greeksoup/ stock research

Qualcomm Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 10%: Q4 revenues were $11,270 million, up 10% from $10,244 million. GAAP net loss was $3,117 million, and GAAP diluted EPS was $(2.89) against $2.59 a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 revenue and EPS: Fiscal 2025 GAAP revenues were $44.3 billion, up 14%, and GAAP EPS was $5.01, down 44%. Non-GAAP revenues were $44,141 million, up 13%, and non-GAAP EPS was $12.03, up 18%. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 QCT revenue at record: QCT fiscal 2025 revenues were $38,367 million, up 16%; the release headline calls these record fiscal year revenues. QTL revenues were $5,582 million, flat year over year. Source
  • Automotive revenue up 36% for year: Q4 automotive revenues were $1,053 million, up 17%. Fiscal 2025 automotive revenues were $3,957 million, up 36%. Source
  • Tax charge cut GAAP results: A non-cash $5.7 billion charge, or $5.29 per share, was recorded in Q4 to establish a valuation allowance on US federal deferred tax assets. It was excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 returns totaled $12.6 billion: Returns to stockholders were $3,400 million in Q4 and $12,596 million in fiscal 2025. The fiscal year included 56 million shares repurchased for $8,791 million and dividends of $3.48 per share. Source

“Our business remains strong as demonstrated by record QCT revenues in fiscal 2025”

Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceQ1 fiscal 2026$11.8B - $12.6BNew
QCT revenues SourceQ1 fiscal 2026$10.3B - $10.9BNew
QTL revenues SourceQ1 fiscal 2026$1.4B - $1.6BNew
GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ1 fiscal 2026$2.55 - $2.75New
Share-based compensation EPS adjustment SourceQ1 fiscal 2026($0.68)New
Other items EPS adjustment SourceQ1 fiscal 2026($0.07)New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceQ1 fiscal 2026$3.30 - $3.50New
Effective tax rate SourceFuture periods (no period stated)13% to 14%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter fiscal 2026 guidance issued; the prior release gave guidance only for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP provision for income taxes to use a fixed estimated non-GAAP tax rate from the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Source
  • New: Expansion into data centers and advanced robotics is cited; availability of an automated driving stack is also cited. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 10%: Q4 revenues were $11,270 million, up 10% from $10,244 million. GAAP net loss was $3,117 million, and GAAP diluted EPS was $(2.89) against $2.59 a year earlier. Source
  • Q4 non-GAAP EPS up 12%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.00 in the fourth quarter, up 12% from $2.69. Non-GAAP net income was $3,257 million, up 7%. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 revenue and EPS: Fiscal 2025 GAAP revenues were $44.3 billion, up 14%, and GAAP EPS was $5.01, down 44%. Non-GAAP revenues were $44,141 million, up 13%, and non-GAAP EPS was $12.03, up 18%. Source

Segments and revenue streams

  • QCT revenue up 13% in Q4: QCT fourth-quarter revenues were $9,821 million, up 13%. QCT EBT was $2,896 million, up 17%, or 29% of revenues against 28% a year earlier. Source
  • QTL revenue down 7% in Q4: QTL fourth-quarter revenues were $1,409 million, down 7%. QTL EBT was $1,015 million, down 9%, or 72% of revenues against 74%. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 QCT revenue at record: QCT fiscal 2025 revenues were $38,367 million, up 16%; the release headline calls these record fiscal year revenues. QTL revenues were $5,582 million, flat year over year. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 QCT profit share rose: QCT EBT was $11,670 million for fiscal 2025, up 22%, or 30% of revenues. QTL EBT was $4,043 million, flat, or 72% of revenues. Source

“We delivered 18% year-over-year growth in total QCT non‑Apple revenues, with combined fiscal year Automotive and IoT revenue growth of 27%.”

Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated

Handsets, automotive and IoT

  • Handset revenue up 14% in Q4: Q4 handset revenues were $6,961 million, up 14%. Fiscal 2025 handset revenues were $27,793 million, up 12%. Source
  • Automotive revenue up 36% for year: Q4 automotive revenues were $1,053 million, up 17%. Fiscal 2025 automotive revenues were $3,957 million, up 36%. Source
  • IoT revenue up 22% for year: Q4 IoT revenues were $1,807 million, up 7%. Fiscal 2025 IoT revenues were $6,617 million, up 22%. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Tax charge cut GAAP results: A non-cash $5.7 billion charge, or $5.29 per share, was recorded in Q4 to establish a valuation allowance on US federal deferred tax assets. It was excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Q4 cost lines rose year over year: Cost of revenues was $5,033 million in Q4 against $4,467 million. R&D was $2,370 million against $2,302 million, and SG&A was $910 million against $762 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBT margin held at 34%: Non-GAAP EBT was 34% of revenues in Q4, the same as a year earlier. GAAP EBT was 26% of revenues, up from 25%. Source
  • R&D deduction change from fiscal 2026: Domestic R&D may be deducted as incurred from fiscal 2026, so the favorable tax effect of capitalizing R&D is not expected to continue. Non-GAAP results had excluded that effect. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Fiscal 2025 returns totaled $12.6 billion: Returns to stockholders were $3,400 million in Q4 and $12,596 million in fiscal 2025. The fiscal year included 56 million shares repurchased for $8,791 million and dividends of $3.48 per share. Source
  • Share count reduced year over year: Shares issued and outstanding were 1,074 million at September 28, 2025, against 1,113 million at September 29, 2024. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capex rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $14,012 million in fiscal 2025, against $12,202 million. Capital expenditures were $1,192 million, against $1,041 million. Source
  • Year-end cash and debt position: At September 28, 2025, cash and equivalents were $5,520 million, restricted cash $2,323 million, and marketable securities $4,635 million. Long-term debt was $14,811 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Executing toward 2024 Investor Day targets: Management described fiscal 2025 record QCT revenues as executing towards the company's 2024 Investor Day targets. Source
  • Acquisition spending rose: Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired, were $743 million in fiscal 2025, against $254 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition and restructuring charges excluded: Non-GAAP results excluded $271 million of acquisition-related charges and $46 million of restructuring and restructuring-related charges in fiscal 2025. Source

Prior-release ranges compared

  • Revenue against prior range: Fourth quarter revenues of $11,270 million compared with the $10.3B-$11.1B revenue range in the prior release.
  • Segments against prior ranges: QCT revenues of $9,821 million compared with the $9.0B-$9.6B range; QTL revenues of $1,409 million compared with $1.25B-$1.45B. GAAP diluted EPS was $(2.89).
  • Non-GAAP EPS against prior range: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.00, compared with the $2.75-$2.95 range given in the prior release.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Non-GAAP tax rate set annually: Management will set the non-GAAP tax rate each year from the estimated annual GAAP income tax forecast. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management expects to be subject to the US corporate alternative minimum tax from fiscal 2026, which led to the valuation allowance charge. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The prior release said the company was on track to meet this commitment; this release reports fiscal 2025 repurchase totals.
  • Not stated: The prior release expressed confidence in achieving the company's long-term revenue targets, linked to its diversification strategy.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.