GROWTH CATALYST

While some competitors have struggled with falling profits and slowing sales this year, Cisco Systems Inc. is expected to report revenue growth today of more than 30% for its fiscal year.

The world’s largest maker of computer-networking equipment is likely to report that fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose to 47 cents a diluted share, according to First Call Corp. That’s up from 36 cents in the year-earlier quarter.

Strong sales of the company’s Catalyst line of switches, used to link computers in corporate networks, are forecast to drive revenue to $2.3 billion for the quarter ended July 25. Cisco, based in San Jose, is scheduled to report results after the close of U.S. markets.

The company sells 80% of the equipment used by large businesses to combine their computer networks with the Internet. As sales to its corporate customers slow, Cisco is pushing into the fast-growing market for Net equipment sold to phone companies.

Investors and analysts will be most interested in the company’s sales to telecommunication carriers and its Asian results, said Martin Pyykkonen, an analyst with CIBC Oppenheimer.

“The Catalyst switching is driving the revenue growth,” said Scott Heritage, an analyst with Warburg Dillon Read, who rates Cisco “buy.” The company is “consistent in managing and meeting expectations,” so it is unlikely to either miss or beat them by a wide margin, he added.

Cisco gained 75 cents to close at $96.50 on Nasdaq. The shares have surged 73% this year, bringing the company’s market value to more than $100 billion.