New York, Feb 4, 2026, 18:46 (EST) — After-hours
- Cisco shares slipped roughly 2.3%, closing the after-hours session at $81.16.
- Tech stocks took a hit as investors struggled to nail down valuations for AI-driven growth.
- Cisco will release its fiscal Q2 earnings next week, highlighting fresh AI-driven networking and security upgrades.
Cisco Systems shares dropped roughly 2.3% on Wednesday, closing at $81.16 in after-hours trading, down $1.94 from the previous session. The stock fluctuated between $84.13 and $81.01, with around 39.8 million shares changing hands.
The decline followed a wider sell-off in tech shares, dragging the Nasdaq down 1.51% in regular hours. “The stock market is having a really hard knowing where to price the stocks and what the future looks like,” said Jed Ellerbroek, a portfolio manager at Argent Capital. 1
This is key for Cisco, which is gearing up to report its fiscal second-quarter earnings after markets close on Feb. 11. The quarter wrapped up on Jan. 24. Cisco will also host a conference call that same day. 2
On the corporate side, Cisco announced that NBC Sports has chosen its AI networking technology to power the all-IP production of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics. “With the help of Cisco’s secure, agile and intelligent solutions, NBC Sports can effectively scale their all-IP production,” said Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s President and Chief Product Officer. 3
Cisco hit a security milestone this week, announcing its Identity Intelligence product now runs entirely on a Cisco-built AI model. The tool aims to cut through the noise by improving alerts for risky logins, including tackling “MFA fatigue”—the exhaustion users feel from constant multi-factor authentication prompts. More than 2,000 customers get its weekly risk digest. “Security teams don’t need more noise, they need clearer, more usable signals,” said Fady Younes, managing director for cybersecurity at Cisco Middle East. 4
Cisco showcased its AI messaging Tuesday at the AI Summit, a livestream event headlined by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Cisco execs Chuck Robbins and Jeetu Patel. The discussions centered on scaling AI development and governance. 5
Cisco provides the routers, switches, and security software that power corporate networks and data centers. Investors frequently view its forecasts as a barometer for enterprise IT spending, which can ripple through competitors like Arista Networks and Juniper Networks in networking, as well as security firms like Fortinet.
Cisco’s calendar is already packed leading into earnings. The company plans Cisco Connect in Houston on Feb. 5, followed by Cisco Live in Amsterdam from Feb. 9-13. 6
The backdrop remains unsettled. Should the sell-off in AI-linked stocks deepen or Cisco’s guidance come in on the cautious side, the shares might falter despite new customer wins and product updates.
Cisco’s next major event is Feb. 11, when it will release Q2 results and hold its earnings webcast at 1:30 p.m. PT, per its investor events calendar. 7
