Get 40% Off
👀 👁 🧿 All eyes on Biogen, up +4,56% after posting earnings. Our AI picked it in March 2024.
Which stocks will surge next?
Unlock AI-picked Stocks

Cisco revenue forecast disappoints; says to cut 1,100 more jobs

Published 05/17/2017, 08:10 PM
Updated 05/17/2017, 08:10 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Newly installed phone made by Cisco

(Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc (O:CSCO) forecast current-quarter revenue that widely missed analysts' estimates and said it would cut 1,100 more jobs, as the world's largest networking gear maker steps up efforts to transform into a software-focused company.

Shares of the Dow component fell 8.2 percent to $31.05 in after-market trading on Wednesday. The stock had closed down 1.4 percent in regular trading, compared with the 1.78 percent slump in the index (DJI).

Cisco, which announced in August that it would slash 5,500 jobs, said the new cuts would result in $150 million in additional pretax charges.

The company said on Wednesday it expected revenue for its fourth quarter to fall between 4-6 percent from a year earlier, implying a range of $11.88 billion-$12.13 billion.

Analysts on average had expected revenue of $12.51 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Cisco said orders in its public sector business, which includes sales to federal, state and local governments, fell 4 percent in the third quarter ended April 29.

"It's a pretty significant stall right now with the lack of budget visibility," Chief Executive Chuck Robbins said on an earnings call.

Democrats and Republicans agreed earlier this month to provide around $1 trillion to keep the federal government funded through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

However, divisions between the parties are likely to flare up again when the White House unveils President Donald Trump's first full budget for the 2018 fiscal year on Tuesday.

"So, you've got some pretty large pieces of (the) business under duress," Needham & Co analyst Alex Henderson said.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

"Some of it is probably around the lack of a budget agreement on extending the debt limits until fairly late in the quarter, some of it could be related to timing of programs - it's hard to pin that down."

Demand for Cisco's routers remained weak in the latest quarter, contributing to the company's sixth straight decline in revenue.

Revenue in its closely-watched security business, which offers firewall protection and breach detection systems, rose 9 percent to $527 million, but missed analysts' estimate of $545.5 million, according to financial data and analytics firm FactSet Street Account.

The security business is set to benefit from a likely jump in spending by companies and governments following the recent global "ransomware" attack, according to some analysts.

Cisco, like other legacy technology players, is shifting its focus to high-growth areas such as security, the Internet of Things and cloud computing, amid intense competition from companies such as Huawei and Juniper Networks Inc (N:JNPR).

The company said it expected an adjusted profit of 60 cents-62 cents per share for the current quarter. Analysts on average were expecting a profit of 62 cents.

The company's net income rose to $2.52 billion, or 50 cents per share, in the third quarter ended April 29 from $2.35 billion, or 46 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 60 cents per share.

Revenue fell 0.5 percent to $11.94 billion.

Analysts on average had expected adjusted earnings of 58 cents per share and revenue of $11.89 billion.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.