AYI vs CSCO

For growth investors, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the stronger pick with 13. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO). Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (15. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) a "Buy" — based on 73 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is the cheapest at 23. 6x versus Cisco Systems, Inc. at 35. 9x. On forward P/E, Acuity Brands, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) delivered a total return of +89. 7%, compared to +56. 8% for Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSCO returned +299. 4% versus AYI's +22. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 92β versus Acuity Brands, Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning AYI is approximately 52% more volatile than CSCO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 63% for Cisco Systems, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) is pulling ahead at 13. 1% versus 5. 3% for Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cisco Systems, Inc. grew EPS 0. 4% year-over-year, compared to -6. 8% for Acuity Brands, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CSCO leads at 3. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 0% net margin versus 9. 1% for Acuity Brands, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CSCO leads at 20. 8% versus 13. 7% for AYI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSCO leads at 64. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Acuity Brands, Inc.

(AYI) trades at 15. 1x forward P/E versus 22. 1x for Cisco Systems, Inc. — 6. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AYI: 32. 7% to $392. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) offers the highest yield at 1. 8%, versus 0. 2% for Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cisco Systems, Inc.

(CSCO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 92), 1. 8% yield, +299. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CSCO: +299. 4%, AYI: +22. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AYI (Industrials) and CSCO (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

CSCO pays a dividend while AYI does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.