New York, Jan 5, 2026, 15:19 EST — Regular session
- Cisco shares slipped 0.3% in afternoon trade, after swinging between a 1% gain and a 1% loss.
- Israel’s Calcalist reported Cisco is in advanced talks to buy cyber asset management firm Axonius for about $2 billion; Axonius denied discussions.
- Investors are watching for follow-up disclosures and Friday’s U.S. jobs report, a key driver for rate expectations and tech valuations.
Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O) shares edged lower on Monday after an Israeli tech outlet reported the networking company is in talks to buy cybersecurity firm Axonius for about $2 billion, a deal Axonius publicly denied.
The report matters now because Cisco has been leaning harder into security and software to broaden growth beyond hardware, and asset visibility is a rising priority for large companies managing sprawling fleets of devices and cloud applications. A purchase would also keep attention on how Cisco deploys cash as dealmaking returns to parts of the tech sector.
The stock reaction was muted, but investors are balancing deal speculation with a market that has turned sensitive to interest-rate expectations and economic data early in the year. U.S. stocks rallied broadly on Monday, while traders looked ahead to a packed week of data, including Friday’s Employment Situation report.
Calcalist said Cisco was in advanced negotiations to acquire Axonius for $2 billion, noting Axonius was previously valued at $2.6 billion. Axonius responded: “Axonius is not in talks to be acquired by Cisco,” the outlet reported. ctech
Even with the denial, Zeus Kerravala, principal analyst at ZK Research, told CX Today: “Generally when there is smoke there is fire.” He added that a $2 billion price “would be a bit of a surprise” given Axonius’s last valuation, according to the report. CX Today
Axonius markets an asset catalog that helps companies identify what is connected to their networks and whether it is protected — a problem that grows as firms add cloud software and connected devices outside traditional IT control. Calcalist said Axonius integrates with more than 300 security and management tools.
For Cisco, any deal would land as it pushes further into security and recurring software revenue, an approach it highlighted after its $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, completed in March 2024. Cisco last raised its annual revenue and profit forecast in November, citing demand tied to data center buildouts and AI-related networking orders.
Cisco shares were last down about 0.3% at $75.80 after earlier rising nearly 1% and later falling about 1% on the day. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were up about 0.7% and 0.9% in late afternoon trading, respectively, after the Dow hit a record high.
But the path is not clean. If the Axonius talks do not materialize — or if valuations reset lower in security software — deal chatter can fade quickly, leaving investors focused on Cisco’s own growth and margins. A weaker economy would also test enterprise spending, with U.S. manufacturing activity slipping further into contraction at the end of 2025, according to ISM.
Traders will watch for any comment from Cisco or formal disclosure that clarifies whether a transaction is under discussion. A key near-term macro catalyst is Friday’s U.S. Employment Situation report for December 2025, due at 8:30 a.m. ET, which could move rate expectations and tech multiples ahead of the next earnings cycle.
