QUALCOMM (QCOM) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at QUALCOMM (QCOM): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Profile Item	QCOM
Name	QUALCOMM Incorporated
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductors
Market Capitalization	176.99 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq
Listing Date	December 13, 1991
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

QCOM

GSPC

QUALCOMM (QCOM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for QUALCOMM (QCOM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for QUALCOMM (QCOM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	4.41%	35.06%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	15.75%	22.14%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	3.17%	7.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

QCOM

GSPC

QUALCOMM (QCOM) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for QUALCOMM (QCOM) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	55.42%	73.97%
Beta (5Y)	1.73	1.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-44.29%	-64.62%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. QCOM is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.00	0.42
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.00	0.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) posts ROE of 52.82%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

52.82%

Group distribution

QCOM: 52.82%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

Largest peers

NVDA: 117.21%
SKHY: 92.54%
MU: 88.26%
QCOM: 52.82%
AVGO: 44.25%
TSM: 41.86%
AMD: 11.96%

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on ROE within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) keeps 31.61% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.61%

Group distribution

Max: 63.80%
QCOM: 31.61%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

Largest peers

SKHY: 70.27%
MU: 63.80%
NVDA: 63.66%
TSM: 51.12%
AVGO: 42.94%
QCOM: 31.61%
AMD: 16.77%

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on net margin within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) turns 15.41% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

15.41%

Group distribution

Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
QCOM: 15.41%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

Largest peers

MU: 80.68%
SKHY: 79.66%
NVDA: 66.24%
TSM: 58.66%
AVGO: 54.31%
AMD: 21.17%
QCOM: 15.41%

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on operating margin within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	52.82%	10.58%
ROA (TTM)	10.13%	4.85%
Net Margin (TTM)	31.61%	11.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	15.41%	15.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	53.10%	49.36%

Growth

Revenue Growth

QUALCOMM (QCOM) grew revenue -2.63%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

QUALCOMM (QCOM): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

QUALCOMM (QCOM) grew earnings per share 153.49%, above the industry benchmark range. Profits are compounding faster than at any typical peer, though a depressed base year can inflate the percentage, so the level of earnings matters alongside the rate.

QUALCOMM (QCOM): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-2.63%	9.64%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.38%	0.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)	153.49%	4.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	25.53%	-7.71%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) has current ratio of 1.86, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.86

Group distribution

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
Q1: 2.35
QCOM: 1.86
Min: 1.03

Largest peers

SKHY: 26.88
NVDA: 4.59
MU: 3.31
AMD: 2.73
TSM: 2.51
AVGO: 2.50
QCOM: 1.86

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on current ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.53

Group distribution

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
QCOM: 0.53
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

AVGO: 0.60
QCOM: 0.53
NVDA: 0.17
AMD: 0.13
TSM: 0.12
SKHY: 0.05
MU: 0.04

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.86	3.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.53	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.78	-0.36

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) has dividend yield of 2.31%, above the entire industry range. That headline income is large, but yields this far above peers often come from a falling share price or an at-risk payout, so dividend safety matters more than the percentage itself.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.31%

Group distribution

QCOM: 2.31%
Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

SKHY: 2,118.64%
QCOM: 2.31%
TSM: 1.70%
AVGO: 0.89%
NVDA: 0.15%
MU: 0.09%
AMD: 0.00%

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on dividend yield within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) has payout ratio of 28.50%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

28.50%

Group distribution

Max: 49.64%
QCOM: 28.50%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

AVGO: 32.44%
QCOM: 28.50%
TSM: 24.46%
NVDA: 3.54%
MU: 0.71%
SKHY: 0.00%
AMD: 0.00%

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on payout ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.31%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	28.50%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) trades at P/E ratio of 13.02, in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. Investors are paying less for each dollar of TTM earnings than they usually pay for comparable businesses.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.02

Group distribution

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
QCOM: 13.02
Min: 8.12

Largest peers

AMD: 95.95
AVGO: 37.51
TSM: 24.33
NVDA: 23.60
QCOM: 13.02
MU: 9.28
SKHY: 8.12

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on P/E ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) trades at 4.10 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.10

Group distribution

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
QCOM: 4.10
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

AMD: 16.21
AVGO: 15.73
NVDA: 14.88
MU: 5.86
QCOM: 4.10
TSM: 0.39
SKHY: 0.00

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on P/S ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) trades at 5.83 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.83

Group distribution

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
QCOM: 5.83
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

Largest peers

TSM: 71.65
NVDA: 19.68
AVGO: 14.06
AMD: 10.77
QCOM: 5.83
MU: 5.64
SKHY: 3.95

Where QUALCOMM (QCOM) stands on P/B ratio within its Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

QUALCOMM (QCOM) metric values compared with Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: QCOM	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	13.02	37.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.10	5.76
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.83	4.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.15%	1.46%