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QCOM vs TSM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- QCOM has declined about 21% year-to-date amid concerns over potential loss of Apple's modem business and analyst downgrades, while TSM has surged roughly 34% in six months on robust AI chip demand.
- TSM reports strong revenue growth, with January-February 2026 sales up 30% year-over-year, driven by advanced nodes for AI accelerators, contrasting QCOM's softer handset outlook due to memory shortages.
- Analyst sentiment favors TSM with strong buy ratings and EPS growth projections over 50%, while QCOM faces underperform calls from firms like Bank of America.
- Both stocks benefit from AI trends, but TSM's foundry dominance provides broader exposure, whereas QCOM emphasizes edge AI and automotive growth amid competitive pressures.
- Market caps highlight scale: TSM at ~$1.8T vs. QCOM at ~$150B, with QCOM offering a higher dividend yield around 2.5%.
Introduction
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM) represent pivotal players in the semiconductor ecosystem, with QCOM focusing on wireless technologies and chip design, and TSM leading as the world's premier contract manufacturer. This stock comparison analyzes their recent market performance, growth drivers, and positioning amid AI demand and supply chain dynamics. Traders seeking momentum in tech and investors eyeing long-term sector exposure will find insights into relative strengths, risks, and sentiment shifts valuable for portfolio decisions in the current environment.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) designs semiconductors and wireless technologies, powering smartphones, automotive systems, and IoT devices through its Snapdragon platforms and modem IP. In recent market activity, QCOM shares have faced downward pressure, declining approximately 21% year-to-date and 25.8% over the past 90 days. Key influences include Bank of America's Underperform rating with a $145 target, citing modest revenue/EPS growth through 2028 and risks from potentially losing Apple's modem business by 2027. Memory shortages have constrained handset production, leading to softer Q2 guidance of $10.2-11 billion. Despite this, partnerships in edge AI, robotics, and 6G offer counterbalances, with automotive revenues up 61% in recent quarters. Sentiment reflects caution amid U.S.-China trade tensions and competition, though some view the stock as undervalued at a forward P/E around 28.
TSM Overview and Recent Performance
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSM), the global leader in contract chip manufacturing, produces advanced nodes for clients including Apple, Nvidia, AMD, and QCOM. Recent performance has been robust, with shares rising about 34% over six months and 2.15% in the latest session amid market dips. January-February 2026 revenues jumped 30% year-over-year to NT$718.91 billion, fueled by AI infrastructure demand, where advanced processes (7nm and below) account for 77% of wafer revenue. February sales rose 22.2% YoY despite monthly softening. Analysts project over 50% EPS growth, with capex at $52-56 billion targeting 2nm tech. Geopolitical risks linger due to Taiwan exposure, but U.S. and Japan expansions mitigate concerns. Trading at a forward P/E near 26, TSM's market cap exceeds $1.8 trillion, underscoring its foundry dominance.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
QCOM and TSM operate complementarily—QCOM as a fabless designer licensing IP, TSM as a pure-play foundry—but diverge in growth drivers and risks. TSM leverages AI hyperscaler demand for its 90% share of advanced nodes, posting 30%+ revenue growth, versus QCOM's exposure to cyclical handsets (hit by memory issues) and modem risks. Recent momentum strongly favors TSM (YTD +14% vs. QCOM -21%), with superior EPS projections. Risks for TSM center on geopolitics and capex intensity; QCOM faces client concentration and trade curbs. Sector-wise, both tap semis/AI, but TSM has broader exposure. Sentiment tilts bullish on TSM via upgrades, while QCOM contends with downgrades, trading at a valuation discount offering income appeal.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors TSM over QCOM, based on superior trend consistency from AI revenue surges, higher stability in foundry leadership, and stronger catalysts like 30%+ growth guidance. TSM's relative positioning amid semis momentum suggests probabilistic outperformance, though QCOM could rebound on edge AI execution.
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 QCOM is a Buy and TSM is a StrongBuy.
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).
QCOM’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileTSM’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- QCOM’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- TSM’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.
QCOM’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while TSM’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- QCOM’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- TSM’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
QCOM (@Semiconductors) experienced а -16.24% price change this week, while TSM (@Semiconductors) price change was -6.44% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was -10.58%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -10.31%, and the average quarterly price growth was +83.46%.
Reported Earning Dates
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
TSM is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Semiconductors (-10.58% 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.
| QCOM | TSM | QCOM / TSM | |
| Capitalization | 200B | 1.9T | 11% |
| EBITDA | 14B | 2.99T | 0% |
| Gain YTD | 11.844 | 43.404 | 27% |
| P/E Ratio | 23.86 | 40.24 | 59% |
| Revenue | 44.5B | 4.1T | 1% |
| Total Cash | 9.8B | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 15.3B | N/A | - |
QCOM | TSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 48 Fair valued | 65 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 59 | 5 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 27 | 26 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 48 | 39 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 16 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 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 (48) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as TSM (65) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that QCOM’s stock grew similarly to TSM’s over the last 12 months.
TSM's Profit vs Risk Rating (5) in the Semiconductors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for QCOM (59) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that TSM’s stock grew somewhat faster than QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
TSM's SMR Rating (26) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as QCOM (27) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that TSM’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
TSM's Price Growth Rating (39) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as QCOM (48) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that TSM’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
TSM's P/E Growth Rating (16) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as QCOM (18) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that TSM’s stock grew similarly to QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
| QCOM | TSM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 89% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 68% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 3 days ago 68% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 65% | 7 days ago 72% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 62% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 56% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 78% |
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TSM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, TSM has been closely correlated with ASML. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if TSM jumps, then ASML could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To TSM | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSM | 100% | -0.61% | ||
| ASML - TSM | 74% Closely correlated | -2.53% | ||
| LRCX - TSM | 73% Closely correlated | -5.66% | ||
| KLAC - TSM | 71% Closely correlated | -3.93% | ||
| AMAT - TSM | 71% Closely correlated | -6.16% | ||
| CAMT - TSM | 66% Closely correlated | -8.53% | ||
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