QCOM: Analysts See Upside Amid Strong Earnings — But an FTC-Era Settlement Still Echoes

Court: S.D. California

Case: 3:17-cv-00121

Qualcomm QCOM is trading at $154.29, with strong Q2 results (+17% YoY revenue) and consistent support from institutional investors. Hedge funds like Vanguard, Geode, and UBS AM all boosted or maintained large positions in QCOM during recent quarters — despite some analysts tempering their outlook with "hold" ratings.

That said, investors may still recall Qualcomm’s QCOM legal troubles stemming from antitrust practices back in 2017, which ultimately led to a shareholder lawsuit and a significant drop in market value.

• Q2 EPS: $2.85 vs. $2.82 est.
• Return on Equity: 40.11%
• Net Margin: 26.11%
• Forecasted EPS (FY): $9.39
• Strong institutional ownership: 74.35%
• Insider activity: CFO and major shareholder sold >424,000 shares in Q2

Despite some analyst downgrades, many maintain bullish long-term targets, with an average price objective of $186.39 and top-end estimates as high as $225.

Back in 2017, Qualcomm was hit with antitrust complaints and accusations of weak financial reporting controls, triggering a class action lawsuit that still resonates with investors.

• Jan 17, 2017: FTC files complaint against Qualcomm over anticompetitive practices
• Jan 18, 2017: Multiple outlets highlight royalty abuse and refusal to license patents
• Jan 19, 2017: QCOM drops 18.3%
• Jan 23, 2017: Investors file class action suit for misleading practices

• Overcharging license fees and conditioning chip sales
• Offering Apple lower royalties in exchange for exclusivity
• Blocking competition by refusing to license essential patents
• Violating FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) commitments

• Qualcomm has reached a settlement with QCOM investors
• Claims relate to anticompetitive conduct and disclosure failures
• Payouts typically occur within 8–12 months post-final court approval
• Final eligibility and payout terms to be announced in court-approved materials

👉 You can check more information about it and file for a payout HERE.

With a robust product pipeline and shareholder confidence rising again, Qualcomm appears to be moving past its regulatory baggage — but the lessons from its FTC-era crisis still linger in the background.