Barclays upgrades Cisco after recent stock decline

NEW YORK (AP) — A Barclays analyst on Wednesday upgraded Cisco Systems Inc. after a recent stock decline triggered by a weak guidance.

THE BACKGROUND: Cisco, the world’s largest maker of computer-networking equipment, last week issued a sobering forecast for the current quarter, its fiscal fourth. The San Jose, Calif., company warned that customers are waiting longer to close deals and spending less money because of growing concerns about the economy, particularly in Europe and India.

Since then, shares have dropped 12 percent, with much of the decline the day after the May 9 report.

THE OPINION: Barclays analyst Jeff Kvaal lifted Cisco to “Overweight” from “Equal Weight,” saying that Cisco shares could rise if the economy stabilizes. And after their recent drop, he thinks shares probably won’t fall much further from current levels if the economy worsens.

Kvaal said that Cisco had performed relatively well in previous downturns. Cisco pulled out of a slump late last year after cutting about $1 billion in annual expenses.

Guidance for the quarter ending in July, for profit of 44 cents to 46 cents per share, may be too modest, Kvaal said. He said that his checks into the company suggest stable, not dropping, demand.

And if demand does shrink overall with a deteriorating economy, Kvaal said he thinks Cisco’s stock would be a safer place for investors to park funds, compared with other companies. That could protect the shares.

THE SHARES: Up 20 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $16.74 in afternoon trading. The stock is down 8 percent in 2012, but is up about 1.5 percent from a year ago.

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