NEW YORK, Jan 4, 2026, 7:58 PM ET — Market closed
- Calcalist reported Cisco is in advanced talks to buy cybersecurity firm Axonius for about $2 billion; Axonius denied the talks.
- Cisco shares last closed down 1.3% on Friday and traded ex-dividend for a $0.41 quarterly payout due later this month.
- Investors turn to U.S. jobs data on Jan. 9 and inflation figures on Jan. 13 as the first full week of 2026 begins.
Cisco Systems Inc. shares are set to be in focus when U.S. markets reopen on Monday after Israel’s Calcalist reported the networking gear maker is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity company Axonius for about $2 billion.
The report lands as investors reassess big-ticket deal appetite in enterprise technology, where boards have leaned on acquisitions to bolster faster-growing software and security revenue. For Cisco, any M&A headline also feeds into the debate over whether the company prioritizes buybacks and dividends or steps up spending to chase growth.
The timing matters because markets face early-January macro catalysts that can move rate expectations and, by extension, tech multiples. Traders will be watching U.S. nonfarm payrolls on Jan. 9 and the consumer price index report on Jan. 13 for signals on the interest-rate path.
Calcalist said Axonius was previously valued at $2.6 billion and has raised about $700 million, while reporting the companies were in advanced negotiations. Axonius said it was not in talks to be acquired, the publication reported.
Cisco shares ended Friday at $76.04, down 1.3% on the session, and traded in a $75.61-$77.26 range, according to market data.
The stock also went ex-dividend on Jan. 2 for its 41-cent quarterly payout — meaning buyers from that date are not entitled to the upcoming dividend — with the company set to pay it on Jan. 21, Cisco said.
The broader market finished mixed on Friday, with the S&P 500 edging higher and the Nasdaq little changed, in a session that rotated sharply within tech as chipmakers led gains.
Cisco’s last quarterly report in November highlighted its push into AI-linked infrastructure demand. “Our relevance in AI continues to build,” CFO Mark Patterson said in the company’s earnings release. Cisco Investor Relations
Technically, Cisco is trading below its 52-week high of $80.82 and above a 52-week low of $52.11, based on Investing.com data. Traders often treat the prior high as resistance and recent lows as near-term support.
But deal chatter can fade fast. If Cisco does pursue Axonius, investors may weigh integration risk and the price tag against the company’s capital-return strategy, while a jump in yields after this week’s data could pressure the whole tech complex.
What’s next is Monday’s open — and whether Cisco addresses the Axonius report — with the U.S. jobs report due Jan. 9 and CPI on Jan. 13. Cisco is expected to report earnings around Feb. 11, according to earnings calendars tracked by Yahoo Finance and Zacks.
