NEW YORK, Jan 27, 2026, 12:35 p.m. EST — Regular session
- Cisco shares climbed during midday trading, building on a solid kickoff to the week.
- Evercore’s upgrade and Cisco’s rollout of a new partner program pushed the AI-networking narrative forward.
- Traders are zeroing in on Cisco’s upcoming quarterly report to see if the revenue reflects the demand.
Cisco Systems shares climbed roughly 1.5% to $78.18 on Tuesday, outpacing a broadly stronger U.S. market. Investors held onto the stock following Monday’s jump.
This shift follows Evercore ISI’s upgrade of Cisco to “outperform” from “in-line,” with the price target raised to $100 from $80. The firm sees profit and revenue prospects beating consensus estimates. On Wall Street, an “outperform” rating means the stock is expected to exceed the average return within its coverage group. 1
Why it matters now: Networking stocks have turned into a fast track for betting on AI data-center investment, and Cisco is pushing hard to position itself as a winner, not just a spectator.
Cisco’s surge Monday played a key mechanical role. The stock stood out as one of the largest positive drivers behind the Dow’s rise, drawing added attention from index-linked funds. 2
Late Monday, Cisco unveiled its updated “Cisco 360 Partner Program,” developed alongside partners over 15 months. The initiative targets AI-ready data centers, workplace enhancements, and boosting “digital resilience.” 3
“With our partners, we’ve strengthened what is already a world-class ecosystem to deliver even greater value and help our mutual customers connect, protect and thrive,” said Tim Coogan, senior vice president of global partner sales at Cisco, in the release. The company noted that some temporary incentive bonuses will expire at the end of July 2026.
Cisco highlighted governance and security in an interview with Chief Legal Officer Dev Stahlkopf, linked to its 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study. Stahlkopf revealed that 90% of organizations have expanded privacy programs due to AI, with 43% boosting spending in the last year and 93% planning to ramp up investment over the next two years. 4
For investors, the question remains whether AI-driven infrastructure demand will translate into steady, repeat business — and if Cisco can convert more of that into software and services sold via its partners.
The rally isn’t without its weak spots. An upgrade might attract buyers early, yet it risks leaving the stock vulnerable if enterprise spending slows or AI-driven orders lag before showing up in sales figures.
Cisco’s fiscal second-quarter results, covering the period ending Jan. 24, 2026, are coming up next. Market watchers expect the release around Feb. 11, following past patterns, but Cisco hasn’t updated its schedule on its website yet. 5
