
<td>24.29%</td>
<td>$0.2</td>
<td>$0.54</td>
<td>-4.25%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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 </style>Through a thorough examination of Cisco Systems, we can discern the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
At 20.46, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio is 0.12x less than the industry average, suggesting favorable growth potential.
</li>
<li>
Considering a Price to Book ratio of 4.56, which is well below the industry average by 0.18x, the stock may be undervalued based on its book value compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 3.92, which is 1.18x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 4.74% is 19.55% below the industry average, suggesting potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $3.64 Billion, which is 18.2x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher gross profit of $8.78 Billion, which indicates 16.26x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is witnessing a substantial decline in revenue growth, with a rate of -10.27% compared to the industry average of -4.25%, which indicates a challenging sales environment.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727103647_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio gauges the extent to which a company has financed its operations through debt relative to equity.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By analyzing Cisco Systems in relation to its top 4 peers based on the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following insights can be derived:
<ul>
<li>
As Cisco Systems is in the middle of the list in terms of the debt-to-equity ratio, it suggests that the company has a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68 compared to the other companies.
</li>
<li>
This position indicates a relatively balanced financial structure, where the company maintains a reasonable level of debt while also leveraging equity for financing its operations.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Cisco Systems, the PE and PB ratios are low compared to peers, indicating potential undervaluation. However, the high PS ratio suggests overvaluation based on revenue. The low ROE and revenue growth, along with high EBITDA and gross profit, may indicate operational efficiency but limited growth potential within the Communications Equipment industry.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Comparing Cisco Systems With Industry Competitors In Communications Equipment Industry

Analysts' ratings for Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 8 analysts.
In the table below, you'll find a summary of their recent ratings, revealing the shifting sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the previous months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Cisco Systems and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $55.0, accompanied by a high estimate of $60.00 and a low estimate of $49.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 4.9% from the previous average price target of $52.43.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726837230_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Cisco Systems by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Amit Daryanani</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Bersey</td>
<td>HSBC</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pierre Ferragu</td>
<td>New Street Research</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$57.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>James Fish</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Notter</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Niknam</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Long</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mike Genovese</td>
<td>Rosenblatt</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$58.00</td>
<td>$56.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Cisco Systems. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Cisco Systems compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Cisco Systems's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Cisco Systems's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSCO/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Cisco Systems analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Cisco Systems</h2>
Cisco Systems is the largest provider of networking equipment in the world and one of the largest software companies in the world. Its largest businesses are selling networking hardware and software (where it has leading market shares) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also has collaboration products, like its Webex suite, and observability tools. It primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff—25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 people and sells its products globally.
<h3>Cisco Systems: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With a profound presence, the company's market capitalization is above industry averages. This reflects substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Challenges: Cisco Systems's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 31 July, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -10.27%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Information Technology sector.
Net Margin: Cisco Systems's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 15.85% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.74%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Cisco Systems's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 1.75%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, Cisco Systems adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Cracking The Code: Understanding Analyst Reviews For Cisco Systems

Evercore ISI Group analyst Amit Daryanani maintains Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $55 to $60.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Cisco Systems, Raises Price Target to $60

<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/17/ciscos-second-layoff-of-2024-affect-thousands-of-employees/">https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/17/ciscos-second-layoff-of-2024-affect-thousands-of-employees/</a>
U.S. tech giant Cisco has let go of thousands of employees following its second layoff of 2024.&nbsp;
The technology and networking company announced in August that it would reduce its headcount by 7%, or around 5,600 employees, following <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/12/tech-layoffs-2024-list/">an earlier layoff in February</a>, in which the company let go of about 4,000 employees.&nbsp;
As <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/20/cisco-employees-face-a-month-of-silence-ahead-of-second-layoff-in-2024/">TechCrunch previously reported</a>, Cisco employees said that the company refused to say who was affected by the layoffs until September 16. Cisco did not give a reason for the month-long delay in notifying affected staff. One employee told TechCrunch at the time that Cisco's workplace had become the "most toxic environment" they had worked in.
TechCrunch has learned that the layoffs also affect Talos Security, the company's threat intelligence and security research unit.&nbsp;
Cisco said <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/858877/000119312524200636/d878533d8k.htm">in its August statement</a> that its second layoff of the year would allow the company to "invest in key growth opportunities and drive more efficiencies." On the same day, Cisco <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25147260-cisco-q4-fy24-earnings-remarks#document/p6/a2587014">published its most recent full-year earnings report</a>, in which the company said 2024 was its "second strongest year on record," citing close to $54 billion in annual revenue.
Cisco chief executive Chuck Robbins made close to $32 million in total executive compensation during 2023, according to the company's filings.
When reached by email, Cisco spokesperson Lindsay Ciulla did not provide comment, or say if Cisco's executive leadership team planned to reduce their compensation packages following the layoffs.

Management

'Cisco's Second Layoff Of 2024 Affects Thousands Of Employees' - TechCrunch

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Early internet entrepreneur Edward Tian is leading a restructuring of two companies he founded as he effectively retakes control of AsiaInfo Technologies</li>
<li>Even after a downward adjustment, Tian is still paying a premium of more than 40% for the shares that will give him control of AsiaInfo Technologies</li>
</ul>
By Lee Shih Ta
Entrepreneur Tian Suning, better known in Western circles as Edward Tian, was dubbed &ldquo;Mr. Internet&rdquo; when he helped to co-found AsiaInfo&nbsp;in 1993. Now, more than three decades later, this early trailblazer in China&rsquo;s private telecoms software sector is trying to breathe new life into his mature corporate offspring through a restructuring of two publicly listed companies both bearing the original AsiaInfo name.
Under the restructuring, major shareholders of&nbsp;AsiaInfo Technologies&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/asnff#OTC">ASNFF</a>), a telecoms software provider, are selling their equity to Tian. That deal is seeing Tian-controlled&nbsp;AsiaInfo Security&nbsp;&nbsp;purchase the roughly 20% of AsiaInfo Technologies&rsquo; shares held by an investment vehicle controlled by Citic Capital.&nbsp;
<h3>Big Premium</h3>
AsiaInfo Security has about 9.6% voting rights in AsiaInfo Technologies via holdings by Tian. Thus, completion of the share transfer will give AsiaInfo Security about 29% of AsiaInfo Technologies&rsquo; voting rights, effectively making the former a holding company for the latter. But recent pressure on AsiaInfo Technologies shares, including a 42% decline in the stock price this year alone, led the parties to sign a supplemental agreement with an adjusted purchase price.
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0906/2024090600678.pdf">an announcement</a>&nbsp;from AsiaInfo Technologies earlier this month, the two sides agreed to adjust the sale price down from an original HK$9.45 to HK$7.70 per share. They further lowered the price to HK$7.29 in light of AsiaInfo Technologies&rsquo; payment of a final dividend of HK$0.41 per share late last year. That brings the total value of the deal to between HK$1.3 billion ($167 million) and HK$1.4 billion.
Even after the big downward adjustment, the new purchase price still represents a premium of more than 40% to the stock&rsquo;s latest price of about HK$5 per share.
AsiaInfo Security mainly engages in the information security business, and its establishment traces its roots to AsiaInfo&rsquo;s desire to list its shares in China&rsquo;s A-share market.
AsiaInfo Holdings was previously listed on the Nasdaq until being taken private in 2013 by Citic Capital, CBC Capital and other institutional investors. At that time, Tian returned to the company as its chairman. A year later, the company split off its information security business as AsiaInfo Security, which was based in Nanjing. The rest of the company, AsiaInfo Technologies, listed in Hong Kong in 2018, while AsiaInfo Security listed four years later in Shanghai.
But AsiaInfo Security has consistently come under pressure since its IPO. In 2023, the company&rsquo;s revenue fell 6.6% year-on-year to 1.61 billion yuan, and it recorded a loss of 290 million yuan. Its gross margin also gradually slipped from 59.7% in 2019 to 47.8% last year.
AsiaInfo Security&rsquo;s size pales compared with AsiaInfo Technologies, whose revenue reached 7.94 billion yuan last year, or nearly four times that of its smaller sibling. AsiaInfo Technologies&rsquo; total assets at the end of last year stood at 11.48 billion yuan, more than triple the 3.4 billion yuan for AsiaInfo Security.
To facilitate its swallowing of its larger sibling, AsiaInfo Security will set up a new joint venture with a company under the Tianjin branch of China&rsquo;s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the owner of most national state-run companies. The venture will then take out bank loans to set up an overseas company, which will acquire AsiaInfo Technologies. By that time, Citic Capital will have divested itself from AsiaInfo Technologies.&nbsp;
<h3>Coordinated Development And Cross-Selling</h3>
A pairing between these two sister companies could take some financial and operating pressure off AsiaInfo Security, giving it more resources from its larger sibling. AsiaInfo Technologies currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 8 times, slightly higher than&nbsp;ZTE&rsquo;s&nbsp;(0763.HK; 000063.SZ) 7 times, but far less than the 19 times for global networking equipment and software giant&nbsp;Cisco&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>).
AsiaInfo Technologies is facing its own pressures as its traditional telecoms customers wind down their spending following a rapid build-up in China&rsquo;s early 5G era. That has led AsiaInfo Technologies to look for new business lines as replacements. According to its&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2024/0814/2024081401069.pdf">interim report</a>, the company recorded 1.2 billion yuan ($169 million) in revenue from its three new business operations, namely digital intelligence, vertical industries digitalization and operations support systems (OSS), in the first six months of the year. That figure was up 10% year-on-year, accounting for 40% of total revenue, even as AsiaInfo Technologies&rsquo; overall revenue fell 8.8% year-on-year during the six-month period.
Progress in its new businesses seems to have eased some investor concerns. On Aug. 15, the day after the official release of the interim report, the company&rsquo;s shares rose 12% to HK$5.22, marking a notable rebound after plummeting in mid-July when the company warned it would post a loss for the first half of the year.&nbsp;
New businesses the company is cultivating include development of information infrastructure in key areas such as energy, transportation and government affairs, fields where AsiaInfo Security has expertise and a robust customer base from years of working in the field. Thus, the pair of AsiaInfo companies could take advantage of each other&rsquo;s strengths to gain ground in multiple key information infrastructure sectors by sharing business opportunities and cross-selling each other&rsquo;s products.&nbsp;
Tian pointed out in an internal speech that &ldquo;the two companies are at a critical moment of their development&rdquo; and vowed to &ldquo;build a system that enables integration of the company&rsquo;s network, cloud and security&rdquo; capabilities.&rdquo; He said the company would use products and services supporting such an integrated system to &ldquo;promote infrastructure development for China&rsquo;s digital economy.&rdquo;
With such proclamations, Tian appears ready to launch a new era of AsiaInfo 2.0. In his 1.0 version, he was a &ldquo;Mr. Internet&rdquo; who was among the first of a new generation of entrepreneurs seeking to bring the internet to China. In his 2.0 version, he hopes to reshape his large business empire and steer it in a new direction away from its traditional telecoms carrier customers.&nbsp;
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Cisco Systems's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NYSE">CSCO</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.5% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 60.19 million shares sold short, which is 1.49% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.56 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Cisco Systems Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726504211_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Cisco Systems has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Cisco Systems's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Cisco Systems's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.42%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Looking Into Cisco Systems's Recent Short Interest

Jobs numbers have been lackluster and constantly revised downward. Unemployment is holding steady at around 4.2% but up since March. Sept. 18 is Fed day, and the market is already pricing in a 25-basis points rate cut, maybe even 50 points. That means the most important thing about that decision next week will be what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell ultimately says about it afterwards.
&ldquo;I think strong overall economic indicators, falling inflation, and a shift from defensive assets into equities have driven stocks higher so you have to wonder what additional benefits could a rate cut provide now,&rdquo; said Naeem Aslam, an external consultant for AvaTrade in London.
&ldquo;The most immediate impact would be on highly leveraged companies that would benefit from reduced interest expenses and improved refinancing conditions, but growth stocks, particularly in sectors like tech, could easily see continued momentum in their favor,&rdquo; he said.
The Nasdaq is up around <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/index/ndx">20.6% over the last 12 months</a> ending Sept. 10. Investors in the Invesco Nasdaq ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) have beaten the index, up 23% in 12 months.
<img alt="benzinga_qqq.jpg" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u1625319/benzinga_qqq.jpg" style="height:329px; width:624px" />
The Nasdaq 100 Index is likely to move towards the 20,000 price level if markets like what Powell has to say next week. However, if his talk suggests a recession is possible in the months ahead, Nasdaq could fall to 16,900.
For now, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to be bearish,&rdquo; said Vladimir Signorelli, president of Bretton Woods Research, a macro investment research firm in Long Valley, NJ.&nbsp;
The Fed&rsquo;s campaign of contraction that began in early 2022 is beginning to bear fruit. Non-farm payrolls are consistently being <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/21/economy/bls-jobs-revisions/index.html">revised lower</a>.
&ldquo;We have had 340 thousand jobs revised downward this year alone. That&rsquo;s huge. How do you miss that? Job market weakness is accelerating and so on Sept 18 we will see a rate cut, and maybe even a 50 basis points rate cut,&rdquo; Signorelli said. &ldquo;My hunch is that if Powell wants 50 basis points, he can persuade Christopher Waller (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) to go up from 25.&rdquo;
Waller has already said he was willing to &ldquo;front-load rate cuts&rdquo; if needed in case of economic contraction.&nbsp;
The Fed is being blown out of the water by these lagging indicators, or coming in at the lower quartile of their estimates. They&rsquo;ve been outside the median in their calls because the slowdown has accelerated.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">data</a> showed 25,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in August alone with &ldquo;little net change over the year.&rdquo;
The Federal funds rate is 5%, with an upper limit of 5.5%.&nbsp;
One part of the market that is focused on guessing interest rate moves has already made their play. They are long equities and have been since mid-summer. But there is more to next week&rsquo;s rate cut than the cut itself.
&ldquo;We are going to be evaluating how Powell characterizes this reduction in rates, the first one since 2020,&rdquo; Signorelli said.
Interest rate cuts will have multiplier effects. Powell&rsquo;s suggestion easing was enough to trim around 140 basis points from the 30-year Treasury bond this year. A single rate cut of around 25 bips could easily take the 10-year from 3.7% yield today to around 3.3% later next week, said Signorelli. Where will that money go? Probably equities. But that will depend on whether the market is worried about a recession.
&ldquo;Heading into the end of the year, U.S. stocks will probably continue to beat European stocks thanks to stronger economic fundamentals and stronger consumer base,&rdquo; said Aslam. &ldquo;If the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its rate-hiking cycle, I&rsquo;d buy growth sectors like tech because they may continue to see portfolio money coming in,&rdquo; he said.
Valuations are still relatively high, however. Investors are paying more for those equities that they are for stocks on the S&amp;P 500. QQQ is trading at 31x, compared to the SPDR S&amp;P 500 (ARCA:SPY) trading at 21x. Amazon (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)&nbsp;has a price to earnings ratio of 41x. Delta Airlines (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dal#NYSE">DAL</a>) is around 7x PE, despite the increase in airline travel, according to a July JP Morgan <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/travel/airline-outlook">report</a>.
Higher valuations could limit upside potential for those stocks even with lower interest rates, said Aslam. See Intel (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/intc#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) for instance, with a PE of over 79 times earnings. &ldquo;Stay away from those, especially if earnings growth slows or macroeconomic data suggests a recession is coming.&rdquo;
<h3>Five Nasdaq Stocks With A&nbsp;PE Under 20</h3>
Believe it or not, some of these stocks on the Nasdaq are priced below the average index PE. If Intel and Broadcom (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/avgo#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) look expensive, here are five companies with current P/E ratios under 20.
Applied Materials (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amat#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>): 19.96x
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csco#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): 19.17x
Cognizant (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ctsh#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>): 17.34x
First Solar (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fslr#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>): 18.26x
Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/siri#NASDAQ">SIRI</a>): 8.41x
&ldquo;Buying 100x PE stocks in the Nasdaq is a high-risk, high-reward strategy,&rdquo; said Aslam. &ldquo;Lower rates could push valuations even higher quickly, but magnifies the risk if growth expectations aren&#39;t met.&rdquo;
The current environment suggests caution for buying the high value names.
&ldquo;Investors that are comfortable with volatility and are willing to bet on sustained low interest rates and strong growth may see some upside, but the downside risk of overpaying is significant if market conditions change or if these high priced companies fail to deliver,&rdquo; Aslam said.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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