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Cisco Systems, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 8 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 8% to $14.9 billion: Revenue was $14.9 billion, up 8% from $13.8 billion, with product revenue up 10% and services revenue up 2%. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS above guidance range: Non-GAAP EPS was $1.00, up 10%, and GAAP EPS was $0.72, up 6%. Non-GAAP EPS was above the high end of the guidance ranges. Source
  • Networking grew, security and collaboration fell: Networking rose 15% and Observability rose 6%. Security fell 2% and Collaboration fell 3%. Source
  • Hyperscaler AI orders reached $1.3 billion: AI Infrastructure orders from hyperscaler customers totaled $1.3 billion, which management described as a significant acceleration in growth. Source
  • GAAP gross margin slipped to 65.5%: GAAP total gross margin was 65.5% against 65.9% a year earlier, with product gross margin at 64.5% against 65.1%. Source
  • Returned $3.6 billion to shareholders: Returns comprised $1.6 billion in dividends and about 29 million shares repurchased for $2.0 billion at an average $68.28 per share. Source
  • Full-year revenue guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is $60.2 billion to $61.0 billion, up from $59.0 billion to $60.0 billion. Guidance includes estimated tariff impact at current trade policy. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance raised: GAAP EPS guidance is $2.87 to $2.98, up from $2.79 to $2.91. Non-GAAP EPS guidance is $4.08 to $4.14, up from $4.00 to $4.06. Source
  • Second-quarter guidance provided: Second-quarter revenue guidance is $15.0 billion to $15.2 billion, with non-GAAP gross margin of 67.5% to 68.5% and non-GAAP operating margin of 33.5% to 34.5%. Source

“We had a solid start to fiscal 2026, and Cisco is on track to deliver our strongest year yet,”

Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$15.0 billion - $15.2 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202667.5% - 68.5%New
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202633.5% - 34.5%New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.01 - $1.03New
GAAP EPS Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$0.69 to $0.74New
GAAP gross margin Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202665% - 66%New
GAAP operating margin Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 202622.5% - 23.5%New
Effective tax rate, GAAP and non-GAAP Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026approximately 16% GAAP; approximately 19% non-GAAPNew
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2026$60.2 billion - $61.0 billionRaised from $59.0 billion - $60.0 billion
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$4.08 - $4.14Raised from $4.00 - $4.06
GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$2.87 - $2.98Raised from $2.79 - $2.91
Effective tax rate, GAAP Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 17%Lowered from approximately 18%
Effective tax rate, non-GAAP Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 19%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue guidance raised to $60.2 billion to $61.0 billion from $59.0 billion to $60.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 GAAP EPS guidance raised to $2.87 to $2.98 from $2.79 to $2.91; non-GAAP EPS to $4.08 to $4.14 from $4.00 to $4.06. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter fiscal 2026 guidance was given; the prior release gave guidance for the first quarter only. Source
  • New: Closed the acquisition of Aura Asset Intelligence, an asset and risk intelligence solution created by Discovered Intelligence. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 8% to $14.9 billion: Revenue was $14.9 billion, up 8% from $13.8 billion, with product revenue up 10% and services revenue up 2%. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS above guidance range: Non-GAAP EPS was $1.00, up 10%, and GAAP EPS was $0.72, up 6%. Non-GAAP EPS was above the high end of the guidance ranges. Source
  • Product orders up 13%: Product orders rose 13% year over year, with double-digit Networking product order growth for the fifth consecutive quarter. Source
  • GAAP operating income up 43%: GAAP operating income was $3.4 billion, with a GAAP operating margin of 22.6%. Non-GAAP operating income was $5.1 billion, up 8%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas, EMEA and APJC all grew: Americas revenue rose 9% to $8,989 million, EMEA rose 5% to $3,784 million, and APJC rose 5% to $2,111 million. Source
  • Networking grew, security and collaboration fell: Networking rose 15% and Observability rose 6%. Security fell 2% and Collaboration fell 3%. Source
  • Regional gross margins varied: Total gross margin was 66.8% for the Americas, 71.9% for EMEA and 66.9% for APJC. Source

“Looking ahead, you can expect a continued focus on profitable growth, capital returns, and strategic investments”

Mark Patterson, CFO of Cisco

Products and customers

  • Hyperscaler AI orders reached $1.3 billion: AI Infrastructure orders from hyperscaler customers totaled $1.3 billion, which management described as a significant acceleration in growth. Source
  • Campus networking refresh underway: Management described a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar campus networking refresh cycle as underway, with all campus technologies seeing accelerated order growth. Source
  • Next-generation products ramping faster: Management said smart switches, secure routers and WiFi 7 products are ramping faster than prior product launches. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • GAAP gross margin slipped to 65.5%: GAAP total gross margin was 65.5% against 65.9% a year earlier, with product gross margin at 64.5% against 65.1%. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin 68.1%: Non-GAAP total gross margin was 68.1% against 69.3% a year earlier, with product gross margin at 67.2% against 68.9%. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses fell 6%: GAAP operating expenses were $6.4 billion, down 6%, at 42.9% of revenue. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $5.0 billion, up 3%, at 33.7% of revenue. Source
  • Tax provision rates differ by basis: The GAAP tax provision rate was 15.7% and the non-GAAP tax provision rate was 19.0%. Source

“The widespread demand for our technologies highlights the critical role of secure networking and the value of our portfolio as customers move quickly to unlock the potential of AI.”

Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco

Demand and the order book

  • Product orders grew in every region: Management cited product order growth across all geographies and customer markets as evidence of demand for Cisco technologies. Source
  • Long-term product backlog up 13%: Long-term product remaining performance obligations were $11.8 billion at quarter end, up 13% year over year. Source
  • Deferred revenue $28.0 billion: Deferred revenue was $28.0 billion, up 2% year over year, down from $28.8 billion at fiscal 2025 year end. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell 12%: Operating cash flow was $3.2 billion, down 12% from $3.7 billion in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • Cash and investments $15.7 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $15.7 billion, compared with $16.1 billion at the end of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Returned $3.6 billion to shareholders: Returns comprised $1.6 billion in dividends and about 29 million shares repurchased for $2.0 billion at an average $68.28 per share. Source
  • Buyback authorization of $12.2 billion: The remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases is $12.2 billion, with no termination date. Source
  • Short-term debt rose to $6.7 billion: Short-term debt was $6,725 million, up from $5,232 million at fiscal 2025 year end. Source

Guidance for the coming quarter and year

  • Full-year revenue guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue guidance is $60.2 billion to $61.0 billion, up from $59.0 billion to $60.0 billion. Guidance includes estimated tariff impact at current trade policy. Source
  • Full-year EPS guidance raised: GAAP EPS guidance is $2.87 to $2.98, up from $2.79 to $2.91. Non-GAAP EPS guidance is $4.08 to $4.14, up from $4.00 to $4.06. Source
  • Second-quarter guidance provided: Second-quarter revenue guidance is $15.0 billion to $15.2 billion, with non-GAAP gross margin of 67.5% to 68.5% and non-GAAP operating margin of 33.5% to 34.5%. Source
  • Tax rate assumptions for guidance: Full-year guidance assumes an effective tax rate of about 17% on GAAP and 19% on non-GAAP results. Source

Strategy and investment priorities

  • Focus on profitable growth: The CFO said the company expects a continued focus on profitable growth, capital returns and strategic investments. Source
  • AI relevance continues to build: The CFO said the company's relevance in AI continues to build, with the campus refresh starting to ramp. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 November 2025

  • Dividend payable January 21, 2026: Quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share is payable January 21, 2026 to holders of record at the close of January 2, 2026. Source
  • Campus refresh ramp expected: Management said the multi-year campus refresh is starting to ramp, a stated next-period development. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Segment revenue: Networking Source$7,768 million, up 15%
Segment revenue: Americas, EMEA, APJC SourceAmericas $8,989M (+9%); EMEA $3,784M (+5%); APJC $2,111M (+5%)
Backlog: remaining performance obligations Source$42.9 billion, up 7%
Gross margin (GAAP and non-GAAP) SourceGAAP 65.5%; non-GAAP 68.1%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Margin and EPS guidance includes estimated tariff impact based on current trade policy. Source
  • Demand: Security revenue fell 2% and Collaboration revenue fell 3% in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track for the fiscal year. Source
  • Ahead: Non-GAAP EPS was reported above the high end of the first-quarter guidance ranges. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.