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NVDA vs. QCOM: NVIDIA vs. QUALCOMM Stock Comparison

How do NVIDIA (NVDA) 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

NVIDIA (NVDA) 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.

Company profile comparison for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
Profile ItemNVDAQCOM
NameNVIDIA CorporationQUALCOMM Incorporated
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsSemiconductors
Market Capitalization4,506.80 billion USD176.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 22, 1999December 13, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NVDA
QCOM
GSPC
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Total Return (1Y)-5.54%4.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)55.88%15.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)42.17%3.17%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NVDA
QCOM
GSPC
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.31%55.42%
Beta (5Y)2.281.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)-66.34%-44.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)120.20M12.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NVDA 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.260.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.360.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but NVIDIA (NVDA) at 117.21% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 52.82% also sits in the top quartile.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

117.21%

NVDA
117.21%
Max
52.82%
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%
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 63.66% and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 31.61% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.66%

Max
63.80%
NVDA
63.66%
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%
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.24% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 15.41% operates around its industry’s norm.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

66.24%

NVDA
66.24%
Max
58.66%
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%
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
ROE (TTM)117.21%52.82%
ROA (TTM)53.57%10.13%
Net Margin (TTM)63.66%31.61%
Operating Margin (TTM)66.24%15.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.67%53.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 65.47% delivers above-range revenue growth, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at -2.63% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 153.49% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.67% also sits in the top quartile.

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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Revenue Growth (YoY)65.47%-2.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)100.05%6.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)66.67%153.49%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)204.24%25.53%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 4.59 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 1.86 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for QCOM.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.59

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
NVDA
4.59
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
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both NVIDIA (NVDA) at 0.17 and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 0.53 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
NVDA
0.17
Q1
0.04
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
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Current Ratio (MRQ)4.591.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.170.53
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.120.78

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 0.15% pays an industry-typical yield; QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 2.31% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.15%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
NVDA
0.15%
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%
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 3.54% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 28.50% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.54%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
NVDA
3.54%
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%
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.15%2.31%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)3.54%28.50%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both NVIDIA (NVDA) at 23.60 and QUALCOMM (QCOM) at 13.02 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

23.60

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
NVDA
23.60
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
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 14.88 sits in the pricier quartile — NVDA costs more per dollar of sales.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.88

Max
21.42
NVDA
14.88
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
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NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 19.68 prices above its benchmark range — NVDA looks rich relative to book.

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.68

NVDA
19.68
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
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NVIDIA (NVDA) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for NVIDIA (NVDA) and QUALCOMM (QCOM)
MetricNVDAQCOM
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.6013.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)14.884.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)19.685.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.93%5.15%