Qualcomm in brief
- Rank: #55 of 100 in America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #11 of 17 in Technology & Digital.
- WCRC Power Score: 72.44 out of 100.
- Founded: 1985, by Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi and five co-founders.
- Owner: Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego, California.
- Leadership: Cristiano Amon, President and CEO.
- Latest revenue: $43.1bn revenue (FY2026, year to Sep, -2.6%), as per company filings.
What makes Qualcomm powerful
Qualcomm's power comes from its wireless patents and its Snapdragon chips, which sit inside many premium Android phones. It is now using that base to move into cars and beyond. In the April to June 2026 quarter, its automotive revenue hit a record $1.6 billion, up 61% from a year earlier. Its IoT business grew 9%, and non-handset revenue rose 24% for the fiscal year.
The company is setting bigger goals. It raised its target for non-handset revenue in fiscal 2029 to $40 billion. It reached a new chip agreement with BMW Group, and Meta Platforms became the first customer for its Dragonfly C1000 data center CPUs. These moves make Qualcomm less of a phone supplier and more of a computing brand across cars, devices and data centers, while its patent portfolio keeps earning from the wider wireless industry.
Qualcomm's automotive revenue reached a record $1.6 billion in the April to June 2026 quarter, up 61% from a year earlier.
Why Qualcomm ranks #55
Qualcomm sits at #55 with a WCRC Power Score of 72.44, behind Gillette and Ralph Lauren and just ahead of Oracle and Ford. It scores well on product and innovation, with strong patents and fast growth in cars. Its positioning and recall are lower than those of the consumer brands above, since most people meet it only inside their phones. Its momentum in autos keeps it narrowly ahead of Oracle, whose score is just 0.04 points lower.
The Achilles' heel
Qualcomm's Achilles' heel is Apple. Qualcomm expects its modem share in the next iPhone to come in well below its earlier 20% estimate, and chief executive Cristiano Amon said Apple revenue was falling faster than expected. In the April to June 2026 quarter, handset revenue fell 20% to $5.1 billion as rising component costs squeezed the phone market. Its shares fell about 7% after hours when it issued a weak earnings forecast.
The 2026 story
Qualcomm's 2026 is a pivot away from phones. On July 29 it reported fiscal third-quarter results with record automotive revenue but a 20% drop in handset revenue. It guided fourth-quarter adjusted earnings to $2.05 to $2.25 per share, below analyst expectations, and its stock fell about 7% after hours. Amon said higher costs would mean higher prices, and Qualcomm raised chip prices from Sept. 1. It also raised its fiscal 2029 non-handset revenue target to $40 billion and signed a chip agreement with BMW Group.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Qualcomm in WCRC's America's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Qualcomm ranks #55 of 100 in WCRC's America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 72.44 out of 100.
What makes Qualcomm powerful?
Qualcomm's wireless patents and Snapdragon chips are central to the mobile world.
What is Qualcomm's revenue?
$43.1bn revenue (FY2026, year to Sep, -2.6%), as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Qualcomm?
Qualcomm was founded in 1985 by Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi and five co-founders. It is owned by Qualcomm Incorporated and based in San Diego, California.
Who leads Qualcomm?
Cristiano Amon, President and CEO.
What is Qualcomm's biggest challenge?
Apple building its own modem chips and dependence on smartphones.
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Key facts
| Brand | Qualcomm |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Qualcomm Incorporated |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California, United States |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder(s) | Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi and five co-founders |
| Leadership | Cristiano Amon, President and CEO |
| Latest revenue | $43.1bn revenue (FY2026, year to Sep, -2.6%), as per company filings |
| Sector | Technology & Digital |
| Website | qualcomm.com |
| Country of origin | United States |
Sources
- Annual report (Form 10-K) and financial results of Qualcomm Incorporated filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
