Why Qualcomm Stock Surged 17% in July
Image Source: Qualcomm.
What: Shares of mobile chip giant Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) rose 16.8% in July, according to data provided byS&P Global Market Intelligence. Following a string of revenue declines, Qualcomm returned to growth during its fiscal third-quarter. The company beat analyst estimates across the board and provided solid guidance for the rest of the year.
So what: Qualcomm reported third-quarter revenue of $6.04 billion, up 3.6% year over year and about $450 million higher than the average analyst estimate. The QCT segment, which includes all chip sales, produced flat revenue year over year, while the QTL segment, which is responsible for licensing, grew revenue by 6%. The total number of MSM chip shipments dropped 11% year over year, but increased 6% sequentially.
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.16, up 17% year over year and $0.19 higher than analysts were expecting. Pre-tax income increased in both of Qualcomm's segments, with QCT and QLT reporting 26% and 6% year over year growth, respectively. Qualcomm's bottom line was aided by a decline in R&D spending, which caused total operating costs to shrink year over year.
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf summed up the quarter:
Now what: In addition to beating analyst estimates for the third quarter, Qualcomm provided guidance that was strong enough to please investors. The company expects fiscal fourth-quarter revenue in a range of $5.4 billion to $6.2 billion, compared to $5.5 billion during the prior-year period. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be between $1.05 and $1.15, up 15% to 26% year over year.
Qualcomm's solid results were a welcome surprise for investors, but the company still faces a difficult environment. The smartphone market is no longer growing as fast as it once was, a fact that will continue to put pressure on Qualcomm's business. The stock is still down substantially since peaking in mid-2014, reflecting lingering uncertainty in Qualcomm's growth prospects.
A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.
Timothy Green has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Qualcomm. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.