"It's a positive in terms of analyzing Cisco and assessing risk," he says of Cisco's comparatively still-short closing time. He notes that many of the 14 companies he follows take at least three weeks to report quarterly results. Lengthened reporting times increase the chances that a company will miss its earnings target, and may keep management itself is in the dark about performance.

"Cisco gives me a better sense of confidence that it knows where things are at," Leopold says. "It's a higher quality story because in large part it has a conservative approach to accounting and its financials."

Of course, that doesn't mean that Cisco is insulated from broader economic forces. For instance, of about $1 billion for fiscal 2001, due in part to a drop in shipments resulting from a "sudden and significant decrease in demand for our products," the company stated at the time. In the years following, the company's top line increased steadily through fiscal 2008, when it hit $39.5 billion. As the economy slumped in 2009, Cisco's revenue fell about 9%. They then rebounded, topping $40 billion in 2010.

Although no longer Cisco's CFO, Larry Carter is a member of its board of directors. John Chambers remains CEO there, 16 years after being named to the post. Meanwhile, the veteran tech-company CFO who's now in charge of Cisco finance -- Frank Calderoni, who joined the company in 2004 -- previously was senior vice president, customer solutions finance. Cisco's web site describes his role at the company as being "committed to maximizing long-term shareholder value, ensuring a balanced portfolio of growth initiatives, and maintaining the high level of integrity and transparency that Cisco is known for."

A Cisco spokesperson didn't have an immediate response to requests to discuss its history with the virtual close.