Qualcomm is fundamentally strong, with solid ROE, ROIC and gross margins. But recent declines in these metrics warrant caution. The company is expanding into automotive and AI, positioning itself for future growth, yet faces volatile earnings and underperformance vs. the S&P 500. Valuation analysis shows QCOM is slightly undervalued, but lowered growth forecasts limit upside potential to around market-average returns.
As we start into the back half of July, tech giant Qualcomm Inc. NASDAQ: QCOM continues to build on an uptrend that began quietly in April. It's not flashy, but this sustained rally matters for a stock that's spent much of the past couple of years frustrating investors with choppy, sideways action.
Qualcomm (QCOM) has been one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com users lately. So, it is worth exploring what lies ahead for the stock.
Semiconductors Industry | Technology Sector | Cristiano Renno Amon CEO | NASDAQ (NGS) Exchange | 747525103 Cusip |
US Country | 49,000 Employees | 5 Jun 2025 Last Dividend | 16 Aug 2004 Last Split | 13 Dec 1991 IPO Date |
QUALCOMM Incorporated is a pioneering force in the global wireless industry, engaging in the development and commercialization of key technologies that are foundational to wireless communications around the world. The company operates through three primary segments: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI). With a rich history dating back to 1985, QUALCOMM has its headquarters in San Diego, California, cementing its status as a leader in innovation within the ever-evolving communications landscape. By focusing on revolutionary 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, along with a strong commitment to research and development, QUALCOMM continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in wireless communication, networking, and related fields.
This segment spearheads the development and provision of integrated circuits and system software based on 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, among others. The products are crucial for a wide range of applications, including wireless voice and data communications, networking, computing, multimedia, and precise location positioning. The emphasis on advancing these technologies ensures QUALCOMM remains at the forefront of the wireless communication industry.
QTL segment is known for its strategic licensing agreements, granting users rights to a portion of QUALCOMM’s vast intellectual property portfolio. This includes patent rights essential for the manufacture and sale of wireless products, especially those that implement CDMA2000, WCDMA, LTE, and OFDMA-based 5G standards. By licensing these critical technologies, QUALCOMM facilitates broader adoption and innovation in wireless product development across the industry.
The QSI division of QUALCOMM takes an active role in fostering innovation beyond the company’s core technologies by investing in early-stage companies. These investments span various industries closely linked to the future of digital connectivity, including 5G, artificial intelligence, the automotive sector, consumer technologies, enterprise solutions, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and extended reality. Apart from equity investments, the QSI segment also engages in acquiring convertible debt instruments, showcasing QUALCOMM’s commitment to nurturing promising technologies that can shape the future of communication and computing.