Cisco Crushes Q4 Earnings with Record AI Orders

Cisco Systems (CSCO) has reported a strong fourth-quarter earnings report, powered by surging demand for artificial-intelligence networking equipment. The company's revenue climbed 18% to $17.3 billion in the quarter ended July 25, beating the consensus estimate by roughly 3%. Adjusted earnings per share rose 23% to $1.22, more than 4% above what analysts had penciled in.

The networking giant's AI infrastructure orders from hyperscale cloud providers reached a record $4 billion during the quarter, bringing the full-year tally to $9.3 billion for fiscal 2026. This growth is a testament to Cisco's ability to capitalize on the AI buildout trend. The company has been repositioning itself as a key beneficiary of this trend, supplying high-speed switches and networking infrastructure that data centers need to handle massive workloads.

Cisco's forward guidance was even more striking, with the company projecting revenue of $72.2 billion to $73.4 billion for fiscal 2027. This target is about 6% above the average analyst estimate of $68.69 billion. Adjusted EPS is expected to land between $5.05 and $5.11, also roughly 6% higher than consensus at the midpoint.