Processors and Graphics Chips Stocks Q3 Recap: Benchmarking Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM)

By Adam Hejl | December 01, 2025, 5:39 AM 

The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how processors and graphics chips stocks fared in Q3, starting with Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM).

The biggest demand drivers for processors (CPUs) and graphics chips at the moment are secular trends related to 5G and Internet of Things, autonomous driving, and high performance computing in the data center space, specifically around AI and machine learning. Like all semiconductor companies, digital chip makers exhibit a degree of cyclicality, driven by supply and demand imbalances and exposure to PC and Smartphone product cycles.

The 8 processors and graphics chips stocks we track reported a strong Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was above.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 8.7% since the latest earnings results.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM)

Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances.

Qualcomm reported revenues of $11.27 billion, up 10% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a significant improvement in its inventory levels and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.