CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. (CSCO)

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “momentum,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “endeavors,” “strives,” “may,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and elsewhere herein. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

OVERVIEW

Cisco designs and sells a broad range of technologies that help to power, secure, and draw insights from the Internet. We are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into our product portfolios across networking, security, collaboration and observability as well as integrating our products more tightly together. We are simplifying how our technology is delivered, managed and optimized and helping customers maximize the business value of their technology investments.

A summary of our results is as follows (in millions, except percentages and per-share amounts):

Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Three Months Ended April 25, 2026 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2025

In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, we delivered strong revenue growth and profitability as we saw a continued positive demand environment. Total revenue increased by 12% compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Within total revenue, product revenue increased by 17% and services revenue decreased by 1%. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, total software revenue was $5.7 billion across all product areas and services, an increase of 1%. Total subscription revenue decreased 2%.

Total gross margin decreased by 2.0 percentage points. Product gross margin decreased by 2.5 percentage points, primarily driven by negative impacts from product mix and higher memory costs, partially offset by productivity improvements and lower amortization of purchased intangible assets. As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses, collectively, decreased by 3.8 percentage points. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 2.4 percentage points, primarily driven by revenue growth, partially offset by lower gross margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Diluted earnings per share increased 37%, driven by revenue growth and operating margin improvement.

In terms of our geographic segments, revenue from the Americas increased by $1.2 billion, EMEA revenue increased by $0.3 billion and APJC revenue increased by $0.2 billion. From a customer market standpoint, we experienced product revenue growth across all of our customer markets.

From a product category perspective, the product revenue increase of 17% was driven by growth in Networking of 25%, particularly within our AI Infrastructure and Campus Networking solutions. We also saw product revenue growth in Observability of 3%. This growth was partially offset by a product revenue decline in Collaboration of 1%. Product revenue in Security was flat.

We continue to operate in a highly competitive and complex environment, especially as it relates to memory constraints and costs, and trade policy. Notwithstanding these challenges, we believe that we are making progress on our strategic priorities. We continue to invest in key priority areas with the objective of driving profitable growth over the long term. We remain focused on delivering innovation across our technologies to assist our customers in executing on their digital transformations and on accelerating innovation across our portfolio.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Nine Months Ended April 25, 2026 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2025

Total revenue increased 10%, with product revenue increasing 13% and services revenue was flat. Total gross margin decreased 0.8 percentage points, primarily driven by negative impacts from product mix and to a lesser extent pricing, partially offset by productivity improvements and lower amortization of purchased intangible assets. As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses, collectively, decreased by 2.6 percentage points. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 3.4 percentage points, primarily driven by higher revenue, lower restructuring and other charges and lower amortization of purchased intangible assets, partially offset by lower gross margin in the first nine months of fiscal 2026. Diluted earnings per share increased 24%, driven by revenue growth and operating margin improvement, partially offset by the income tax benefit of $720 million we had in the first nine months of fiscal 2025.

Strategy and Priorities

In today’s digital-first world, businesses and organizations globally are deploying technology to pursue their strategic objectives, from accelerating growth to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering innovation. Our strategy is to securely connect everything to make those desired outcomes possible.

For additional discussion of our strategy and priorities, see Item 1. Business in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2025.

Other Key Financial Measures

The following is a summary of our other key financial measures for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 (in millions):

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2025, as updated as applicable in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein, describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting policies described below are significantly affected by critical accounting estimates. Such accounting policies require significant judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and actual results could differ materially from the amounts reported based on these policies.

Revenue Recognition

We enter into contracts with customers that can include various combinations of products and services which are generally distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations, resulting in contracts that may contain multiple performance obligations. We determine whether arrangements are distinct based on whether the customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and whether our commitment to transfer the product or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other obligations in the contract. We classify our hardware, perpetual software licenses, and SaaS as distinct performance obligations. Term software licenses represent multiple obligations, which include software licenses and software maintenance. In transactions where we deliver hardware or software, we are typically the principal and we record revenue and costs of goods sold on a gross basis.

We recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services in a contract with a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. Transfer of control occurs once the customer has the contractual right to use the product, generally upon shipment, electronic delivery (or when the software is available for download by the customer), or once title and risk of

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “momentum,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “endeavors,” “strives,” “may,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and elsewhere herein. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

OVERVIEW

Cisco designs and sells a broad range of technologies including hardware, software, and artificial intelligence (AI) powered digital infrastructure to power, help secure, and draw insights from the Internet. We are incorporating AI into our product portfolios across networking, security, collaboration and observability, as well as integrating our products more tightly together into a platform. We are simplifying how our technology is delivered, managed and optimized and helping customers maximize the business value of their technology investments.

A summary of our results is as follows (in millions, except percentages and per-share amounts):

Percentages may not recalculate due to rounding.

NM — Not meaningful

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Fiscal 2026 Compared with Fiscal 2025

In fiscal 2026, we delivered strong revenue growth and profitability in a continued positive demand environment. Total revenue was $63.3 billion, an increase of 12% compared with fiscal 2025. Within total revenue, product revenue increased by 16% and services revenue was flat. Total software revenue was $23.2 billion across all product areas and services, an increase of 4%, and total subscription revenue increased 1%.

We saw demand in fiscal 2026 for AI infrastructure from our hyperscaler customers, which represented approximately 6% of total revenue in fiscal 2026 compared with less than 2% in fiscal 2025. We expect this demand to remain a significant driver of our results in fiscal 2027, and we discuss the associated customer concentration and supply considerations in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Total gross margin decreased by 0.4 percentage points, primarily driven by a decline in product gross margin, partially offset by an increase in services gross margin. Product gross margin decreased by 0.5 percentage points, primarily driven by negative impacts from product mix and higher memory costs, partially offset by productivity improvements, pricing actions, lower amortization of purchased intangible assets and a charge in fiscal 2025 as a result of a legal dispute with a supplier, which did not recur in fiscal 2026. As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses, collectively, decreased by 3.4 percentage points. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 3.5 percentage points primarily driven by revenue growth, partially offset by lower gross margin and higher operating expenses in fiscal 2026. Diluted earnings per share increased 31%, driven by revenue growth and operating margin improvement.

In terms of our geographic segments, revenue from the Americas increased by $4.1 billion, EMEA revenue increased by $1.8 billion and APJC revenue increased by $0.7 billion. From a customer market standpoint, we experienced product revenue growth across all of our customer markets.

From a product category perspective, the product revenue increase of 16% was driven by growth in Networking of 22%, particularly within our AI Infrastructure and Campus Networking solutions. We also saw product revenue growth in Collaboration of 4%, Observability of 4%, and Security of 2%.

We continue to operate in a highly competitive and complex environment, especially as it relates to memory constraints and costs, and trade policy. Notwithstanding these challenges, we believe that we are making progress on our strategic priorities. We continue to invest in key priority areas with the objective of driving profitable growth over the long term, and we remain focused on delivering innovation across our technologies to assist our customers in executing on their digital transformations.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Fourth Quarter Snapshot

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, as compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, total revenue increased by 18% to $17.3 billion. Within total revenue, product revenue increased by 24% to $13.5 billion and services revenue was flat at $3.8 billion. With regard to our geographic segment performance, on a year-over-year basis, revenue from the Americas increased by 18%, EMEA increased by 19% and APJC increased by 14%. From a product category perspective, on a year-over-year basis, product revenue increased in Networking by 28%, Security by 14%, Collaboration by 12% and Observability by 6%. The increase in Networking reflected growth in AI infrastructure and data center switching.

Total gross margin increased by 0.9 percentage points, primarily driven by the absence in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 of a charge recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 as a result of a legal dispute with a supplier, and by favorable pricing. These impacts were partially offset by negative impacts from product mix and higher memory costs. As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses, collectively, decreased by 5.1 percentage points driven by the revenue growth and disciplined expense management. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 3.7 percentage points, primarily driven by revenue growth and higher gross margin as discussed above, partially offset by higher restructuring and other charges. Diluted earnings per share increased by 52%, primarily driven by a revenue increase and the increase in our operating margin percentage.

Strategy and Priorities

In today’s fast-paced world shaped by AI, businesses and organizations globally are deploying technology to pursue their strategic objectives, from accelerating growth to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering innovation. Our strategy is to securely connect everything to make those desired outcomes possible.

For a full discussion of our strategy and priorities, see “Item 1. Business.”

Other Key Financial Measures

The following is a summary of our other key financial measures for fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025 (in millions):

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting policies described below are significantly affected by critical accounting estimates. Such accounting policies require significant judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and actual results could differ materially from the amounts reported based on these policies.

Revenue Recognition

We enter into contracts with customers that can include various combinations of products and services which are generally distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations, resulting in contracts that may contain multiple performance obligations. We determine whether arrangements are distinct based on whether the customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and whether our commitment to transfer the product or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other obligations in the contract. We classify our hardware, perpetual software licenses, and SaaS as distinct pe

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