AstraZeneca plc vs QUALCOMM, Inc. — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $166.87 (market cap $253.13B), while QUALCOMM, Inc. trades at $179.67 (market cap $187.72B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is the larger of the two by market cap, and QUALCOMM, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $253.13B | $187.72B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $251.10 |
52-Week Low | $137.44 | $124.07 |
Enterprise Value | $279.37B | $193.19B |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 2.07% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $169.47, down 1.25% amid recent volatility following a Phase III trial failure for Wainua. The stock shows bearish technical signals with key support at $168 and resistance at $170. Fundamentally, the company reported strong 2025 results with revenue of $58.74B and net income of $10.23B, though a recent $1.5B licensing deal for a lung cancer drug highlights ongoing pipeline investments. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 47.5% buy ratings but recent downgrades from firms like HSBC citing trial setbacks.
The outlook balances robust financials against pipeline execution risks. Revenue growth and high margins support valuation, but the Wainua failure raises concerns about future catalysts. Investors should weigh the company's strong cash flow and market position against clinical trial volatility and potential legal investigations. Near-term price action may hinge on Q2 2026 earnings due July 27, 2026.
Qualcomm (QCOM) trades at $183.98, down 2.74% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company maintains strong profitability with 54.8% gross margins and 22.31% net income margin, though revenue growth has been modest. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.65 surpassing the $2.56 estimate. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $222.53 price target, representing 21% upside potential from current levels.
Qualcomm faces near-term headwinds from smartphone market softness but is successfully diversifying into automotive and AI data centers. The stock offers value at 19.15x P/E with strong cash flow generation, though competition from Nvidia in PC chips presents execution risk. With 42.65% of analysts rating it Buy and solid balance sheet fundamentals, QCOM presents a compelling long-term opportunity despite technical weakness.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →Qualcomm develops and licenses wireless technology and designs chips for smartphones. The company's key patents revolve around CDMA and OFDMA technologies, which are standards in wireless communications that are the backbone of all 3G and 4G networks. The firm is a leader in 5G network technology as well. Qualcomm's IP is licensed by virtually all wireless device makers. The firm is also the world's largest wireless chip vendor, supplying nearly every premier handset maker with leading-edge processors. Qualcomm also sells RF-front end modules into smartphones and chips into automotive and Internet of Things markets.
Read more on QCOM →