PREVIEW: Cisco near dot-com highs as AI fuels demand

** Cisco Systems CSCO.O shares dipping 0.6% on Wed, near its highest level since the dot-com era ahead of qtrly results after the bell, as investors watch for more AI-driven demand from cloud customers

** Shares last week reached highest since era of dot-com bubble; stock remains down ~10% from record high close in March 2000

** Co in May lifted its annual results forecast, driven by AI-related demand for its networking gear
** Analysts expect qtrly rev up 7% to $14.62 bln, adj EPS seen at $0.98 vs $0.87 yr-ago, per LSEG
** CSCO stock up about 20% YTD, outperforming Nasdaq .IXIC which is up 12%
** Stock recently at 18x expected earnings, above 5-yr avg forward PE of 14