Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) Stock Price Up 1.3% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Qualcomm shares rose 1.3% to $177.96, supported by a $0.92 quarterly dividend, a TD Cowen upgrade to “Buy” with a $200 price target, and potential growth from its planned PickNik Robotics acquisition.
• The company faces mixed fundamentals: its latest quarter included a modest EPS miss and a 4% year-over-year revenue decline, while reported global job cuts could improve efficiency but carry execution risks.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious overall, with a consensus “Hold” rating and $205.83 target price; insider selling continued, though the transactions were conducted under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans.

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM - Get Free Report) shares shot up 1.3% during trading on Wednesday. The stock traded as high as $178.99 and last traded at $177.96. 7,154,637 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 53% from the average daily volume of 15,153,643 shares. The stock had previously closed at $175.71.

More Qualcomm News

Here are the key news stories impacting Qualcomm this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Qualcomm declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.92 per share. The dividend is payable December 17 to shareholders of record December 3, reinforcing Qualcomm’s shareholder-return profile and potentially supporting income-focused demand. Qualcomm Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target to $200 from $175 and upgraded QCOM to “Buy.” The call signals improved confidence in Qualcomm’s valuation and longer-term growth prospects.
• Positive Sentiment: Qualcomm’s planned acquisition of PickNik Robotics could expand its physical-AI opportunity. The deal may strengthen the Dragonwing ecosystem and provide exposure to industrial robotics and edge-computing growth beyond smartphones. Can Qualcomm’s PickNik Acquisition Strengthen Its Robotics Edge?
• Neutral Sentiment: Qualcomm reportedly plans global job cuts following performance reviews. Restructuring could improve efficiency and margins, but the scale, timing and execution costs remain unclear. Qualcomm to Cut Jobs Worldwide in Performance-Focused Layoffs
• Neutral Sentiment: Qualcomm outperformed the broader market in the prior session, indicating favorable near-term momentum, although the move was not linked to a fresh earnings report.
• Negative Sentiment: EVP Akash Palkhiwala sold 2,500 shares worth approximately $437,650. The transaction was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, reducing its negative significance, but it adds to concerns about ongoing insider selling. Qualcomm Insider Share Sale
• Negative Sentiment: Recent operating results remain a concern. Qualcomm’s latest reported quarter included a modest EPS miss, 4% year-over-year revenue decline and lower EPS than the prior-year period, highlighting pressure on its core business.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

QCOM has been the subject of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Qualcomm in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $190.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Qualcomm in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. They issued a "strong-buy" rating for the company. Lake Street Capital cut shares of Qualcomm to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Qualcomm from $190.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $400.00 price objective on shares of Qualcomm in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Qualcomm has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $205.83.

Qualcomm Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $190.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60, a PEG ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 1.65. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $175.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $180.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The wireless technology company reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.02). Qualcomm had a net margin of 21.01% and a return on equity of 38.36%. The firm had revenue of $9.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.69 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.77 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Qualcomm has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 2.050-2.250 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Qualcomm Incorporated will post 7.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Qualcomm

In other news, EVP Ann Chaplin sold 1,827 shares of Qualcomm stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.75, for a total value of $319,268.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 25,770 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,503,307.50. The trade was a 6.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Akash Palkhiwala sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.06, for a total value of $437,650.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 20,799 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,641,072.94. This represents a 10.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 33,458 shares of company stock worth $6,198,144. Insiders own 0.05% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Qualcomm

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Albion Financial Group UT grew its position in Qualcomm by 0.4% during the third quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 43,760 shares of the wireless technology company's stock worth $8,054,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC raised its holdings in Qualcomm by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 16,673 shares of the wireless technology company's stock valued at $3,069,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Sawyer & Company Inc bought a new stake in shares of Qualcomm during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,403,000. Sowell Financial Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Qualcomm by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 30,606 shares of the wireless technology company's stock valued at $5,633,000 after acquiring an additional 1,198 shares during the period. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Qualcomm by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 24,213 shares of the wireless technology company's stock worth $4,282,000 after purchasing an additional 1,368 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.35% of the company's stock.

Qualcomm Company Profile

Qualcomm Incorporated is a technology company that develops and commercializes wireless communications and semiconductor technologies. Through Qualcomm Technologies, Inc, the company designs integrated circuits, system software and related platforms used in smartphones, personal computers, automobiles, industrial equipment, consumer devices and other connected products. Its Snapdragon platforms support mobile computing, connectivity, artificial intelligence and multimedia applications, while its broader portfolio includes radio-frequency systems, networking and edge-computing technologies.

Qualcomm also operates a significant technology-licensing business through its Qualcomm Technology Licensing segment.

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