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Qualcomm earnings preview: investors look for AI growth as smartphone demand softens

The chipmaker reports quarterly results with analysts watching for signs its AI pivot can offset weakness in the handset business
WHY IT MOVED
Qualcomm's results will show whether its push into AI chips for data centers and edge devices can compensate for slowing smartphone sales, the segment that still generates most of its revenue.
AT PUBLICATION
QCOM166.20▼ -2.26%
Measured when this story was written, not live.
QCOM Earnings & guidance Big Tech & AI InstantWhy Newsroom 2026-07-28

The numbers

Seeking Alpha reports that Qualcomm is set to release second-quarter earnings with investor attention focused on the company's artificial intelligence strategy as its traditional smartphone chip business faces headwinds. The preview comes as the semiconductor maker attempts to diversify revenue beyond mobile handsets. The earnings report has not yet been released.

Why it matters

The company has spent the past year positioning itself as a supplier of processors for AI workloads outside phones, competing with Nvidia and AMD in a market where demand has been stronger. If the handset weakness is deep enough, even early AI wins may not be enough to sustain growth this quarter.

How this compares

Qualcomm has historically derived the majority of its revenue from Snapdragon processors sold to smartphone manufacturers, but that market has matured and unit sales have declined in recent quarters. The company has responded by targeting automotive chips, Internet of Things devices, and AI accelerators for laptops and servers. Other semiconductor firms have reported mixed results from AI-related product lines, with some seeing strong data center demand while consumer AI applications remain nascent.

What to watch

The earnings report will reveal whether Qualcomm's AI chip sales have reached meaningful scale and how much further the handset segment has contracted. Analysts will listen for management guidance on design wins with cloud providers and device makers. The company's outlook for the second half of the year will indicate whether it expects the smartphone market to stabilize or continue weakening.

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HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE

Sources

Artificially generated from public sources, explained in our own words, and published as fast as possible. Our team holds editorial responsibility. This is analysis, not investment advice.

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