Tech dividends

Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO), the world’s largest producer of networking routers and switches, has posted declining revenue for four straight quarters. Its infrastructure business, which generates over half its revenue, struggled with sluggish network upgrades, competition from rivals, the loss of Chinese contracts during the ongoing trade war and pandemic-related disruptions. Its smaller security business continued growing, but couldn’t offset its other weaknesses. Cisco’s revenue declined 5 percent in fiscal 2020, but its adjusted earnings grew 4 percent as it cut costs and repurchased more shares. Analysts expect both its revenue and earnings to dip by about 1 percent this year. Those growth rates might seem dismal, but Cisco’s core business should heat up again after the pandemic passes. Warmer relations between the U.S. and China under the Biden administration could stabilize Cisco’s Chinese business, and it might pull customers away from Huawei as the Chinese tech giant struggles with trade blacklists and sanctions. A growing need for cloud and data center upgrades should also spark fresh orders for its routers and switches worldwide. Cisco’s stock isn’t likely to rally anytime soon, but its low forwardlooking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14 and its recent dividend yield of 3.2 percent should limit its downside risk. It’s raised its dividend every year following its first payment in 2011, and is likely to keep doing so.