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Cisco Systems, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue and EPS grew: Q4 revenue was $17.3 billion, up 18%, with product revenue up 24% and services flat. GAAP EPS was $0.97, up 52%; non-GAAP EPS was $1.22, up 23%. Source
  • Networking orders grew 40%: Networking product orders grew 40% in Q4, the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin declined: Non-GAAP total gross margin was 66.3% in Q4, against 68.4% a year earlier. Non-GAAP product gross margin was 64.8%, against 67.5%. Source
  • Hyperscaler orders reached $9.3 billion: AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers were $4 billion in Q4, bringing fiscal 2026 orders to $9.3 billion. Source
  • Q1 fiscal 2027 guidance set: Q1 revenue $18.0 to $18.2 billion; non-GAAP gross margin 65% to 66%, operating margin 35.5% to 36.5%, EPS $1.32 to $1.34. GAAP EPS $1.08 to $1.10. Source
  • FY 2027 revenue and EPS guidance: Fiscal 2027 revenue $72.2 to $73.4 billion; non-GAAP EPS $5.05 to $5.11; GAAP EPS $4.00 to $4.06. Tax rate about 14.5% GAAP and 18.5% non-GAAP. Source

“We delivered a very strong close to fiscal 2026, marking another record year for Cisco.”

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQ1 FY 2027$18.0 billion to $18.2 billionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceQ1 FY 202765% to 66%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceQ1 FY 202735.5% to 36.5%New
Non-GAAP EPS SourceQ1 FY 2027$1.32 to $1.34New
GAAP EPS SourceQ1 FY 2027$1.08 to $1.10New
Effective tax provision rate SourceQ1 FY 2027approximately 15% GAAP; approximately 18.5% non-GAAPNew
Revenue SourceFY 2027$72.2 billion to $73.4 billionNew
Non-GAAP EPS SourceFY 2027$5.05 to $5.11New
GAAP EPS SourceFY 2027$4.00 to $4.06New
Effective tax provision rate SourceFY 2027approximately 14.5% GAAP; approximately 18.5% non-GAAPNew
AI infrastructure revenue from hyperscalers SourceFY 2027$7.5 billionNew
Restructuring charges (EPS adjustment) SourceFY 2027$0.11 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 revenue and EPS guidance was not in the prior release and is given in this one. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter fiscal 2027 guidance is given; the prior release gave guidance for Q4 and fiscal 2026 only. Source
  • Ended: Fiscal 2026 guidance period closed. Revenue of $63.3 billion compares with the $62.8 billion to $63.0 billion range in the May release; non-GAAP EPS of $4.33 compares with $4.27 to $4.29.
  • Ended: Fiscal 2026 hyperscaler orders expectation closed at $9.3 billion, compared with the $9 billion expected in May.
  • New: Two acquisitions closed in the fourth quarter: Galileo Technologies, Inc., an observability company, and Astrix Securities Ltd., a non-human identity security company. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 revenue and EPS grew: Q4 revenue was $17.3 billion, up 18%, with product revenue up 24% and services flat. GAAP EPS was $0.97, up 52%; non-GAAP EPS was $1.22, up 23%. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 revenue up 12%: Fiscal 2026 revenue was $63.3 billion, up 12%. GAAP net income was $13.3 billion, up 30%; non-GAAP net income was $17.2 billion, up 13%. Source
  • Operating income up 38%: GAAP operating income was $4.3 billion, up 38%, at a 24.7% margin. Non-GAAP operating income was $6.2 billion, up 23%, at a 35.9% margin. Source
  • Operating cash flow flat for year: Q4 operating cash flow was $5.4 billion, up 27%. Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow was $14.2 billion, flat against fiscal 2025. Source

Segments and regions

  • Every region grew in Q4: Q4 revenue growth by region: Americas up 18%, EMEA up 19%, APJC up 14%. Quarterly revenue was $10,396 million in the Americas, $4,350 million in EMEA and $2,506 million in APJC. Source
  • Regional gross margins in Q4: Gross margin by region in Q4: Americas 64.5%, EMEA 70.1%, APJC 67.3%. Fiscal 2026 gross margins: Americas 65.1%, EMEA 71.2%, APJC 66.6%. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 regional revenue: Fiscal 2026 revenue was $37,799 million in the Americas (up 12%), $16,613 million in EMEA (up 12%) and $8,914 million in APJC (up 9%). Source

“In Q4, we delivered record revenue, non-GAAP operating income and EPS, all exceeding the high end of our guidance ranges and demonstrating strong financial discipline and operating leverage”

Mark Patterson, CFO of Cisco

Products and customers

  • Networking led product growth: Q4 product revenue: Networking up 28%, Security up 14%, Collaboration up 12%, Observability up 6%. Fiscal 2026 Networking revenue was $34,668 million, up 22%. Source
  • Networking orders grew 40%: Networking product orders grew 40% in Q4, the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Source
  • Orders excluding hyperscalers grew 25%: Q4 total product orders rose 35%, or 25% excluding hyperscalers, with double-digit growth across every geography and customer market. Source
  • Services revenue held flat: Services revenue was $3,793 million in Q4, flat year over year. Fiscal 2026 services revenue was $15,030 million, also flat. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Non-GAAP gross margin declined: Non-GAAP total gross margin was 66.3% in Q4, against 68.4% a year earlier. Non-GAAP product gross margin was 64.8%, against 67.5%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose: GAAP operating expenses were $6.8 billion, up 10%, at 39.4% of revenue. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $5.2 billion, up 5%, at 30.4% of revenue. Source
  • Tax provision rates: The GAAP tax provision rate was 21.8% in Q4. The non-GAAP tax provision rate was 18.8%. Source

“With the breadth and depth of our portfolio and our competitive differentiation in secure networking, Cisco is well positioned to support our customers however or wherever they decide to deploy AI.”

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco

Demand and the order book

  • Hyperscaler orders reached $9.3 billion: AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers were $4 billion in Q4, bringing fiscal 2026 orders to $9.3 billion. Source
  • Backlog up 7%: Remaining performance obligations were $46.7 billion, up 7%. Product RPO was up 9% and services RPO was up 6%. Source
  • Deferred revenue up 3%: Deferred revenue was $29.8 billion, up 3%, with deferred product revenue up 2% and deferred services revenue up 4%. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Q4 returns to shareholders: Q4 returns totaled $3.2 billion, made up of dividends and share buybacks of about 13 million shares at an average $111.53 per share. Source
  • Buyback authorization remaining: Remaining repurchase authorization is $8.1 billion with no termination date. The May release cited $9.6 billion. Source
  • Cash and investments declined: Cash and investments were $15.9 billion at Q4 end, against $16.6 billion at Q3 end and $16.1 billion at fiscal 2025 end. Source
  • Short-term debt rose: Short-term debt was $10,161 million at July 25, 2026, up from $5,232 million at July 26, 2025. Long-term debt was $19,372 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.42: The Board declared a $0.42 quarterly dividend, payable October 21, 2026, to holders of record on October 2, 2026. Future dividends remain subject to Board approval. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Investment priorities for fiscal 2027: Management said it will focus on durable growth, consistent profitability and continued capital returns while making strategic investments in growth areas. Source
  • Acquisitions used cash in Q4: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $470 million in Q4 and $516 million in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Capital expenditure rose: Acquisition of property and equipment was $390 million in Q4 and $1,410 million in fiscal 2026, against $905 million in fiscal 2025. Source

People, productivity and restructuring

  • Productivity metrics at 30-year high: The CFO said fiscal 2026 reached the highest productivity metrics in 30 years, measured by revenue, non-GAAP operating margin and earnings per employee. Source
  • Restructuring plan scope and charges: The plan announced in May invests in silicon, optics, security and AI, with pre-tax charges of up to $1 billion, mainly severance and termination benefits.
  • Restructuring charges in Q4: Restructuring and other charges were $511 million in Q4, against $35 million a year earlier, and $693 million for fiscal 2026. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Q1 fiscal 2027 guidance set: Q1 revenue $18.0 to $18.2 billion; non-GAAP gross margin 65% to 66%, operating margin 35.5% to 36.5%, EPS $1.32 to $1.34. GAAP EPS $1.08 to $1.10. Source
  • FY 2027 revenue and EPS guidance: Fiscal 2027 revenue $72.2 to $73.4 billion; non-GAAP EPS $5.05 to $5.11; GAAP EPS $4.00 to $4.06. Tax rate about 14.5% GAAP and 18.5% non-GAAP. Source
  • Hyperscaler AI revenue expected $7.5 billion: About $4 billion of hyperscaler AI infrastructure revenue was delivered in fiscal 2026, with $7.5 billion expected in fiscal 2027. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 August 2026

  • Prepared remarks text to be posted: Text of the prepared remarks is to be posted within 24 hours of the call, which was held on August 12, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total gross margin, GAAP, Q4 Source64.1%
Backlog (remaining performance obligations), July 25, 2026 Source$46.7 billion
Networking revenue, Q4 Source$9,791 million, up 28%
Americas revenue, Q4 Source$10,396 million, up 18%
EMEA revenue, Q4 Source$4,350 million, up 19%
APJC revenue, Q4 Source$2,506 million, up 14%
Networking product orders growth, Q4 Source40% year over year
Total product orders growth, Q4 Source35% year over year (25% excluding hyperscalers)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Charges under the May restructuring plan continue into fiscal 2027. Management expects the plan to be substantially completed by the end of fiscal 2027. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said Q4 revenue, non-GAAP operating income and EPS all exceeded the high end of guidance ranges. Source
  • Not stated: The May release raised these expectations. This release reports $9.3 billion of orders and about $4 billion of revenue for fiscal 2026.
  • Not stated: The May release estimated about $450 million of charges in Q4. This release reports $511 million of restructuring and other charges in Q4.

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.