Dueling Fools
December 16, 1998
The Cisco Kids
Cisco price (12/15/98): $83 3/4
We're a connected world and Cisco <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCO)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: CSCO)") end if %> couldn't be happier. The networking giant has thrived so far in the 1990s, but is there a firewall in the company's future?
This week Chris Rugaber (TMF RFK) and Paul Larson (TMF Parlay) are Dueling Fools. Chris thinks Cisco can be the hub of any portfolio while Paul favors the switch. Who is right? You decide.
And don't miss this week's Duel Flashback, where we look back at our shareholder lawsuit debate now that the six-month statute of limitations has run out.
You Get to Vote!
Once you've read the arguments and the rebuttals, it's your time to cast your vote. We'll tabulate results each week and revisit them from time to time to see whether you were right! As always, we invite you to join us in the Dueling Fools Message board to continue the duel.
[Any suggestions, comments, praise, or flames, please send them along to the Dueling Fools Team.]
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The Bull... Ah, to be the bull for Cisco -- what could be easier? Whether you're talking about Cisco's tremendous earnings growth, share price performance, or balance sheet strength, the company presents an embarrassment of riches to those who would sing its praises. Cisco is the networking gorilla. It is to networks what Microsoft is to software, what Intel is to microprocessors, what Dell is to personal computers: a high-margin, well-run company in a fast-growing industry. Continue... |
The Bear... Boy, do I have a tough assignment here. Cisco was the fastest company to make it past $100 billion in market capitalization. This isn't a hype-job, either. Cisco has delivered nothing but superb results, and my argument will not take anything away from the past success of the company. What I will argue is that while Cisco's past story is as glorious as they get, today's price tag is quite lofty for a company showing slowing growth and increased competition. Continue... |
Results for last week's AMR Duel
| Answer | Percentage |
| I can't make up my mind | 4% |
| TMF Max's Bull argument |
43% |
| TMF Edible's Bear argument |
36% |
| They were both excellent |
12% |
| They were both lame |
5% |