Despite rising input costs for producing networking equipment and the semiconductor chip shortage, the growing demand from remote working structures, the passage of the infrastructure bill, and the deployment of 5G technology should keep the wheels of the networking industry turning. And prominent networking companies Cisco (CSCO) and NETGEAR (NTGR) should benefit from these industry tailwinds. But which of these stocks is a better buy now? Read more to find out.Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and NETGEAR, Inc. (NTGR) are two popular companies in the networking industry. CSCO San Jose, Calif., designs and manufactures Internet Protocol (IP) based networking products and services related to communications and information technology worldwide. The company sells its products and services directly and through systems integrators, service providers, resellers, and distributors. In comparison, NTGR, which is also headquartered in San Jose, designs, develops, and markets networking solutions and smart connected products for consumers, businesses, and service providers. It offers network-attached storage devices, wireless controllers and access points, unified storage products, Internet protocol (IP) security cameras, and home automation devices and services. It also offers value-added services that include technical support, parental controls, and cybersecurity protection.
The surging demand for advanced, cloud-based networking products and solutions from residential, commercial, and industrial areas since the pandemic, due to the continued adoption of hybrid working models, has incentivized networking companies to deliver more efficiency in their automation, analytics, and security solutions. The recent passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill that provides significant funding for networking and 5G companies is likely to contribute to the industry’s long-term growth. The global network infrastructure market is expected to grow at 3.9% CAGR to $229.74 billion by 2026. So, both CSCO and NTGR should benefit.
But while NTGR’s shares have declined 18.9% in price over the past year, CSCO has surged 30.6%. Also, CSCO is a clear winner with 5.4% gains versus NTGR’s negative returns in terms of their past six months’ performance. But which of these stocks is a better pick now? Let us find out.