Cisco marks turnaround after two years, revenue grows to US$12 billion

Cisco Systems has reported its first rise in quarterly revenue in more than two years and forecast upbeat current-quarter profit, as the network gear maker's years-long efforts to transform into a software-focused company begins to pay off.

Shares of the Dow component, which also benefited from growth in its switching business, jumped 7.1 percent to US$45.09 in after-market trading on Wednesday.

Cisco raised its buyback program by US$25 billion, taking the total to about US$31 billion.

The company said it plans to bring back US$67 billion of funds held overseas in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 by taking advantage of the recent changes to the US tax laws.

However, the new tax laws led to an US$11.1 billion charge, pushing the company to post a loss for the second quarter.

Faced with sluggish demand for its traditional switches and routers business from telecom carriers, Cisco has been moving to a software- and subscription-focused model.

"We are clearly seeing the results of the strategy we've articulated over the last 10 quarters," chief executive Chuck Robbins said on a post-earnings call.

Revenue from its infrastructure platforms category, which includes switching, routing and data centre businesses, rose 2 percent to US$6.7 billion.

The company is also betting on subscription services for a recurring stream of revenue.

"I'm most impressed at the growth in software subscriptions as Cisco five years ago was primarily about hardware," said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy.

Cisco has also doubled down on M&As to build up its software business. Since Robbins took charge in July 2015, the company has acquired internet of things firm Jasper Technologies, software makers Broadsoft and AppDynamics, among others.

The Broadsoft acquisition, which closed earlier this month, helped boost Cisco's third-quarter adjusted profit. The company forecast adjusted profit between 64 cents and 66 cents per share, above analysts' estimate of 63 cents.

Cisco posted a net loss of US$8.8 billion, or US$1.78 per share, in the second quarter ended 27 January, compared with a profit of US$2.3 billion, or 47 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 63 cents per share.

Revenue rose 2.7 percent to US$11.9 billion.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of 59 cents per share and revenue of US$11.8 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)