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Technology Stocks : Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Amy J who wrote (67261)	3/9/2005 8:44:34 AM
From: GVTucker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 77400

Amy, RE: Hm... can think of more than a dozen women that I know that have raised venture capital but only after their startups were profitable - Series A, B, C. Funny, you see it differently than what we see it here. It would be interesting to chart a person's business profitability at the various stages by gender. I didn't realize there was such gender prejudice on the west coast. When I look at a deal, the gender of the CEO is irrelevant. Next time you see a gal with a good deal but isn't immediately profitable, tell her to call me.

To: Amy J who wrote (67261)	3/9/2005 11:37:49 AM
From: William F. Wager, Jr.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 77400

UPDATE: Cisco CEO: Chief Execs Looking More Optimistic... By ROGER CHENG March 9, 2005 10:20 a.m. Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK -- In general, chief executives across the nation are more optimistic about the state of their businesses, said Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) Chief Executive John Chambers. While many expect to spend more, those CEOs are still cautious, Chambers said during an investor conference Wednesday hosted by Deutsche Bank. The presentation was Webcast. "It's a positive trend for 2005 and 2006 in terms of capital spending," he said. In the network business, customers are looking for products that are both flexible and offer security, he said. The products need to last not two to three years, but two to three decades, he said. Also, they need to be flexible enough to adjust to a changing marketplace. The security component has to "play together across the whole architecture of the system," and not be tacked on to a product. Security and business continuity are among the top issues for companies, he said. Cisco's Chambers said spending on equipment and capital typically comes ahead of hiring people. As spending increases, he believes that the networking segment will be at the heart of the evolution of growth opportunities for businesses. One of the key variables CEOs are cautious about is business confidence, which can swing quickly in either direction, he said. In terms of Cisco's own prospects, Chambers believes the company will grow within the range of 10% to 15%, in line with the expectations for industry growth. "Where we grow depends on how we execute," he said. The company's gross margins will be slightly down over time, mostly as a result of the company entering new markets and product segments, he said. Chambers said he believes that the market will evolve, depending on how companies innovate. The company will pay a dividend in the future, Chambers said. The executive also laid out Cisco's "self-defending network" concept, explaining that each of its products offers network protection, not only working by itself, but also collaboratively across the entire system. He noted Cisco has acquired 12 companies specializing in network security. -By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-2020; roger.cheng@dowjones.com