NASDAQ$CSCO

Cisco Systems Inc · Q4 2021 earnings

Q4 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Cisco's Q4 2021 performance was marked by strong revenue growth and double-digit order increases across all customer markets and geographies.

Cisco reported a strong Q4 and fiscal year 2021, with Q4 revenue up 8% year-over-year to $13.1 billion and FY21 revenue reaching $49.8 billion. The company saw double-digit order growth across all customer markets and geographies, alongside continued progress in transforming its business towards more software and subscription-based offerings.

  • Cisco's Q4 revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, reaching $13.1 billion.
  • The company's GAAP EPS for Q4 was $0.71, a 15% increase year-over-year, while non-GAAP EPS was $0.84, a 5% increase year-over-year.
  • Cisco's FY21 revenue increased by 1% year-over-year, totaling $49.8 billion.
  • The company achieved $4 billion in software revenue in Q4, up 6% year-over-year, with subscription revenue up 9% year-over-year.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$13.1B

Previous: $12.2B+8.0%
EPS (adj)

$0.84

Previous: $0.80+5.0%
Non-GAAP Gross Margin

65.6%

Previous: 65.0%+0.9%
Non-GAAP Operating Margin

33.5%

Previous: 33.0%+1.5%
Gross Margin GAAP

63.6%

Previous: 63.2%+0.6%
Operating Margin GAAP

27.2%

Previous: 26.7%+1.9%
Quarterly Dividend

$0.37

Previous: $0.36+2.8%
Capital Expenditures

$162M

Previous: $208M-22.1%
Free Cash Flow

$4.34B

Previous: $3.59B+20.8%
Net Income

$3B

Previous: $2.6B+15.4%
Operating Income

$3.6B

Previous: $3.2B+12.5%
Gross Profit

$8.34B

Previous: $7.68B+8.6%
Cash & Equivalents

$9.18B

Previous: $11.8B-22.3%
Total Assets

$97.5B

Previous: $94.9B+2.8%
Stock-Based Comp

$424M

Previous: $399M+6.3%

Revenue & EPS history

Cisco · Revenue · Quarterly

$13.1B

Q4 2021+8%vs Q4 2020
Beat estimate in 13 of 15 quarters(87%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Cisco · $15.8B total across 5 segments · Q3 2026

  • Networking
    $8.82B
  • Services
    $3.72B
  • Security
    $2.01B
  • Collaboration
    $1.02B
  • Observability
    $269M

Forward guidance

Cisco provided guidance for Q1 FY 2022 and full year FY 2022, expecting revenue growth and EPS within specified ranges.

Tailwinds

  • Q1 FY 2022 Revenue: 7.5% to 9.5% growth year over year
  • Q1 FY 2022 Non-GAAP gross margin rate: 63.5% - 64.5%
  • Q1 FY 2022 Non-GAAP operating margin rate: 31.5% - 32.5%
  • Q1 FY 2022 Non-GAAP EPS: $0.79 - $0.81
  • FY 2022 Revenue: 5% to 7% growth year over year

Headwinds

  • Q1 FY 2022 GAAP EPS: $0.61 to $0.66
  • FY 2022 GAAP EPS: $2.72 to $2.84
  • Guidance does not include effects of future acquisitions/divestitures
  • Guidance does not include effects of asset impairments
  • Guidance does not include effects of restructurings and significant tax matters

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2021

Historical avgQ4 2021

-0.2%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.2%

Avg return

5 days after

+0.3%

Avg return

30 days after

51%

37 / 72 earnings

Positive

+12.3%

Q3 2013

Best reaction

-17.5%

Q3 2022

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q3 2026+0.5%-0.9%+5.3%
Q2 2026-12.3%-10.2%-8.4%
Q1 2026-2.2%+4.6%+5.2%
Q4 2025+0.3%-5.2%-5.5%
Q3 2025+4.8%+3.5%+4.6%
Q2 2025+2.1%+3.3%-3.2%
Q1 2025-1.3%-2.4%-0.2%
Q4 2024+7.0%+10.2%+9.8%
Q3 2024-1.2%-3.7%-6.7%
Q2 2024-1.2%-2.4%-1.4%
Q1 2024-9.6%-9.2%-6.2%
Q4 2023+2.6%+3.9%+5.0%
Q3 2023+2.7%+4.0%+11.0%
Q2 2023+6.9%+6.4%+5.2%
Q1 2023+3.8%+6.1%+6.5%
Q4 2022+5.6%+2.0%-7.4%
Q3 2022-17.5%-14.3%-14.2%
Q2 2022+2.8%+5.4%+3.1%
Q1 2022-5.9%-4.2%+6.1%
Q4 2021+2.2%+4.5%+1.5%
Q3 2021-0.2%+0.9%-1.6%
Q2 2021-3.5%-3.4%-0.3%
Q1 2021+5.3%+6.5%+12.7%
Q4 2020-9.5%-10.8%-15.5%
Q3 2020+1.5%+4.3%+4.3%
Q2 2020-3.7%-4.4%-23.4%
Q1 2020-7.2%-6.7%-6.3%
Q4 2019-12.3%-8.0%-5.1%
Q3 2019+7.5%+7.7%+5.2%
Q2 2019+1.1%+3.2%+11.1%
Q1 2019+3.7%+1.4%+1.6%
Q4 2018+2.6%+5.0%+7.7%
Q3 2018-4.4%-3.8%-2.7%
Q2 2018+6.9%+7.5%+9.2%
Q1 2018+5.4%+7.2%+12.2%
Q4 2017-3.3%-4.4%+1.1%
Q3 2017-8.5%-7.9%-7.8%
Q2 2017+4.0%+4.4%+5.9%
Q1 2017-5.2%-5.2%-3.5%
Q4 2016-2.1%-1.6%-0.9%
Q3 2016+3.5%
Q2 2016+9.0%
Q1 2016-5.8%
Q4 2015+2.4%
Q3 2015-0.6%
Q2 2015+7.2%
Q1 2015+2.1%
Q4 2014-2.4%
Q3 2014+5.8%
Q2 2014-1.9%
Q1 2014-9.9%
Q4 2013-7.0%
Q3 2013+12.3%
Q2 2013+0.1%
Q1 2013+4.7%
Q4 2012+10.8%
Q3 2012-10.2%
Q2 2012-1.0%
Q1 2012-0.4%
Q4 2011+2.0%
Q3 2011-0.1%
Q2 2011-1.2%
Q1 2011+0.3%
Q4 2008-0.4%
Q4 2010-0.4%
Q3 2010+1.5%
Q3 2009+1.5%
Q2 2009+1.2%
Q2 2010+1.2%
Q1 2010-1.7%
Q4 2009-1.7%
Q1 2009-1.7%

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