SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cisco Systems Inc. reported stronger-than-expected results for its fiscal third quarter Tuesday as the world's leading maker of network routers and switches reported growth in all its major product categories.
The San Jose-based company also predicted continued growth in the current quarter and said it would add 1,000 engineering and sales jobs — most in the United States — before the end of the calendar year. It currently employs 34,300 people.
For the three months ended May 1, Cisco earned $1.2 billion, or 17 cents per share, compared with $987 million, or 14 cents per share, in the same period last year. Sales jumped nearly 22 percent, to $5.6 billion in the third quarter from $4.62 billion last year.
Excluding special items, the company earned $1.36 billion or 19 cents per share, compared with $1.08 billion or 15 cents a share in the same period last year.
On that basis, the results topped Wall Street's expectations. Analysts expected the company to post a profit of 18 cents per share on sales of $5.5 billion, according to a survey by Thomson First Call.
In February, it predicted sales would rise between 1 percent and 3 percent in the third quarter. Instead, they rose 4.1 percent.
"We are pleased to have achieved record earnings per share this quarter — marking our eighth consecutive quarter with pro forma net income exceeding $1 billion, and the strongest cash flow from operations in the company's history," said John Chambers, Cisco's chief executive.
The results were announced after the markets closed. Cisco shares closed at $22.25, up 63 cents, or 3 percent, in Tuesday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In the extended session, they gained 5 cents.