CSCO vs FTNT Stock Comparison
CSCO currently leads FTNT in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 59 vs 57. The clearest difference is value, while FTNT has the stronger quality profile.
What is the main difference between CSCO and FTNT?
CSCO leads the current stock comparison as Cisco Systems, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Cisco Systems, Inc. vs Fortinet, Inc.
CSCO leads
CSCO leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Value, having only recently taken the lead back from FTNT.
Fragile: 2 of 6 evidence groups support CSCO, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Fortinet, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors CSCO over FTNT, 59 versus 57 as of Oct 21, 2026. CSCO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value, while FTNT holds the stronger quality profile. CSCO also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor CSCO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. CSCO lead: Reversed — FTNT led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; CSCO now leads by 2.
Compare Cisco Systems, Inc. and Fortinet, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare CSCO and FTNT against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Value53 vs 27CSCO +26
- Quality78 vs 95FTNT +17
- Momentum44 vs 46Even
- Risk Resilience59 vs 57Even
2 of 6 evidence groups favor CSCO. CSCO’s edge is concentrated in value; FTNT keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum -2
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 2 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum -4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
CSCO's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — CSCO and FTNT both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
CSCO (Cisco Systems, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value.
FTNT (Fortinet, Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, fundamentals, technicals — but at materially higher volatility, 39.4% against 30.9%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
CSCOCSCO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
CSCOCSCO on the peer-relative Value factor, by 26 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
CSCOCSCO carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
CSCOCSCO on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | CSCO | FTNT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +20.5% | -13.9% | CSCO has more room |
| Target dispersion | +30.9% | +93.4% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 13 | 25 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 6 covered evidence groups favor CSCO. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 59 vs 57 |
| Fundamentals | FTNT | revenue growth 8.9% vs 10.7%; EPS growth 15.3% vs 15.3%; TTM ROE 27.4% vs 187.9%; gross margin 64.5% vs 80.4%; operating margin 24.3% vs 32.4% |
| Valuation | CSCO | Value 53 vs 27 |
| Technicals | FTNT | Price vs 50-day -3.4% vs 2.5%; vs 200-day 7% vs 37.1% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 59 vs 57 |
| Analyst expectations | CSCO | Target upside 20.5% vs -13.9% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of CSCO and FTNT and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on CSCO.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20CSCO lead: Reversed — FTNT led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; CSCO now leads by 2.
- Today
- CSCO +2
- 59 vs 57
- 7 sessions ago
- FTNT +1
- 62 vs 63
- 30 sessions ago
- FTNT +6
- 59 vs 65
- 90 sessions ago
- FTNT +6
- 55 vs 61
The lead changed hands 11 times in this window, most recently on Oct 19 when CSCO moved ahead of FTNT.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
No signal that the other name lacks.
3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
Only FTNT
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (3.87%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
Both carry 2 more signals that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, MACD Bearish Crossover.
CSCO leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.52%, AIQ -1 points).
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.83%, AIQ -1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1FTNT closes the Value gap — currently 26 points behind, the largest single contributor to CSCO's edge.
- 2FTNT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3CSCO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
FTNT leads on balance| Metric | CSCO | FTNT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 8.9% | 10.7% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 15.3% | 15.3% |
| Gross margin | 64.5% | 80.4% |
| Operating margin | 24.3% | 32.4% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 27.4% | 187.9% |
| Debt to equity | 0.59 | 0.32 |
Performance
FTNT leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | CSCO | FTNT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -7.3% | -10.4% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 0.3% | -1.9% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -4.9% | 10.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 19% | 100.5% |
| Year to date | 38.5% | 115.2% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 54.5% | 105.6% |
Technicals
FTNT has the stronger structure| Metric | CSCO | FTNT |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 48.4 | 42 |
| ADX (14) | 21.8 | 30.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | -3.4% | 2.5% |
| Price vs 200-day | 7% | 37.1% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 30.9% | 39.4% |
Risk
Split| Metric | CSCO | FTNT |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.1 | 0.98 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.26 | 1.79 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.67 | 3.22 |
| Max drawdown | -18.1% | -14.3% |
| Current drawdown | -17.9% | -12.2% |
| Annualized volatility | 35.3% | 43.3% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.9% | -3.9% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, CSCO or FTNT?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, CSCO is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 59 against FTNT's 57. The edge comes from value. FTNT is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is CSCO or FTNT the better buy right now?
CSCO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor CSCO over FTNT?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. CSCO leads Value by 26 points; FTNT leads Quality by 17 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, CSCO or FTNT?
Analyst price targets imply +20.5% upside for CSCO and -13.9% for FTNT, so the Street currently favors CSCO. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, CSCO or FTNT?
CSCO is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. CSCO on the peer-relative Value factor, by 26 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, CSCO or FTNT?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, CSCO or FTNT?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, CSCO or FTNT?
CSCO is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. CSCO carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is CSCO more profitable than FTNT?
FTNT leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 64.5% vs 80.4%; operating margin 24.3% vs 32.4%; ttm roe 27.4% vs 187.9%.
Is CSCO's lead over FTNT getting stronger or weaker?
CSCO lead: Reversed — FTNT led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; CSCO now leads by 2. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 11 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-19, when CSCO moved ahead of FTNT.
What would change the CSCO vs FTNT verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: FTNT closes the Value gap — currently 26 points behind, the largest single contributor to CSCO's edge; FTNT generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; CSCO's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about CSCO and FTNT?
CSCO: 1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. FTNT: 3 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on CSCO is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On FTNT it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare CSCO and FTNT with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.