Qualcomm Reports Strong Q4 Earnings, Beats Analyst Estimates and Announces New Share Buyback Plan

Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) released its fourth-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, exceeding analyst expectations and posting strong financial results. The company reported revenue of $10.24 billion for the quarter, a 19% increase year-over-year and surpassing the consensus estimate of $9.9 billion.

The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter came in at $2.69, beating the analyst estimate of $2.56 by $0.13. This represents a 33% year-over-year increase in EPS.

Qualcomm’s QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) segment saw revenue grow by 18% to $8.68 billion, with significant growth in the automotive segment, which recorded its fifth consecutive quarterly revenue record. The QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) segment revenue increased by 21% to $1.52 billion.

The company also announced a new $15 billion stock repurchase authorization, which has no expiration date and is in addition to the remaining $1 billion from the October 2021 plan.

For the first quarter of 2025, Qualcomm provided guidance, expecting revenue in the range of $10.5 billion to $11.3 billion and EPS between $2.85 and $3.05. This aligns closely with analyst consensus estimates.

Qualcomm’s strong financial performance and positive outlook have been reflected in its stock price, which rose by 5% to $173.54 on the day of the earnings report. The stock is up 24% year-to-date in 2024.