QCOM · 10-K · 2026A · Full report

Operating Expense Trends

QUALCOMM INC/DE · 2026-11-04 · Importance 42 · Surprise 40 · Matches filing data

Research and development expense rose $1.165 billion, or about 13%, to $10.207 billion in fiscal 2026 from $9.042 billion in fiscal 2025. The increase included $701 million of higher costs for connectivity and integrated circuit development, including Data Center investments, and $428 million of higher share-based compensation expense. Selling, general and administrative expense increased to $3.701 billion from $3.110 billion, including increases of $229 million in share-based compensation, $84 million in acquisition-related costs and $55 million in employee-related costs. QCT operating expenses also increased, primarily because of higher research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Key facts

QUALCOMM INC/DE's research and development expenditures were $10.2 billion in fiscal 2026 and $9.0 billion in fiscal 2025. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE replaced fiscal 2026 and 2027 annual cash incentive awards for its broader non-executive leadership team with a two-year equity award. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE's research and development expenses increased by $701 million due to higher connectivity and integrated circuit technology development costs, including Data Center investments, higher employee-related expenses, and lower non-recurring engineering cost reimbursements. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE's research and development expenses increased by $428 million in share-based compensation expense. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE's selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $229 million in share-based compensation expense, $84 million in acquisition-related expenses, and $55 million in employee-related expenses in fiscal 2026. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE expects to continue investing in key growth and diversification initiatives. source
QUALCOMM INC/DE's fiscal 2026 restructuring and restructuring-related charges consisted substantially of severance costs. source

Impact estimates

metric	direction	stage	expected	basis
operating_income	negative	realized	-2.8%	QUALCOMM INC/DE's research and development expenditures were $10.2 billion in fiscal 2026 and $9.0 billion in fiscal 2025.