New York, Jan 16, 2026, 20:51 EST — Market closed
- Qualcomm shares slipped 1.2%, finishing Friday at $159.42
- Company announced a $0.89 quarterly cash dividend, set for payment on March 26
- A filing revealed that director Christopher D. Young intends to resign at the 2026 annual meeting
QUALCOMM Incorporated shares dropped 1.2% on Friday, closing at $159.42, having fluctuated between $159.22 and $162.49 during the session.
The move came after a volatile week for U.S. stocks, just before the market closes Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Historically the middle part of January tends to be pretty choppy,” said Bruce Zaro, managing director at Granite Wealth Management. 1
Qualcomm investors are holding their breath ahead of the next big event: the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings call set for Feb. 4 at 1:45 p.m. Pacific time. 2
Qualcomm said Friday it will hand out a quarterly cash dividend of $0.89 per share. The payout is set for March 26, going to shareholders registered by March 5. 3
After the bell, an 8-K filing revealed that director Christopher D. Young plans to resign at the company’s 2026 annual meeting. Young pointed to “the significant time commitment required” by his new role as CEO at Vertex, according to the filing. 4
Chip stocks have felt the impact of trade policy moves. President Donald Trump slapped a 25% tariff on select AI chips, among them Nvidia’s H200 and a comparable AMD processor, citing national security concerns, Reuters reported. 5
Fintel highlighted on Nasdaq that RBC Capital kicked off coverage of Qualcomm, assigning a “sector perform” rating. 6
Qualcomm’s stock often reacts sharply to two factors outside its full control: how fast consumers upgrade their smartphones and shifts in trade policies affecting the chip supply chain. Its licensing arm, linked to wireless patents, remains a key focus for investors looking for consistent, high-margin revenue.
Macro remains in focus. Federal Reserve officials are set to decide on interest rates come Jan. 28, with several scheduled to speak on Friday, according to Investopedia. 7
The set-up isn’t straightforward. A broader tariff net, softer handset demand, or jittery customers holding off on orders could overshadow the dividend news and weigh on the stock.
Traders will get their next update once markets reopen Tuesday. After that, all eyes turn to Qualcomm’s Feb. 4 earnings report and conference call. Investors will be keen to catch any changes in handset demand, licensing activity, and the impact of trade policies on orders.
