Marina Lyubimova
● Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) is set to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, November 5. Analysts are projecting earnings per share of $2.87 on revenue of $10.76 billion—marking a 5% bump from last year. The chipmaker has been on a hot streak, beating both earnings and revenue forecasts for eight straight quarters.
● The company is working hard to shake off its heavy reliance on smartphones by diving deeper into artificial intelligence, automotive tech, and cloud computing. While Qualcomm's CFO says handset revenue should still climb 5% quarter-over-quarter despite softer iPhone demand, there are some headwinds to watch. Economic uncertainty, supply chain hiccups, and fierce competition in the mobile chip space could squeeze profit margins in the near term.
● What's encouraging is how Qualcomm is building new revenue streams beyond phones. Its AI accelerator products are catching on with business customers, and the Snapdragon X series chips are putting the company in a prime position to capitalize on the explosion of AI-powered devices. Bank of America analysts point out that this AI infrastructure play represents a "meaningful diversification" away from the traditional smartphone business.
● Qualcomm's trajectory mirrors a bigger shift happening across the chip industry—major players are racing to balance up-and-down smartphone cycles with steadier, longer-term AI growth. As demand for edge computing and connected gadgets keeps rising, Qualcomm's tech expertise could cement its spot as a leader in premium processors.
Marina Lyubimova
