Today we’re going to take a look at the well-established QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM). The company’s stock led the NASDAQGS gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. With many analysts covering the large-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stock’s share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Today I will analyse the most recent data on QUALCOMM’s outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.
View our latest analysis for QUALCOMM
Is QUALCOMM still cheap?
According to my price multiple model, where I compare the company’s price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average, the stock currently looks expensive. In this instance, I’ve used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock’s cash flows. I find that QUALCOMM’s ratio of 52.43x is above its peer average of 40.82x, which suggests the stock is trading at a higher price compared to the Semiconductor industry. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Since QUALCOMM’s share price is quite volatile, this could mean it can sink lower (or rise even further) in the future, giving us another chance to invest. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market.
Can we expect growth from QUALCOMM?
Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company’s future expectations. QUALCOMM’s earnings over the next few years are expected to double, indicating a very optimistic future ahead. This should lead to stronger cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.
What this means for you:
Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has well and truly priced in QCOM’s positive outlook, with shares trading above industry price multiples. However, this brings up another question – is now the right time to sell? If you believe QCOM should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.
Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping tabs on QCOM for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for QCOM, which means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.
So if you’d like to dive deeper into this stock, it’s crucial to consider any risks it’s facing. In terms of investment risks, we’ve identified 3 warning signs with QUALCOMM, and understanding them should be part of your investment process.
If you are no longer interested in QUALCOMM, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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