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Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) shares climbed sharply on Wednesday, closing up 9% after a volatile trading session triggered by its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings report and softer-than-expected forward guidance. The stock initially dropped more than 6% as investors reacted to cautious projections, but later rebounded strongly, at one point jumping as much as 15% before settling higher.
The semiconductor giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.65, surpassing analyst expectations of $2.55. Quarterly revenue reached $10.6 billion, slightly beating the $10.58 billion consensus estimate, though it marked a 3% decline compared to $10.98 billion in the same period last year. Despite the earnings beat, Qualcomm’s outlook for the third quarter raised concerns among investors.
For Q3 2026, Qualcomm forecast revenue between $9.2 billion and $10 billion, with a midpoint of $9.6 billion falling below the analyst estimate of $10.26 billion. Adjusted EPS guidance came in at $2.10 to $2.30, with a midpoint of $2.20, also missing expectations of $2.43. This weaker guidance initially pressured the stock before sentiment shifted.
A key catalyst behind the stock’s recovery was Qualcomm’s announcement that it will begin shipping chips to a major hyperscaler data center customer within this calendar year, earlier than its previously projected fiscal 2027 timeline. This development highlights Qualcomm’s growing presence in the AI and data center markets, which are key drivers of future growth.
CEO Cristiano Amon emphasized the company’s strategic positioning in the evolving tech landscape, noting that AI innovation is reshaping Qualcomm’s product roadmap. Additionally, the company expects the Chinese smartphone market—its largest segment—to stabilize in the third quarter and return to growth afterward.
Segment performance was mixed, with automotive revenue hitting a record $1.33 billion, up 38% year-over-year, while combined automotive and IoT revenue rose 20%. However, handset revenue declined 13% to $6.02 billion. Qualcomm’s licensing division (QTL) delivered $1.38 billion in revenue, reflecting a 5% increase year-over-year.
Overall, Qualcomm’s earnings beat, expanding AI opportunities, and strong automotive growth helped offset concerns over near-term guidance, driving investor optimism.
