When a company has absolutely dominated a market for decades, you can be sure that it has some significant competitive advantages. That's certainly the case for networking hardware provider Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO). While the company's market share has eroded a bit over the years, Cisco remains the undisputed leader in its core markets.

Cisco controlled 43.3% of the Ethernet switch market by revenue in the first quarter, according to IDC, along with 35.1% of the combined service provider and enterprise router market. In both cases, Cisco's market share is at least triple that of the nearest competitor.

You don't need a lot of money to invest in Cisco stock. With shares trading right around $50, you can pick up a couple of shares for $100. Given the company's track record of dominating the networking hardware industry, Cisco is a stock to buy and hold for years.

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Source Fool.com