Amazon vs Cisco Systems: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Amazon · Consumer Cyclical / Internet Retail·Cisco Systems · Technology / Communication Equipment
Financial Comparison
| Metric | AMZNAmazon | CSCOCisco Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $2.23T | $309.49B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $716.92B | $59.05B |
| Revenue Growth | 13.6% | 9.7% |
| Gross Margin | 50.3% | 64.8% |
| Operating Margin | 10.5% | 24.9% |
| Net Margin | 10.8% | 18.8% |
| Return on Equity | 22.3% | 23.8% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 29.0x | 28.2x |
| P/E (Forward) | 22.2x | 17.3x |
| Free Cash Flow | $23.79B | $10.13B |
| Cash | $123.03B | $15.78B |
| Total Debt | $178.55B | $31.74B |
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.
Business Model Comparison
Amazon
Amazon stands as the world's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. Generating $716.92 billion in annual revenue (growing 13.6% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $2.35 trillion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Internet Retail landscape. Under the leadership of Andy Jassy, Amazon continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investment with sha…
Full Amazon analysis →Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. stands as a leading company in Technology. Generating $59.05 billion in annual revenue (growing 9.7% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $316.13 billion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Communication Equipment landscape. Under the leadership of its leadership team, Cisco Systems, Inc. continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth inve…
Full Cisco Systems analysis →SWOT Analysis Comparison
Strengths
Amazon
- With a market capitalization of $2.35T, Amazon is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that smaller co
- Amazon's gross margin of 50.3% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 10.5% demonstrates disciplined co
- Revenue grew 13.6% year-over-year to $716.92B, indicating strong demand for Amazon's products and services and outperformance relative to many industry peers.
Cisco Systems
- With a market capitalization of $316.13B, Cisco Systems, Inc. is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access
- Cisco Systems, Inc.'s gross margin of 64.8% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 24.9% demonstrates d
- A return on equity of 23.8% demonstrates that Cisco Systems, Inc. generates strong returns from shareholder capital, a hallmark of companies with durable competitive advantages.
Weaknesses
Amazon
- With 1,576,000 employees globally, Amazon faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that smaller, nimbler compet
- Core retail operates near breakeven — AWS and advertising subsidize the e-commerce business
- Labor costs and warehouse expansion create ongoing capital intensity
Cisco Systems
- Cisco Systems, Inc.'s debt-to-equity ratio of 66.5 indicates meaningful financial leverage. Total debt stands at $31.74B against $15.78B in cash and equivalents.
Opportunities
Amazon
- Amazon operates in the Internet Retail segment of the broader Consumer Cyclical sector, which represents a $28 trillion global consumer spending market. Even modest share gains in this environment tra
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Amazon'
- With $123.03B in cash and strong free cash flow generation, Amazon is well-positioned to pursue strategic acquisitions that expand its capabilities, customer base, or geographic reach.
Cisco Systems
- The rapid advancement of generative AI and large language models presents Cisco Systems, Inc. with opportunities to automate operations, enhance products, and develop new AI-native services. Companies
- Cisco Systems, Inc. operates in the Communication Equipment segment of the broader Technology sector, which represents a $5.0 trillion by 2027 (IDC Global Technology Market). Even modest share gains i
- Emerging markets — particularly India (1.4B people, rapidly growing middle class), Southeast Asia (700M people), and Sub-Saharan Africa — represent significant untapped addressable markets for Cisco S
Threats
Amazon
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Amazon's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scenario
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Amazon's business m
- Competition for skilled technology, engineering, and management talent remains intense. High employee turnover or inability to attract top talent could slow innovation and execution — particularly cri
Cisco Systems
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Cisco Systems, Inc.'s revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recess
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Cisco Systems, Inc.
- The technology sector evolves at a pace where today's competitive advantages can erode quickly. New entrants with AI-native approaches, open-source alternatives, or disruptive business models could ch
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Open Comparison ToolAmazon vs Cisco Systems: FAQ
- Is Amazon bigger than Cisco Systems?
- By market capitalization, Amazon is larger at $2.23T vs Cisco Systems's $309.49B.
- Which has better profit margins — Amazon or Cisco Systems?
- Cisco Systems has higher net profit margins (18.8%) compared to Amazon (10.8%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Amazon and Cisco Systems operate in?
- Amazon operates in the Consumer Cyclical sector (Internet Retail). Cisco Systems operates in the Technology sector (Communication Equipment).
- How does Amazon's revenue compare to Cisco Systems's?
- Amazon generates $716.92B in annual revenue (TTM) while Cisco Systems generates $59.05B. Amazon is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.