Apple vs Cisco Systems: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Apple · Technology / Consumer Electronics·Cisco Systems · Technology / Communication Equipment
Financial Comparison
| Metric | AAPLApple | CSCOCisco Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $3.68T | $309.49B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $435.62B | $59.05B |
| Revenue Growth | 15.7% | 9.7% |
| Gross Margin | 47.3% | 64.8% |
| Operating Margin | 35.4% | 24.9% |
| Net Margin | 27.0% | 18.8% |
| Return on Equity | 152.0% | 23.8% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 31.7x | 28.2x |
| P/E (Forward) | 26.9x | 17.3x |
| Free Cash Flow | $106.31B | $10.13B |
| Cash | $66.91B | $15.78B |
| Total Debt | $90.51B | $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
Apple
Apple stands as the world's most valuable company and leader in consumer electronics. Generating $435.62 billion in annual revenue (growing 15.7% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $3.83 trillion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Consumer Electronics landscape. Under the leadership of Tim Cook, Apple continues to execute on a multi-year strategic vision that balances growth investme…
Full Apple 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
Apple
- With a market capitalization of $3.83T, Apple is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that smaller com
- Apple's gross margin of 47.3% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 35.4% demonstrates disciplined cos
- Revenue grew 15.7% year-over-year to $435.62B, indicating strong demand for Apple'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
Apple
- With a debt-to-equity ratio of 102.6, Apple carries significant debt relative to equity. While manageable given its cash flow, elevated leverage limits financial flexibility and increases vulnerabilit
- With 150,000 employees globally, Apple faces inherent challenges in agility, decision-making speed, and maintaining a consistent culture across geographies — advantages that smaller, nimbler competito
- iPhone revenue still represents 52% of total sales — over-reliance on a single product
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
Apple
- The rapid advancement of generative AI and large language models presents Apple with opportunities to automate operations, enhance products, and develop new AI-native services. Companies in Technology
- Apple operates in the Consumer Electronics segment of the broader Technology sector, which represents a $5.0 trillion by 2027 (IDC Global Technology Market). Even modest share gains in this environmen
- 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 Apple's
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
Apple
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Apple's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession scenario c
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Apple's business mo
- 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
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
Compare any 2–4 companies with live data
The interactive comparison tool lets you select any companies, see real-time metrics, and export a side-by-side report.
Open Comparison ToolApple vs Cisco Systems: FAQ
- Is Apple bigger than Cisco Systems?
- By market capitalization, Apple is larger at $3.68T vs Cisco Systems's $309.49B.
- Which has better profit margins — Apple or Cisco Systems?
- Apple has higher net profit margins (27.0%) compared to Cisco Systems (18.8%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Apple and Cisco Systems operate in?
- Apple operates in the Technology sector (Consumer Electronics). Cisco Systems operates in the Technology sector (Communication Equipment).
- How does Apple's revenue compare to Cisco Systems's?
- Apple generates $435.62B in annual revenue (TTM) while Cisco Systems generates $59.05B. Apple is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.