Qualcomm shares fall on fourth quarter earnings

Core Insights - Qualcomm reported record revenues and earnings per share for the first quarter, with strong performance in automotive and IoT sectors, but guidance for the next quarter fell short of consensus due to memory constraints affecting the handset business [1][4] - The company anticipates that memory tightness will be a short-term issue, primarily impacting lower-tier handsets, while demand for high-tier handsets remains stable [1][2] - Qualcomm is optimistic about its automotive and IoT growth, with automotive revenues expected to grow over 35% year-over-year and IoT in the low teens [1][2] Handset Business - The handset business is facing challenges due to memory supply constraints, which have been redirected to data center needs, impacting Qualcomm's customers [1][3] - Despite the constraints, demand for handsets remains strong, particularly in the premium and high-tier segments where Qualcomm has a competitive advantage [1][2] - Analysts predict a decline of approximately 20% sequentially and 13-15% year-over-year in handset revenues, with expectations of continued weakness over the next six to eight quarters [2][3] Automotive and IoT Sectors - Qualcomm's automotive business is thriving, with significant partnerships across various OEMs, and the company is becoming a leader in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) [2] - The company is also leveraging its technology for robotics, indicating a strong future market potential [2] - In the IoT space, Qualcomm is focusing on personal AI devices, which are expected to transform consumer experiences and create new market opportunities [2] Financial Performance - Qualcomm's first quarter results included an EPS of $3.50 and revenue of $12.3 billion, both exceeding estimates [4] - The outlook for the next quarter is projected between $10.2 billion and $11 billion, below the previous estimate of $11.18 billion, primarily due to memory shortages [4] - The company aims to diversify its revenue streams, with expectations that non-handset revenue will grow to at least 50% within the next two to three years [3]