10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2005

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jan 29, 2005

Filed February 22, 2005For Securities:CSCO

Summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. reported solid financial results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal year 2005, ending January 29, 2005. Net sales increased by 12.3% to $6.06 billion for the quarter and 14.6% to $12.03 billion for the six-month period, year-over-year. This growth was driven by strong performance in its product segments, particularly switches and advanced technologies, and across all geographic regions. Net income also saw substantial increases, rising to $1.40 billion ($0.21 per diluted share) for the quarter and $2.79 billion ($0.42 per diluted share) for the six months, compared to the prior year periods. The company continued its aggressive share repurchase program, spending $5.7 billion in the six-month period, and ended the quarter with a strong cash position of $16.5 billion in cash and investments. Despite overall growth, gross margins experienced a slight decline, primarily attributed to a shift in product mix towards lower-margin switching products and home networking products, as well as ongoing investments in service margins. The company also noted continued price competition, particularly from Asian competitors. Cisco is actively investing in research and development and expanding its workforce, driven by both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, as it continues to focus on evolving its product portfolio towards advanced networking technologies.

Key Highlights

  • 1Total net sales increased by 12.3% to $6.06 billion for the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 compared to the same period last year.
  • 2Net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 was $1.40 billion, or $0.21 per diluted share, a significant increase from the prior year's $724 million.
  • 3Six-month net sales grew 14.6% to $12.03 billion, with net income reaching $2.79 billion ($0.42 per diluted share).
  • 4The company repurchased $5.7 billion of common stock during the first six months of fiscal year 2005.
  • 5Cash and cash equivalents, along with total investments, stood at $16.5 billion as of January 29, 2005.
  • 6Gross margins declined slightly due to a shift in product mix towards lower-margin products.
  • 7Sales of 'Advanced Technologies' products saw strong growth of 41% for the quarter and 37% for the six-month period.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2005, Cisco reported net sales of $6.06 billion, an increase of 12.3% year-over-year. Net income was $1.40 billion, or $0.21 per diluted share. For the first six months of fiscal year 2005, net sales were $12.03 billion, up 14.6%, and net income was $2.79 billion, or $0.42 per diluted share.

Sales of switches increased significantly, up 15.8% for the quarter and 20.9% for the six-month period. Advanced Technologies also showed robust growth, with sales up 41.1% for the quarter and 37.3% for the six-month period. Router revenue experienced a slight decrease of 6.8% for the quarter and 4.4% for the six-month period, but showed sequential improvement.

Cisco maintained a strong liquidity position, with cash and cash equivalents and total investments totaling $16.5 billion as of January 29, 2005. This represents a decrease from the prior fiscal year-end, primarily due to significant share repurchases and acquisitions.

While revenue and net income grew, gross margins slightly declined year-over-year. This was attributed to a shift in the product sales mix towards lower-margin switching and home networking products, as well as increased investment in service operations. The company also noted ongoing price competition, particularly from Asian competitors.