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What has to happen in Security

Model as of

This page changes Security inside the complete CSCO model. Every other vertical, corporate programme and valuation assumption stays in the selected portfolio case.

CSCO forward model
Horizon
Consolidated fair value $48.48 all other verticals held in this portfolio case
Final-quarter revenue $2.45B 13% of company revenue
Explicit segment contribution $7.90B EBITDA less segment capex, before corporate items

The supercycle is a hyperscaler pull-forward and the margin tells on it. Networking decays back toward low single digits once the current build lands, Services stays flat, Security stays at 2%, and the multiple reverts toward Cisco's own pre-AI history at 3x sales. FY2027 comes in a shade under the guided floor. What this case does NOT assume is an AI revenue decline: the guided $7.5bn is still delivered. It assumes Cisco is worth what it was worth the last time it grew like this.

Security

Basis quarter$2.23B
Final quarter$2.45B
Implied CAGR+2%
Final revenue mix13%

The Splunk line. $2,226M in the basis quarter, +14% year over year, but only +2% for FY2026 at $8,232M once the acquisition anniversary washed through. Cisco publishes no security ARR, no seats and no Splunk-versus-legacy split, so this is a reported-category growth line and not a subscription model.

Last four quarters
2026 Q1 $1.98B Reported
2026 Q2 $2.02B Reported
2026 Q3 $2.01B Reported
2026 Q4 $2.23B Reported
Splunk security analytics and SIEMNetwork security, zero trust and SASENon-human identity security (Astrix, acquired FY2026 Q4)
Sequential growth +1.5%/qtr decaying toward +1.5% 1.5% a quarter, about 6% a year: better than the 2% FY2026 print, well short of the +14% Q4.
Security

Latest: $2.45B (2031Q4E)

Period Value
2024Q1 $1.01B
2024Q2 $973M
2024Q3 $1.30B
2024Q4 $1.79B
2025Q1 $2.02B
2025Q2 $2.11B
2025Q3 $2.01B
2025Q4 $1.95B
2026Q1 $1.98B
2026Q2 $2.02B
2026Q3 $2.01B
2026Q4 $2.23B
2027Q1E $2.24B
2027Q2E $2.25B
2027Q3E $2.26B
2027Q4E $2.27B
2028Q1E $2.28B
2028Q2E $2.29B
2028Q3E $2.30B
2028Q4E $2.31B
2029Q1E $2.33B
2029Q2E $2.34B
2029Q3E $2.35B
2029Q4E $2.36B
2030Q1E $2.37B
2030Q2E $2.38B
2030Q3E $2.39B
2030Q4E $2.41B
2031Q1E $2.42B
2031Q2E $2.43B
2031Q3E $2.44B
2031Q4E $2.45B

Assumptions & reasoning

  • FY2026 grew 2%; strip the Q4 +14% and the line is flat. The model takes the middle of those two facts rather than extrapolating the quarter, because Cisco publishes nothing that would show whether Splunk is compounding.
  • Margin 25% is assumed and is the lowest of the four product lines: this line carries the heaviest purchased-intangible amortisation and the Splunk cost base. The terminal 28% assumes that integration cost is absorbed, not that it disappears.
  • Every vertical margin here is assumed. Cisco discloses gross margin by geography (Americas 64.5%, EMEA 70.1%, APJC 67.3% in the basis quarter) and product-versus-services gross margin, and never operating profit, capex or headcount by product category.
  • The two July quarters are derived, not printed: FY2024 Q4 and FY2025 Q4 are the fiscal-year column of the 10-K less the nine-month column of that year's Q3 10-Q, and both reconcile to the quarterly totals Cisco printed later, so they carry estimated: true.
  • Capex intensity is the consolidated rate applied to every line: FY2026 property and equipment $1,410M on $63,325M of revenue is 2.2%, and Cisco publishes no capex by product category to split it with.
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