Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Intrinsic Value

DCF-based fair value calculation with Bear, Base, and Bull scenarios

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO)

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Intrinsic Value (DCF)

Current$75.25
Intrinsic$60.06
-20%
$38.71$60.06$102.56
Market implies 13% growth for 5 years
CSCO trades at a premium to our conservative estimate — investors expect above-average performance.
At $75, the market prices in 13% annual cash flow growth — a moderate expectation aligned with historical trends (8%).
Range: Bear $39 → Bull $103. Current price implies expectations above the base case, closer to bull expectations.
Discount ↓Growth →4%6%8%10%
8%$74$82$90$98
10%$50$55$60$66
12%$37$41$44$49
14%$29$32$35$38

Bull Case

  • Bull case ($103) offers 36% upside at 10% growth, 8% discount
  • Conservative 8% growth assumption is achievable based on track record

Bear Case

  • Bear case ($39) implies 49% downside at 6% growth, 12% discount
  • Price reflects 13% growth expectations vs 8% historical — high bar to clear
  • Trading 20% above base case — execution must exceed assumptions to justify
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5-Year Free Cash Flow Projection

Year 1$14.35B
Year 2$15.50B
Year 3$16.74B
Year 4$18.08B
Year 5$19.52B
Terminal$309.39B

📐 Model Inputs

Growth Rate8.0%5Y CAGR (cascade: 5Y→3Y→TTM)
Discount Rate9.5%WACC estimate
Terminal Growth3.0%Perpetuity rate
Base Free Cash Flow$13.29BTTM actual
Bear g×0.8, r+2%
Base Historical CAGR
Bull g×1.2, r−1.5%
ℹ️

DCF estimates based on historical growth rates extrapolated forward. See FAQ below for full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CSCO stock undervalued or overvalued?
🔴 OVERVALUED

CSCO trades at $75.25 vs. our DCF-derived intrinsic value of $60.06, implying -20% downside. Using a 9.5% WACC and 8.0% FCF growth assumption, the current price requires growth rates above our estimates to be justified. Even our bull case ($86.02) suggests limited upside.

What is CSCO's intrinsic value?

Using a 5-year DCF model: Base FCF of $13.29B, projected at 8.0% 5Y CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth), discounted at 9.5% WACC, with 3.0% terminal growth. Terminal value calculated via Gordon Growth Model: TV = FCF₅ × (1+g) / (WACC−g). After deducting $20.17B net debt and dividing by 4.00B shares: Bear $41.30 | Base $60.06 | Bull $86.02. Current price $75.25 implies -20% to base case.

How is CSCO's fair value calculated?

DCF Methodology:

① Project FCF years 1-5 using 8.0% growth derived from 5-year historical CAGR (best of revenue, EPS, or FCF growth, with 8% floor and 25% cap).

② Calculate terminal value at year 5 using perpetuity growth model with g=3.0%.

③ Discount all cash flows to PV using WACC=9.5%.

④ Sum PV of explicit period + PV of terminal value = Enterprise Value ($260.29B).

⑤ Subtract net debt, divide by shares outstanding.

Sensitivity analysis available above—adjust WACC ±2% or growth ±3% to stress-test the valuation. Implied EV/FCF multiple: 19.6x.