Sifting through countless of stocks in the Communications Equipment industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat or Inc. because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, develops, and sells technologies that help to power, secure, and draw insights from the internet in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China. The company offers data center switching; network security, identity and access management, and secure access service edge; threat intelligence, detection, and response solutions; interconnects public and private wireline and mobile networks, delivering connectivity to campus, data center, and branch networks; WEBEX suite, collaboration devices, and contact center; communication platform as a service software, including perpetual licenses, subscription arrangements, and hardware solutions; network assurance, monitoring and analytics, and observability suite; issue resolution, software support, and hardware replacement; professional services, such as planning, design, implementation, and high-value consulting; service and support packages, financing, and managed network services; and regional, national, and international wireline carriers, webscale products, internet, and cable. It also delivers connectivity to campus, data center, and branch networks; wireless products, including indoor and outdoor wireless coverage designed for seamless roaming use of voice, video, and data applications; end-to-end collaboration solutions through cloud, on-premise, or within hybrid cloud environments, transition collaboration solutions from on-premise to the cloud; and network assurance, monitoring and analytics, and observability suite. In addition, it offers technical support and advisory services. The company serves businesses, public institutions, governments, and service providers. It sells its products and services directly, through systems integrators, service providers, resellers, and distributors. Cisco Systems, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Viasat, Inc. provides broadband and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through Communication Services; and Defense and Advanced Technologies segments. The company offers satellite-based broadband and narrowband communications solutions; broadband services, including broadband internet access and voice over internet protocol; fixed and mobile broadband and narrowband services; develops and sells satellite, wireless products, and terminals; and design, develop, and produce space system solutions for geostationary, medium, and low earth orbit. It also provides in-flight connectivity, narrowband safety operational data, and other complementary services; multimedia connectivity for military and government; tactical and beyond-line-of-sight communications; intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; L-band advanced communications element terminals; enterprise connectivity solutions; Internet-of-Things; and L-band managed, energy, and prepaid internet services. In addition, the company offers networking, cybersecurity, and information assurance products and services; high assurance internet protocol encryption solutions; MOJO expeditionary tactical gateway; government satellite communication systems, mobile and fixed broadband modems, ground and airborne terminals, antennas and gateways, Ka-band earth stations, and other multi-band/multi-function antennas, as well as design products for manpacks, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, seagoing vessels, ground-mobile vehicles, space-based systems, and fixed applications. Further, it designs and develops GEO, LEO, and MEO satellites, payload, antenna technologies, and other small satellite platforms; develops commercial communication satellite product, orchestration of sovereign and multi-orbit solutions, and direct-to-device; and licenses intellectual property. Viasat, Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.

Latest Communications Equipment and Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat, Inc. Stock News

As of May 20, 2026, Cisco Systems, Inc. had a $450.7 billion market capitalization, compared to the Communications Equipment median of $573.5 million. Cisco Systems, Inc.’s stock is NA in 2026, NA in the previous five trading days and up 78.9% in the past year.

Currently, Cisco Systems, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 38.1. Cisco Systems, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $60.7 billion with a 19.7% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 12.0%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $4.278 per share for the current fiscal year. Cisco Systems, Inc. currently has a 1.5% dividend yield.

Currently, Viasat, Inc. does not have a price-earnings ratio. Viasat, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $4.6 billion with a -7.3% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 3.0%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $1.093 per share for the current fiscal year. Viasat, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

How We Compare Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc.’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. Growth Grades

Company	Ticker	Growth
Cisco Systems, Inc.	CSCO	B
Viasat, Inc.	VSAT	A

The foundation of growth investing is seeking out stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth that is expected to continue into the future.

In order to compute the growth score and assign it a letter grade, the percentile ranks for each of three components‐consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations‐must be determined. These three rank figures are added together, and the sum is ranked against the entire stock universe to arrive at a company’s Growth Score to create an equal distribution of grades.

The companies in the bottom 20% of the stock universe receive Growth Grades of F, considered to be very weak, while those in the top 20% receive A grades, which are considered very strong.

Cisco Systems, Inc. has a Growth Score of 73, which is Strong. Viasat, Inc. has a Growth Score of 83, which is Very Strong.

The Growth Grade Winner: Viasat, Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Growth Grade breakdown above, Viasat, Inc. has a more attractive growth grade than Cisco Systems, Inc.. For investors who focus solely on how a company is growing relative to other companies in the same industry, Viasat, Inc. could be a good stock to add to their portfolio. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc.’s Momentum Grades

Company	Ticker	Momentum
Cisco Systems, Inc.	CSCO	A
Viasat, Inc.	VSAT	A

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

Cisco Systems, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 87, which is Very Strong. Viasat, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 98, which is Very Strong.

The Momentum Grade Winner: It’s a Tie!

Looking at the Momentum Grade breakdown above, both Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. have a grade of A. For those who focus solely on a company’s momentum, further research will need to be conducted into both companies to see if they fit your individual needs as an investor.

Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc.’s Estimate Revisions Grades

Company	Ticker	Earnings Estimate
Cisco Systems, Inc.	CSCO	B
Viasat, Inc.	VSAT	C

Earnings estimate revisions scores consider the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, positive surprises beget further positive surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

Estimate revisions offer an indication of what analysts are thinking about the short-term prospects of a firm. Estimate revisions are based on the statistical significance of a firm’s last two quarterly earnings surprises and the percentage change in its consensus estimate for the current fiscal year over the past month and past three months.

Cisco Systems, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 66, which is Positive. Viasat, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 46, which is Neutral.

The Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade Winner: Cisco Systems, Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade breakdown above, Cisco Systems, Inc. has a better Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade than Viasat, Inc.. For those who are specifically looking for companies with better short-term prospects when compared to other companies in the same industry, Cisco Systems, Inc. could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Other Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. Grades

In addition to Momentum, Growth and Estimate Revisions, A+ Investor also provides grades for Value and Quality.

Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection. Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the ranking of key metrics. Specifically, the quality grade is the percentile rank of the composite of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and F-Score.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc. pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat or Inc. Stock?

Overall, Cisco Systems, Inc. stock has a Growth Score of 73, Momentum Score of 87 and Estimate Revisions Score of 66.

Viasat, Inc. stock has a Growth Score of 83, Momentum Score of 98 and Estimate Revisions Score of 46.

Comparing Cisco Systems, Inc., Viasat and Inc.’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.