Cisco 4th-Quarter Net Up 18% as Product, Services Revenue Rises

   By John Kell 
 

Cisco Systems Inc.'s (CSCO) fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 18% as the network-equipment company's product and services sales each increased, and as operating expenses were lower than a year ago.

Even as results came in at the high end of the company's May expectations, shares fell 3.1% to $25.55 in after-hours trading, perhaps as investors focused on narrower gross margins. Through Wednesday's close, the stock has gained 34% in 2013, better than the broader market.

Cisco, the world's largest supplier of Internet routers and switches, has inked a string of relatively small acquisitions as it tries to evolve into a less hardware-intensive information-technology provider. Last month, the company agreed to pay $2.7 billion for cybersecurity firm Sourcefire Inc., a deal that reflects a boom in demand for cybersecurity expertise as companies and consumers become more aware of hacking threats.

For the quarter ended July 27, Cisco reported a profit of $2.27 billion, or 42 cents a share, up from $1.92 billion, or 36 cents a share.

Excluding a $172 million litigation expense tied to a patent settlement with TiVo Inc. (TIVO) in the latest period, as well as stock-based compensation and other impacts in both periods, adjusted profit rose to 52 cents from 47 cents a share. Revenue climbed 6.2% to $12.42 billion.

In May, Cisco projected an adjusted profit between 50 cents to 52 cents a share on revenue growth of 4% to 7%.

Gross margin narrowed to 59.2% from 60.6%.

Sales from the product segment, Cisco's biggest revenue contributor, increased 6.4%, while revenue from the company's services segment rose 5.6%.

Operating expenses dropped 3.8%.

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