Cisco Systems vs Meta Platforms: Business Model & Financial Comparison 2026
Cisco Systems · Technology / Communication Equipment·Meta Platforms · Communication Services / Internet Content & Information
Financial Comparison
| Metric | CSCOCisco Systems | METAMeta Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $309.49B | $1.55T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $59.05B | $200.97B |
| Revenue Growth | 9.7% | 23.8% |
| Gross Margin | 64.8% | 82.0% |
| Operating Margin | 24.9% | 41.3% |
| Net Margin | 18.8% | 30.1% |
| Return on Equity | 23.8% | 30.2% |
| P/E (Trailing) | 28.2x | 26.1x |
| P/E (Forward) | 17.3x | 17.2x |
| Free Cash Flow | $10.13B | $23.43B |
| Cash | $15.78B | $81.59B |
| Total Debt | $31.74B | $85.08B |
Data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Green highlights indicate better performance for that metric. Use the interactive tool for real-time data.
Business Model Comparison
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 →Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms stands as the world's largest social media company and digital advertising platform. Generating $200.97 billion in annual revenue (growing 23.8% year-over-year) and carrying a market capitalization of $1.67 trillion, the company has cemented its position as a foundational player in the global Internet Content & Information landscape. Under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Platforms continues to execute on a multi-year strate…
Full Meta Platforms analysis →SWOT Analysis Comparison
Strengths
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.
Meta Platforms
- With a market capitalization of $1.67T, Meta Platforms is one of the largest companies in its sector, providing the scale advantages of brand recognition, supplier leverage, and capital access that sm
- Meta Platforms's gross margin of 82.0% is well above industry averages, reflecting pricing power, operational efficiency, or a high-value product mix. The operating margin of 41.3% demonstrates discip
- Revenue grew 23.8% year-over-year to $200.97B, indicating strong demand for Meta Platforms's products and services and outperformance relative to many industry peers.
Weaknesses
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.
Meta Platforms
- Reality Labs has lost $50B+ since 2019 with no clear path to profitability
- Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) reduced targeting precision, permanently impacting ad effectiveness vs pre-2021
Opportunities
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
Meta Platforms
- The rapid advancement of generative AI and large language models presents Meta Platforms with opportunities to automate operations, enhance products, and develop new AI-native services. Companies in C
- Meta Platforms operates in the Internet Content & Information segment of the broader Communication Services sector, which represents a $2.5 trillion by 2027. 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 Meta Pl
Threats
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
Meta Platforms
- Global economic slowdowns, inflation, or rising interest rates can reduce consumer and enterprise spending. Meta Platforms's revenue is not fully insulated from macroeconomic cycles, and a recession s
- Increasing government regulation — particularly data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA), antitrust enforcement, and trade restrictions — poses compliance costs and potential restrictions on Meta Platforms's bu
- 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 ToolCisco Systems vs Meta Platforms: FAQ
- Is Cisco Systems bigger than Meta Platforms?
- By market capitalization, Meta Platforms is larger at $1.55T vs Cisco Systems's $309.49B.
- Which has better profit margins — Cisco Systems or Meta Platforms?
- Meta Platforms has higher net profit margins (30.1%) compared to Cisco Systems (18.8%). Gross and operating margins are compared in the table above.
- What sectors do Cisco Systems and Meta Platforms operate in?
- Cisco Systems operates in the Technology sector (Communication Equipment). Meta Platforms operates in the Communication Services sector (Internet Content & Information).
- How does Cisco Systems's revenue compare to Meta Platforms's?
- Cisco Systems generates $59.05B in annual revenue (TTM) while Meta Platforms generates $200.97B. Meta Platforms is the larger company by revenue as of 2026.