New York, Jan 14, 2026, 20:50 EST — Market closed.
- Qualcomm shares dipped 0.5% Wednesday and slipped a bit further in after-hours trading
- Trump slapped a 25% tariff on select high-end AI processors, deepening the chip-trade uncertainty
- RBC kicked off coverage with a “Sector Perform” rating, highlighting headwinds facing Apple and Samsung shares
QUALCOMM Incorporated shares ended Wednesday down 0.5% at $164.54 and dipped a bit more in after-hours trading, following a fresh U.S. tariff ruling affecting certain AI chips that shook the semiconductor sector. 1
The late policy shock is significant since chip stocks have been reacting to tariffs and supply-chain risks as much as to earnings. Even a whiff that trade restrictions might expand beyond a limited group of products can put a ceiling on rallies, including for firms not directly targeted.
Qualcomm faces a tricky backdrop. It remains heavily dependent on smartphones and connected devices, where rising component costs risk slowing upgrades. Investors are already bracing ahead of its upcoming quarterly earnings release.
President Donald Trump slapped a 25% tariff on certain AI chips, including Nvidia’s H200 and a similar AMD model, Reuters reported. The move comes under a national security order tied to a Section 232 investigation. According to a White House fact sheet, these tariffs will be tightly targeted, sparing chips and related gear imported for U.S. data centers, startups, and some non-data-center uses. The document also hinted that broader semiconductor tariffs could be on the horizon. 2
RBC Capital’s Srini Pajjuri kicked off coverage on Qualcomm with a Sector Perform rating — essentially a hold — and set a $180 price target. He noted the stock’s valuation looks appealing but flagged a lack of near-term catalysts. Pajjuri highlighted market-share pressure from Apple and Samsung, and cautioned that rising memory prices might dampen smartphone demand. On the AI front, RBC said it’s “too early” to factor in significant generative AI gains for Qualcomm. 3
Qualcomm has been working to expand its reach beyond just phones, venturing more into cars, PCs, and other connected gadgets. Yet, when macro conditions shift against consumer electronics, traders still treat it mainly as a handset-and-modem play.
The immediate risk is that the tariff framework either expands or remains erratic enough to disrupt orders and stall product cycles throughout the supply chain. Rising memory costs could also prompt consumers to hang on to their phones longer, which would hit the segment of Qualcomm’s business investors focus on most.
Ahead of Thursday’s session, investors are eyeing whether tariff news drags more chip stocks down in premarket trading and if policy specifics trigger wider de-risking in semiconductors. Changes in Washington’s stance on exemptions—particularly involving “derivative” devices with chips—could quickly shake the sector.
Qualcomm’s fiscal first-quarter earnings and conference call are set for Feb. 4 at 1:45 p.m. Pacific (4:45 p.m. ET). Investors will be zeroed in on handset demand, shifts in customer mix, and any fresh insights on AI-driven growth. 4
