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Cisco Systems vs MKS: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

Cisco Systems holds the cleaner structural position, with the lead spread across stability and profitability. MKS does not offset that deficit through any equally strong structural edge elsewhere. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

This is not just a one-metric split: both stability and profitability materially support the lead. Cisco Systems, Inc. leads by 36 points on the overall comparison score.

Trajectory Similarity
0.70
Similar
Peer-set rank: #8
within Cisco Systems, Inc.'s functional peer set

This pair is matched through long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

The pair sits on a clearly comparable long-term path, though it is not a near-twin match.

The strongest overlap appears in investment intensity and margin trend.

Similarity drivers
investment intensitymargin trend
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
CSCO
Cisco Systems, Inc.
61
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
MKSI
MKS Inc.
25
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

Score differences across key dimensions.

Dimension spread: CSCO vs MKSI Profitability 52 6 Stability 76 15 Valuation 63 33 Growth 54 52 CSCO MKSI
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +61
#2 Profitability +46
#3 Valuation +30
#4 Growth +2
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for CSCO and MKSI Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer CSCOMKSI Relative valuation Structural strength

Cisco Systems, Inc. looks stronger on relative valuation, while the broader price setup remains mixed.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
Cisco Systems, Inc. ranks near the top of the group on stability; MKS Inc. sits in the weaker half.
Profitability
On profitability, Cisco Systems, Inc. is positioned higher in the group, while MKS Inc. is closer to the middle.
Stability — Dominant Gap
CSCO
76
MKSI
15
Gap+61in favour of CSCO

The clearest distance comes from a steadier profile over time.

What else supports the lead

Profitability gives the lead a second hard layer of support, with a 10.6-point operating margin advantage.

What this means for the comparison

The lead is built on both stability and profitability, making it broader than a single-dimension result.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the CSCO vs MKSI comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Similar stability-and-profitability comparisons

Explore how CSCO and MKSI each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.