Shares of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM – Get Free Report) traded down 2.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $126.68 and last traded at $127.11. 8,944,022 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the average session volume of 11,448,434 shares. The stock had previously closed at $130.54.
Key Qualcomm News
Here are the key news stories impacting Qualcomm this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Clarivate named Qualcomm to its AI50 list, highlighting the company’s leadership in AI-related technology — this supports Qualcomm’s growth narrative around AI-enabled chips and licensing. Qualcomm Weighs ParkerVision Patent Appeal Against Growing AI50 Recognition
- Neutral Sentiment: Zacks notes heightened investor attention on QCOM, signaling increased interest/volume but not a concrete catalyst by itself. QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
- Neutral Sentiment: Consensus analyst rating sits at “Hold” (mixed buy/hold/sell split across coverage), suggesting limited near-term analyst-driven upside. Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) Receives Consensus Rating of “Hold” from Brokerages
- Negative Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded QCOM to Market Perform from Outperform and cut its price target to $140 (from $175), citing memory-related headwinds and the view that expectations are too high — an immediate negative catalyst. Bernstein Lowers Qualcomm (QCOM) PT, Says Expectations “Now Appear Much Too High”
- Negative Sentiment: Erste Group trimmed its FY2026/FY2027 EPS forecasts modestly below prior estimates, which weighs on forward earnings expectations versus consensus. MarketBeat: Qualcomm analyst estimate update
- Negative Sentiment: ParkerVision’s appeal could reopen elements of a long-running patent dispute with Qualcomm, creating legal uncertainty and potential trial/retrial risk — a possible headline risk for the stock. Qualcomm Weighs ParkerVision Patent Appeal Against Growing AI50 Recognition
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of research firms have recently weighed in on QCOM. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price target on shares of Qualcomm from $185.00 to $160.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised Qualcomm from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $135.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Qualcomm in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $132.00 target price on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities cut their price target on Qualcomm from $225.00 to $190.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Qualcomm from $195.00 to $185.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $165.14.
Qualcomm Stock Performance
The firm has a market cap of $135.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.26 and a beta of 1.25. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $141.77 and its 200-day moving average is $160.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.83 and a current ratio of 2.51.
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The wireless technology company reported $3.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.38 by $0.12. Qualcomm had a net margin of 11.96% and a return on equity of 44.09%. The firm had revenue of $12.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.41 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Qualcomm has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.450-2.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Qualcomm Incorporated will post 9.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Qualcomm Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 5th were paid a $0.89 dividend. This represents a $3.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 5th. Qualcomm’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.55%.
Qualcomm declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Tuesday, March 17th that authorizes the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the wireless technology company to purchase up to 14.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.
Insider Activity at Qualcomm
In other news, EVP Akash J. Palkhiwala sold 3,333 shares of Qualcomm stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.65, for a total value of $458,787.45. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 35,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,900,202.35. This trade represents a 8.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Heather S. Ace sold 3,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.00, for a total transaction of $438,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 16,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,245,841. The trade was a 16.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 9,866 shares of company stock valued at $1,474,796. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of QCOM. Westerkirk Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in Qualcomm during the second quarter valued at approximately $4,539,000. MASTERINVEST Kapitalanlage GmbH acquired a new position in shares of Qualcomm in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,896,000. Inscription Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Qualcomm by 58.1% during the 3rd quarter. Inscription Capital LLC now owns 13,055 shares of the wireless technology company’s stock worth $2,172,000 after buying an additional 4,799 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Qualcomm by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,004,339 shares of the wireless technology company’s stock worth $167,082,000 after buying an additional 16,738 shares during the period. Finally, Simplify Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Qualcomm in the 3rd quarter valued at $725,000. 74.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Qualcomm Company Profile
Qualcomm Incorporated is a global semiconductor and telecommunications equipment company headquartered in San Diego, California. Founded in 1985, the company is known for its development of wireless technologies and for playing a central role in the evolution of digital cellular standards, including CDMA and subsequent generations of mobile standards. Qualcomm’s business combines the design and sale of semiconductor products with a patent licensing program for wireless technologies and related intellectual property.
The company’s product portfolio includes system-on-chip (SoC) platforms marketed under the Snapdragon brand, cellular modem and RF front-end components, connectivity solutions for Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, and processors and platforms aimed at automotive, IoT, networking and edge-computing applications.
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