Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO): Today's Featured Computer Hardware Winner

Cisco Systems (CSCO) pushed the Computer Hardware industry higher today making it today's featured computer hardware winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 1.1%. By the end of trading, Cisco Systems rose 18 cents (1.1%) to $15.87 on average volume. Throughout the day, 35.9 million shares of Cisco Systems exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 44.6 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $15.67-$16.07 after having opened the day at $15.71 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $15.69. Other companies within the Computer Hardware industry that increased today were: Mitek Systems (MITK), up 7%, Hutchinson Technology (HTCH), up 6.7%, MTS Medication Technologies (MTSI), up 4.1%, and Astro-Med (ALOT), up 4%.

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Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology industry worldwide. Cisco Systems has a market cap of $82.39 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.3, equal to the average computer hardware industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 13.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 17 analysts that rate Cisco Systems a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Cisco Systems as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, attractive valuation levels, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Cisco Systems Ratings Report.

On the negative front, OCZ Technology Group (OCZ), down 10.2%, Xata Corporation (XATA), down 7.6%, Overland Storage (OVRL), down 6.6%, and AU Optronics Corporation (AUO), down 6.5%, were all laggards within the computer hardware industry with EMC Corporation (EMC) being today's computer hardware industry laggard.

• Use our computer hardware section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the computer hardware industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Technology (IYW) while those bearish on the computer hardware industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Semiconductor (SSG).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Cisco Systems Inc click any of the following:

• Cisco Systems Inc Stock Price

• Cisco Systems Inc Analyst Ratings

• Cisco Systems Inc Key Stats & Profile

• Cisco Systems Inc Earnings

• Cisco Systems Inc Ratio Comparison

• Cisco Systems Inc Growth Rates

• Cisco Systems Inc Balance Sheet

• Cisco Systems Inc Cash Flow

• Cisco Systems Inc Income Statement