Cisco Systems

A Barclays analyst on Wednesday upgraded Cisco Systems Inc. after a recent stock decline triggered by a weak guidance. THE BACKGROUND: Cisco, the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment, last week issued a sobering forecast for the current quarter, its fiscal fourth. The San Jose, Calif., company warned that customers are waiting longer to close deals and spending less money because of growing concerns about the economy, particularly in Europe and India. Since then, shares have dropped 12 percent, with much of the decline the day after the May 9 report.

A Barclays analyst on Wednesday upgraded Cisco Systems Inc. after a recent stock decline triggered by a weak guidance. THE BACKGROUND: Cisco, the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment, last week issued a sobering forecast for the current quarter, its fiscal fourth. The San Jose, Calif., company warned that customers are waiting longer to close deals and spending less money because of growing concerns about the economy, particularly in Europe and India. Since then, shares have dropped 12 percent, with much of the decline the day after the May 9 report.

Cisco fell the most in 15 months after the maker of computer networking equipment forecast fourth-quarter sales and profit that missed estimates, saying some customers are reluctant to spend. Profit before some costs will be 44 cents to 46 cents a share, Cisco said. Revenue will rise 2 percent to 5 percent from a year earlier, indicating a range of $11.4 billion to $11.8 billion. Analysts predict a 48 cent profit.

Cisco fell the most in 15 months after the maker of computer networking equipment forecast fourth-quarter sales and profit that missed estimates, saying some customers are reluctant to spend. Profit before some costs will be 44 cents to 46 cents a share, Cisco said. Revenue will rise 2 percent to 5 percent from a year earlier, indicating a range of $11.4 billion to $11.8 billion. Analysts predict a 48 cent profit.

Cisco Systems Inc. lowered analyst expectations for its current quarter ending in July, largely because the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment is having trouble closing major sales with corporate customers who are becoming more concerned about the state of the economy, particularly in Europe. That raised fears that the technology companies catering to businesses and government agencies — a niche known as the "enterprise" market — are heading toward a slump.

Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of networking equipment, rose the most in three months on progress tied to chief executive John Chambers' turnaround plan. Profit climbed to 43 cents a share in the first quarter, the company said. Analysts predicted 39 cents, on average. Chambers is boosting profit at Cisco by eliminating jobs, trimming operating expenses, and revamping the management structure.

Red Hat Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. said yesterday they expanded their “virtualization’’ partnership — the term for technology that lets one computer act like several. The companies said they are expanding their relationship by integrating Cisco’s virtual network link technology with Red Hat’s enterprise virtualization technology. The companies said the move will give customers better network performance while lowering costs associated with rolling out virtual data centers.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cisco will undergo a number of structural changes following several challenging quarters as the networking behemoth attempts to become more efficient in bringing products to market. Cisco Systems Inc., which last month killed off its Flip Video camcorder business, has tried to narrow its focus as competition intensifies. It said yesterday that it now wants to focus on five priorities: core routing, switching and services; collaboration; data center virtualization; architectures and video.

SAN FRANCISCO - Cisco Systems Inc. is cutting 6,500 employees - about 9 percent of the networking equipment maker's workforce - as it follows up on a plan announced in May to eliminate thousands of jobs to reduce costs and raise profits. Cisco, which has about 73,400 employees worldwide, said yesterday that it was laying off 4,400 people. Another 2,100 employees chose to leave as part of an early-retirement program. The company said the cuts include the elimination of 15 percent of its employees at and above the level of vice president.

Boston-based real estate development company Sam Park & Co. announced late last month that it had completed the purchase of a 90-acre parcel previously owned by Cisco Systems. According to a spokesman for the developer, the site is permitted for 640,000 square feet of office space. Along with IBM's campus in Littleton, the site has been designated for expedited permitting under Chapter 43D, a state program to encourage projects promising economic development. Town Administrator Keith Bergman stated that town is "delighted to welcome Sam Park as a partner to help...

POSSIBLE TROUBLE AHEAD: Cisco Systems raised fears of a slowdown in technology spending with a sobering forecast that it traced to skittish customers concerned about the fragile state of economy, particularly in Europe. That red flag overshadowed a solid performance in Cisco System Inc.'s most recent quarter. THE PREDICTION: Cisco expects its revenue for the quarter spanning from May through July to rise 2 percent to 5 percent from last year. Analysts had projected a 7 percent gain.

Shares of Cisco Systems Inc. slid in premarket trading on Thursday as the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment raised the possibility of a big slowdown in technology spending. The company, which reported its third-quarter financial results late Wednesday, alarmed investors with its sobering fourth-quarter forecast. Cisco CEO John Chambers said that customers are waiting longer to close deals and spending less money because of growing concerns about the economy, particularly in Europe and India.

Cisco Systems Inc. lowered analyst expectations for its current quarter ending in July, largely because the world's largest maker of computer-networking equipment is having trouble closing major sales with corporate customers who are becoming more concerned about the state of the economy, particularly in Europe. That raised fears that the technology companies catering to businesses and government agencies — a niche known as the "enterprise" market — are heading toward a slump.

Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of computer networking equipment, is expected to report continued progress when it reveals its latest financial results Wednesday. Cisco had been coming nicely out of the recession, but it ran into problems a year and a half ago. Competitors were nibbling at its core markets, and Cisco's approach looked scattershot. CEO John Chambers started slashing jobs and narrowing the company's focus, a strategy that started paying off late last year.

Cisco Systems Inc. said on Wednesday that it plans to acquire ClearAccess, a privately held maker of software for Internet service providers, to broaden network management tools for homes and mobile devices. Cisco is the world's largest maker of computer networking equipment. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed in Cisco's fiscal fourth quarter, which ends in July. ClearAccess, based in Vancouver, Wash., provides software to help service providers manage home networks, as they grow more complex with heavier...

NEW YORK - Cisco Systems Inc. is buying digital video technology company NDS Group for about $4 billion to enhance its video offerings to pay-TV providers and expand in emerging markets. The purchase would be Cisco's biggest since the company bought Norwegian teleconferencing company Tandberg in April 2010 for $3.4 billion. In the meantime, the networking gear maker has been working on turning its business around. It missed the early stages of the economic recovery and lost out to competitors on rebounding orders.

Governor Deval Patrick announced last week that the town would receive $1.8 million from a state infrastructure grant program for roadway safety and capacity improvements to Route 119 (Great Road). The goal is to assist with the redevelopment of the former Cisco Systems site and improved access to the IMB Mass Labs facility, a project for which groundbreaking is expected to take place in the spring. The old Cisco site has been identified as a development priority in the ongoing 495/MetroWest Development Compact, and redevelopment is expected to create 400 jobs.

Cisco Systems Inc. has agreed to pay $99 million to buy BNI Video, a Boxborough company whose software allows video service providers to incorporate such applications as social networking and search in their offerings. Cisco, the biggest maker of networking equipment, recently released a study that found Internet video is expected to make up 40 percent of consumer Internet traffic worldwide in 2011, and 62 percent by 2015. Buying BNI Video will advance the capabilities of Cisco's Videoscape TV platform, which allows service providers to deliver "compelling video experiences" to any device,...

BRUSSELS - Networking company Cisco said yesterday that it is challenging Microsoft's $8.5 billion takeover of Skype at the European Union's top court to ensure Microsoft will not block other video conferencing services. Microsoft completed the deal in October shortly after the European Commission, the EU's competition regulator, cleared the takeover. Microsoft Corp. hopes that owning Skype will allow it to better compete with other tech giants including Apple Inc. or Google Inc. But for Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of computer networking equipment, the Skype deal...