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ACLS vs QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) vs. Qualcomm (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ACLS has delivered superior YTD returns of approximately 74% compared to QCOM's 10%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 in recent market activity.
- Both stocks operate in the semiconductor sector, but ACLS focuses on ion implantation equipment, while QCOM emphasizes wireless chips and diversification into AI and automotive.
- QCOM boasts a much larger market cap around $197 billion versus ACLS's $4.4 billion, offering greater stability amid sector volatility.
- Recent momentum favors QCOM with sharp gains post-earnings and AI deals, while ACLS shows strength in longer-term trends driven by memory demand.
- Tickeron's Trending AI Robots highlight semiconductor plays with annualized returns up to 95%, underscoring sector potential.
- Relative performance positions ACLS for growth traders, while QCOM suits those seeking dividends and scale.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines ACLS (Axcelis Technologies) and QCOM (Qualcomm), two key players in the semiconductor industry amid surging demand for AI, memory, and wireless technologies. Both have benefited from sector tailwinds, but differ in scale, focus, and recent momentum. Traders seeking high-growth opportunities in equipment manufacturing may favor ACLS, while investors prioritizing diversified revenue streams and stability might lean toward QCOM. This analysis highlights relative performance, business drivers, and market positioning to inform stock comparison decisions in the current environment.
ACLS Overview and Recent Performance
Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) designs and manufactures ion implantation equipment essential for semiconductor fabrication, particularly in advanced nodes for memory and power devices. In recent weeks, ACLS shares have shown robust momentum, trading around $140 with YTD gains of about 74% and 1-year returns exceeding 168%, far outpacing the S&P 500's 6% and 28% respectively. Sentiment has been buoyed by strong Q4 2025 results, with revenue of $238 million and EPS of $1.49 beating estimates, alongside anticipation for Q1 2026 earnings and a pending merger with Veeco Instruments to enhance cross-selling in memory markets. Recent market activity reflects optimism around memory capacity expansions by top producers, though cyclical risks in semiconductors temper gains. The stock's beta around 1.9 indicates higher volatility, appealing to growth-oriented traders.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
Qualcomm (QCOM) is a leading provider of wireless technologies, including Snapdragon processors for smartphones, with growing exposure to automotive, IoT (Internet of Things), and AI edge computing. Shares recently traded near $187, posting YTD returns of about 10% and 1-year gains of 37%, edging the S&P 500. Performance surged in recent weeks on Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings of $10.6 billion revenue and $2.65 non-GAAP EPS, beating expectations despite flat handset sales, fueled by 38% automotive growth to $1.3 billion and a $20 billion buyback announcement plus hyperscaler AI wins. Sentiment reflects diversification beyond handsets, though Q3 guidance slightly missed. With a lower beta and 1.9% dividend yield, QCOM offers relative stability in the volatile chip sector.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page curates the top 25 AI trading bots from over 350 available, each powered by advanced algorithms to trade thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto. These bots employ diverse strategies like momentum, sector rotation, and short-term swings, with impressive stats: annualized returns up to 169%, win rates of 51-88%, and profit factors reaching 11.7. Semiconductor-focused bots shine, such as those on LRCX, TER, AMAT (94.8% annualized, 63% win rate) and NVDA, AVGO, AMD (71.7% annualized, 60% win rate), capturing AI and chip demand. Selected for current market conditions, they help traders navigate volatility. Explore these high performers and consider copying top strategies for potential outperformance.
Head-to-Head Comparison
ACLS and QCOM share semiconductor exposure but contrast sharply in scale and models. QCOM's $197 billion market cap dwarfs ACLS's $4.4 billion, enabling broader diversification into handsets (declining), automotive/IoT (growing), and AI, versus ACLS's niche in implantation tools tied to memory/power cycles. Growth drivers differ: ACLS leverages memory expansions and Veeco merger for synergies, while QCOM banks on AI hyperscalers and $20 billion buybacks. Recent momentum tilts to QCOM post-earnings surge (up 48% in 30 days), outpacing ACLS's 45% but with higher stability (lower beta). Risks include cyclical downturns for both, geopolitical tensions for QCOM, and execution on ACLS's merger. Sentiment favors ACLS for pure-play growth, QCOM for balanced positioning.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors ACLS due to stronger trend consistency, superior relative YTD and 1-year performance, and catalysts like memory demand and the Veeco merger amid semiconductor upcycles. While QCOM shows recent stability and AI diversification, ACLS's higher momentum and sector-tailored positioning suggest greater near-term upside probability for growth-focused portfolios.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ACLS is a Hold and QCOM is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ACLS’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileQCOM’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- ACLS’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- QCOM’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ACLS’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while QCOM’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ACLS’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ACLS (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а +15.71% price change this week, while QCOM (@Semiconductors) price change was +12.74% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +5.35%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +27.17%, and the average quarterly price growth was +132.80%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +8.51%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +47.26%, and the average quarterly price growth was +78.68%.
Reported Earning Dates
ACLS is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+5.35% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
@Semiconductors (+8.51% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| ACLS | QCOM | ACLS / QCOM | |
| Capitalization | 4.97B | 222B | 2% |
| EBITDA | 139M | 14B | 1% |
| Gain YTD | 101.195 | 23.742 | 426% |
| P/E Ratio | 50.20 | 22.61 | 222% |
| Revenue | 845M | 44.5B | 2% |
| Total Cash | 367M | 9.8B | 4% |
| Total Debt | 42M | 15.3B | 0% |
ACLS | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 23 | 30 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 61 Fair valued | 42 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 57 | 43 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 71 | 26 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 4 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 3 | 14 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 30 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
QCOM's Valuation (42) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as ACLS (61) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's Profit vs Risk Rating (43) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as ACLS (57) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's SMR Rating (26) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ACLS (71) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew somewhat faster than ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's Price Growth Rating (4) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as ACLS (35) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to ACLS’s over the last 12 months.
ACLS's P/E Growth Rating (3) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as QCOM (14) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that ACLS’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
| ACLS | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 79% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 68% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 74% | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 80% | 2 days ago 64% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 83% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 82% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 78% | 9 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 78% | 2 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 85% | 2 days ago 67% |
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ACLS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ACLS has been closely correlated with VECO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 84% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ACLS jumps, then VECO could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ACLS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACLS | 100% | -2.08% | ||
| VECO - ACLS | 84% Closely correlated | +0.41% | ||
| NXPI - ACLS | 71% Closely correlated | -3.84% | ||
| ADI - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | -0.73% | ||
| QCOM - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | -11.46% | ||
| POWI - ACLS | 70% Closely correlated | -4.61% | ||
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QCOM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, QCOM has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 80% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if QCOM jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To QCOM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QCOM | 100% | -11.46% | ||
| LRCX - QCOM | 80% Closely correlated | -2.30% | ||
| KLAC - QCOM | 78% Closely correlated | -1.83% | ||
| AMKR - QCOM | 76% Closely correlated | -4.22% | ||
| AMAT - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | -2.80% | ||
| KLIC - QCOM | 74% Closely correlated | -5.96% | ||
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