We recently published a list of Goldman Sachs Value Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) stands against other Goldman Sachs value stocks to invest in.
As we recently discussed in another article, growth stocks are massively overvalued and trading at significant premiums, which is why investment firms advise investors to concentrate on value stocks. Near the end of March 2025, artificial intelligence stocks that had taken the market over by storm faced losses, while undervalued stocks gained momentum. Similarly, hedge fund managers believe that now is the time to invest in value stocks, with cheap equities available across all industries. Banks, energy, consumer durables, healthcare, and media companies offer lucrative investment opportunities.
So, what is value investing? Matthew Fine, portfolio manager at Third Avenue Management, describes it as identifying companies trading at a notable discount to a conservative estimate of their true value. These opportunities often arise when a business, industry, or region faces challenges that cause investors to overreact and assume current difficulties will persist long-term. This pessimism creates chances to invest at attractive valuations. While broader equity markets currently appear overvalued, largely driven by the United States, Third Avenue sees overlooked value in many individual companies. Despite a rocky economy, the fund manager believes many quality businesses have become even cheaper, offering compelling opportunities for patient investors. However, the key is to avoid buying a company that seems cheap just because it has temporary advantages that might not last.
Warren Buffett is the king of value investing, and back in 2023, he commented in his annual shareholder meeting that “what gives you opportunities is other people doing dumb things”. Buffett’s Berkshire picks up stocks when others are panic-selling their holdings, and although the Oracle of Omaha understands that the world is rapidly changing, he still sees several value investing opportunities.
Overall, the stock market is in mayhem because of the uncertainty brought on by US trade wars and tariffs. However, institutional investors like Goldman Sachs align with the market perspective and have a thriving $634 billion portfolio. So, let’s take a look at the top Goldman Sachs value stocks.
Engineers using the latest Cisco TelePresence technology to collaborate with colleagues around the world.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of Goldman Sachs’ top value stock picks, we searched the investment firm’s Q4 2024 portfolio, starting from the top and assessing the PE ratios as of April 11. From there, we chose the top 12 stocks with PE ratios of 25 or under as Goldman Sachs’ value picks. We have also mentioned the Q4 2024 hedge fund sentiment around the holdings for further insight. The list is ranked in ascending order of Goldman Sachs’ stake value.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)
Goldman Sachs’ Q4 2024 Stake Value: $1,760,497,076
P/E Ratio as of April 11: 23.33
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is a California-based designer and manufacturer of IP-based networking and communications products. Cisco offers solutions such as campus and data center switching, enterprise routing, and wireless products for effortless voice, video, and data connectivity to customers worldwide. The company also specializes in advanced security solutions like network protection, identity and access management, and threat detection, as well as collaboration tools like the Webex Suite. Goldman Sachs owns a $1.76 billion stake in the company as of Q4 2024, making it one of the top Goldman Sachs value stocks.
On March 18, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and NVIDIA announced a partnership where they launched a new AI factory architecture that prioritizes security. The Cisco Secure AI Factory is made to help businesses develop and grow their AI technology easily and safely. It combines Cisco’s strong security tools, like Hypershield and AI Defense, with NVIDIA’s high-speed networking technology, Spectrum-X. This will offer businesses a safe, flexible, and simple way to create and manage AI systems without losing performance or protection.
On February 12, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share, up 3% compared to the last quarter. The dividend will be paid on April 23, to shareholders listed by April 3. Cisco’s board also approved a $15 billion boost to its share repurchase program, bringing the total available for buybacks to around $17 billion.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 84 hedge funds were long Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), up from 60 funds in the prior quarter. Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital is the biggest stakeholder of the company, with 13.8 million shares valued at $821.7 million.
Overall, CSCO ranks 12th among the Goldman Sachs Value Stocks: Top 12 Stock Picks. While we acknowledge the potential of value stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CSCO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.