COMPARE · Data as of August 21, 2026
CSCO vs EXTR
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. CSCO scored 60.7, EXTR scored 63.7 — EXTR leads.
Compare another set
CSCO
Cisco Systems, Inc.
60.7
$111.04 · $437.7B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
3.0
EXTR leads
EXTR
Extreme Networks, Inc.
63.7
$23.02 · $3.0B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- CheapestCSCO33.3x
- Fastest growthEXTR+12.6%
- Strongest balance sheetCSCO0.59
- Highest qualityCSCO77 / 100
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Growth against the P/E multiple. Up and to the right is cheaper and faster — the quality-growth idea in one picture. Points beyond the axis are pinned to the edge and marked off-scale rather than allowed to compress everything else.
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
CSCO
stronger →← stronger
EXTR
77
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
66
72
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
69
40
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
56
CSCO is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
CSCO
EXTR
$11.8bA-
FCF
$95mC-
+9.2%B
Rev
+12.6%B+
0.59C+
D/E
2.20D
33.3xB
P/E
74.3xC
1.02B+
PEG
0.84B+
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
CSCO
EXTR
128% above
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
162% above
~27%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~38%/yr
-59%
1-yr DCF upside
-68%
-56%
5-yr DCF upside
-62%
-52%
10-yr DCF upside
-53%
These two disagree on this pair: the Value pillar ranks cheapness against sector peers, while price-vs-fair-value is an absolute read. A name can be the better value in its sector and still the dearer one on cash flows.
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
CSCO
Why this score
- Durable high returns
EXTR
No notable signals flagged.
The companies
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc.
Why now
Communication Equipment · market cap $437.7b. 15% off the 52-week high of $130.37. 22 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $136.05 (implying +23% upside).
Moat
Net margin 20% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent. ROE 24% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 99% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Trailing P/E 33x sits well above the S&P median (~20x) — multiple compression is a real risk if revenue growth decelerates.
EXTRExtreme Networks, Inc.
Why now
Communication Equipment · market cap $3.0b. Down 32% from 52-week high of $33.73 — deep drawdown territory. Revenue growing +13%, comfortably above the S&P median. PEG 0.84 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 8 sell-side analysts rate this a Strong Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $33.50 (implying +46% upside).
Moat
ROE 48% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which. Free cash flow runs well ahead of reported net income — non-cash charges (depreciation, intangible amortization) are holding down GAAP earnings while cash generation stays strong.
Risk
D/E 2.20 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Trailing P/E 74.3x prices in sustained high growth — any quarter that disappoints triggers sharp re-rating. Down 32% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.
Where CSCO and EXTR diverge
On the headline score the gap is 3.0 points in favor of EXTR. They get there differently, though — each leads on a different pillar, so the better pick depends on which you weight.
- ValueCSCO 40.3 · EXTR 56.5EXTR +16.2
- QualityCSCO 77.1 · EXTR 66.3CSCO +10.8
- GrowthCSCO 72.0 · EXTR 69.0CSCO +3.0
Pillars run 0–100 against sector peers, so a score is a statement about a company relative to its own industry rather than to the other name here. A wide Value gap usually means the market already prices the difference in quality or growth — which is the trade-off this comparison comes down to.