In a global survey of 5,200 IT, technology and security professionals across 12 markets, Cisco found that 90% of organizations have expanded their privacy programs over the past year and 93% plan to increase spending further to address the complexities of AI systems. The study reveals that 38% of respondents invested at least $5 million in privacy initiatives in the past 12 months, up from 14% in the prior year. While 96% agree that strong privacy frameworks accelerate AI innovation, 65% report difficulty accessing high-quality data efficiently, underscoring the need for improved data hygiene, transparency and governance to sustain customer trust at scale.

Evercore ISI this week raised its rating on Cisco shares from In Line to Outperform, citing accelerating AI-driven demand for secure networking solutions and a more compelling risk/reward profile as catalysts. The firm lifted its 12-month price target by 25%, reflecting expectations that margin expansion and recurring software revenue will drive mid-single-digit top-line growth through fiscal 2026. Evercore highlights Cisco’s industry-leading position in hybrid cloud, network security and AI-powered observability tools as key differentiators poised to unlock sustained shareholder value.

In its latest 13F filing, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. disclosed a 4.3% increase in its Cisco shareholding during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 24,033 shares for a total holding of 588,908 shares valued at roughly $40.3 million. This move follows similar activity by other institutional investors, contributing to a backdrop where more than 70% of Cisco’s shares are held by hedge funds and other large asset managers. The increment reflects growing confidence in Cisco’s strategic transition toward software-defined networking and subscription-based security services.