11 Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2025

8. Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)

Year-to-date return as of February 14: 9.76%

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is one of the biggest software firms and the world’s biggest supplier of networking equipment. Its main businesses are networking hardware and software (where it has a significant market share) and cybersecurity software such as firewalls. It also offers observability tools and collaborative technologies, such as its Webex suite. It employs 25,000 people in sales and marketing in 90 countries, and it mostly contracts out its manufacturing to outside companies. It offers its products all around the world and has 80,000 employees overall.

As the industry leader in enterprise networking, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) continues to dominate both legacy and emerging networks. The firm has dominant market shares in wireless access, switching, and routing. It also has strong complementary positions in security and teamwork. Its portfolio has the potential to profit from the growing popularity of hybrid cloud and work environments. It provides the most extensive set of features in the convergent security and networking fields.

At $14 billion, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)’s January-quarter revenue increased 1% sequentially and 9% year over year. Profitability and revenue exceeded management’s forecasted levels.

Following better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results, an increase in full-year revenue guidance, and praise from many banks, the company’s shares were up. According to Citi, its campus and data center switching businesses’ double-digit percentage growth “bodes well” for the outlook of its networking business in the next quarters. Furthermore, the bank took a positive view of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)’s $750 million in “cloud AI orders” during the first two quarters of its fiscal year. The company’s increased full-year estimate is “relatively conservative,” according to investment bank Evercore ISIS, which also referred to the results as “impressive.”