Investors in Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) waited a long time. The one-time darling of the tech industry briefly achieved the world's largest market cap in 2000. But since the dot-com bust, it struggled. Growth rates slowed, and the market's zeal for tech equipment providers faded.

Cisco's stock price peaked at $82 per share 23 years ago, and today trades about one-third below that all-time high. But with growth reigniting, should investors bet on the company returning to its former glory, or stay on the sidelines? 

Since the dot-com bust, the company tried many ways to draw investors back into the stock. In 2011, after years of opposing such a move, it introduced a dividend. Management boosted the payout every year since its debut, and at an annual rate of $1.56 per share, its dividend yield is now around 2.8%, nearly double the S 500's current average yield of 1.6%.

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Source Fool.com