Key Highlights

● Cisco Systems closed at $107.39 on October 16, trading below the analyst target.

● The consensus 12-month price target is $136.16, implying about 26.8% upside.

● Analysts are split 19 Buy, 10 Hold, and 0 Sell on the stock.

● Targets range from $110 to $170 across 29 analysts.

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) closed at $107.39 on Friday October 16, 2026, the latest close at the time of writing. The consensus analyst price target is $136.16, which implies implied upside of about 26.8% from that price. It is a constituent of the S&P 500. The shares are listed on the Nasdaq and the consensus rating is Buy. Investors are watching the stock because of recent analyst target changes and an upcoming results date, both discussed below.

What Is the Latest Analyst Price Target?

Across 29 analysts, the mean target is $136.16 and the median is $135.00. The highest target is $170 and the lowest is $110. The consensus data was last updated around October 15, 2026, so it may not reflect later developments, and the share price is the 16 October close. The consensus target suggests the stock trades below the average analyst valuation. The $110 to $170 range is relatively narrow at the bottom, with every analyst target at or above the current share price. Price targets are forecasts, not guarantees, and analysts typically set them with a 12-month horizon.

What Are Analysts Saying?

The rating split is 19 Buy (14 Strong Buy, 5 Buy), 10 Hold, 0 Sell. Recent actions include the following. Morgan Stanley maintained Buy with a $135 target on October 15, 2026, Citi maintained Buy with $139 on 9 October, Bernstein maintained Hold with $110 on 7 October, and Piper Sandler reiterated Hold while trimming its target from $132 to $125 on 22 September. CNBC also reported a 5% share-price fall after the Piper Sandler cut, which cited growth concerns. Sources differ in how they classify ratings, so the split above follows the data provider's own groupings and the figures should be treated as indicative.

Recent company news includes a joint announcement with Nvidia of a new pluggable optics form factor for AI data centres, the appointment of Cognite chief executive Girish Rishi to the board, and product launches around the OCP 2026 summit.

What Could Help the Stock Reach the Price Target?

If the consensus proves accurate, the main supports would be growth in AI-related networking and optics orders, continued progress in security and software, and results that ease the growth concerns raised by some brokers. For the shares to move towards the average target, the company would generally need to deliver results and guidance that meet or exceed what analysts currently expect, and market conditions for the sector would need to remain supportive. None of this is assured.

What Could Prevent the Stock Reaching the Target?

The main risks include the growth concerns cited by Piper Sandler, competition in networking, and the fact that even the lowest target ($110) is only marginally above the current price, which leaves less room for disappointment. Analyst targets are frequently revised after earnings, and a change in sector sentiment, interest-rate expectations or broader market conditions could shift valuations quickly. A target is an opinion at a point in time and the actual share price may be materially different.

What Should Investors Watch Next?

The key near-term event is fiscal first-quarter results, currently estimated for around November 11, 2026 (an estimate, not a confirmed date). Investors may also watch for further target revisions following that report, any change in the Buy, Hold and Sell mix, and management commentary on demand and margins.

Room to Grow Into

At $107.39, Cisco Systems trades below its $136.16 consensus target, a gap of 26.8%, with a Buy consensus from 29 analysts.