Cisco: Internet Infrastructure King Still Reigns

During the Internet boom in the latter part of the 1990s, Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) was the king of the “must-have” stocks, with shares of the maker of telecommunications-networking gear soaring 400% from June 1998 to March 2000.

At Friday’s close of $23.61, Cisco’s shares are down 69% from their all-time high of $77.31 and 31% from their 52-week high of $34.24, as most investors realize this will never be the great growth stock that it was a decade ago.