ALAB vs. QCOM: Astera Labs vs. QUALCOMM Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM) are both classified in the Semiconductors sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

QUALCOMM (QCOM) carries decades of public-market history since December 13, 1991, while Astera Labs (ALAB) listed on March 20, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the QCOM side.

Company profile comparison for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Profile Item	ALAB	QCOM
Name	Astera Labs, Inc.	QUALCOMM Incorporated
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductors	Semiconductors
Market Capitalization	33.33 billion USD	176.99 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	March 20, 2024	December 13, 1991
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALAB

QCOM

GSPC

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Total Return (1Y)	31.42%	4.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	--	15.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	--	3.17%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALAB

QCOM

GSPC

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	101.55%	55.42%
Beta (5Y)	3.95	1.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-63.69%	-44.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.15M	12.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALAB and QCOM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.27	0.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.39	0.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Astera Labs (ALAB) at 28.21% and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 52.82% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

28.21%

Max: 52.82%
ALAB: 28.21%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

52.82%

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Astera Labs (ALAB) at 29.64% and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 31.61% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.64%

Max: 63.80%
ALAB: 29.64%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

31.61%

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 30.61% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 15.41%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

30.61%

Max: 58.66%
ALAB: 30.61%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

15.41%

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
ROE (TTM)	28.21%	52.82%
ROA (TTM)	13.41%	10.13%
Net Margin (TTM)	29.64%	31.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.61%	15.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)	73.89%	53.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 115.13% delivers above-range revenue growth, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at -2.63% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: QUALCOMM (QCOM) reports EPS growth of 153.49%, ranked against its industry; Astera Labs (ALAB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	115.13%	-2.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	120.18%	6.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	153.49%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	25.53%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 8.03 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 1.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

8.03

Max: 10.33
ALAB: 8.03
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.86

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Astera Labs (ALAB) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 0.53 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.02

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
ALAB: 0.02
Min: 0.00

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.53

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	8.03	1.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.02	0.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	-3.23	0.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile QUALCOMM (QCOM) reports a yield of 2.31%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
ALAB: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.31%

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Astera Labs (ALAB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile QUALCOMM (QCOM) reports a payout of 28.50%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
ALAB: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

28.50%

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.31%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	28.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 13.02 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 75.38 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

75.38

Max: 110.34
ALAB: 75.38
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.02

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 4.10 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 21.42 sits in the pricier quartile — ALAB costs more per dollar of sales.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

21.42

ALAB: 21.42
Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.10

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 5.83 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Astera Labs (ALAB) at 16.67 prices above its benchmark range — ALAB looks rich relative to book.

ALAB

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

16.67

ALAB: 16.67
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

QCOM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.83

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

Astera Labs (ALAB) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Astera Labs (ALAB) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Metric	ALAB	QCOM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	75.38	13.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)	21.42	4.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	16.67	5.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	0.39%	5.15%