Cisco Earnings: Live Blog Recap

SAN JOSE, Calif. (TheStreet) -- Cisco (CSCO) reported its third-quarter results after market close on Wednesday. The networking giant eased past Wall Street's estimates, but saw its shares slump on weak guidance.

The switch maker brought in revenue of $11.59 billion, up from $10.87 billion in the prior year's quarter, just above average analysts' estimate of $11.58 billion.

Cisco CEO John Chambers.

Excluding items, Cisco earned 48 cents a share, compared to 42 cents a share in the same period last year. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters were looking for earnings of 47 cents a share.

Wall Street had been expecting another decent quarter from the rejuvenated networker, particularly after underwhelming numbers from rivals Juniper (JNPR) and Alcatel-Lucent (ALU).

Cisco shares, however, tanked in extended trading after the San Jose, Calif.-based firm forecast year-over-year fourth-quarter revenue growth of 2% to 5%. Wall Street expected sales growth of 7% compared to the prior year's quarter.

Speaking during a conference call after market close, Cisco CEO John Chambers cited Europe, the public sector and India as areas of concern. Southern Europe's economic problems, he noted, have spread to northern Europe.

The company's stock plunged $1.54, or 8.2%, to $17.24 in extended trading.

--Written by James Rogers and Chris Ciaccia in New York.

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