QCOM vs SWKS

For growth investors, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the stronger pick with 13.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) offers the better valuation at 23. 6x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) a "Buy" — based on 59 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

(SWKS) is the cheapest at 23. 6x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated at 37. 2x. On forward P/E, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) delivered a total return of +50.

4%, compared to -50. 9% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: QCOM returned +319. 5% versus SWKS's +44. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

(SWKS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 36β versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 1. 55β — meaning QCOM is approximately 14% more volatile than SWKS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 77% for QUALCOMM Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is pulling ahead at 13.

7% versus -2. 2% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Skyworks Solutions, Inc. grew EPS -16. 5% year-over-year, compared to -44. 2% for QUALCOMM Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, QCOM leads at 0. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

5% net margin versus 11. 7% for Skyworks Solutions, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QCOM leads at 27. 9% versus 12. 2% for SWKS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — QCOM leads at 55. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

(SWKS) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 4x for QUALCOMM Incorporated — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QCOM: -6. 2% to $175. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 1. 8% for QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.

8% yield, +319. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (QCOM: +319. 5%, SWKS: +44. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: QCOM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SWKS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.