Can A New Device Help Boost Qualcomm’s Stock?

With shares of Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) trading around $67, is QCOM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock's Movement

Qualcomm is engaged in the design and manufacturing of digital communications products and services. The company operates in four segments: Qualcomm CDMA technologies, Qualcomm technology licensing, Qualcomm wireless and Internet, and Qualcomm strategic initiatives. It develops and supplies integrated circuits and system software based on CDMA, OFDMA, and other technologies for uses in voice and data communications, networking, application processing, multimedia, and global positioning system products.

The mobile industry has been hot in recent years and looks to continue as countries worldwide keep developing and demanding these products. As an increasing number of consumers and companies engage at rising rates with their mobile devices, look for Qualcomm to be a leading provider of these essential products.

Qualcomm is joining Samsung (SSNLF.PK) in the smart watch game. Samsung debuted its Galaxy Gear wearable device Wednesday, and though it received less media attention, Qualcomm also introduced a similar device, called Toq. Qualcomm's device is similar to Samsung's in that it syncs with a user's smartphone to show texts and emails without the inconvenience of having to take your phone out of your pocket. Toq currently only works with Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system, but the company is considering making the device Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS-compatible as well.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Qualcomm stock has been trending higher over the last few quarters. The stock is currently testing multiyear high prices, so it may need a little time at these price levels. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Qualcomm is trading above its rising key averages, which signals neutral to bullish price action in the near term.

Source: Thinkorswim

Taking a look at the implied volatility and implied volatility skew levels of Qualcomm options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Qualcomm Options	21.31%	80%	78%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a significant amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
September Options	Flat	Average
October Options	Flat	Average

As of Thursday, there is average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter Over Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Qualcomm's stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Qualcomm look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	30.43%	-17.19%	34.57%	18.57%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	34.95%	23.89%	28.56%	18.29%
Earnings Reaction	3.30%	-5.39%	3.91%	4.38%

Qualcomm has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Qualcomm's recent earnings announcements.

P = Average Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Qualcomm stock done relative to its peers – Broadcom (NASDAQ:BRCM), Nokia (NYSE:NOK), and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) — and sector?

	Qualcomm	Broadcom	Nokia	Texas Instruments	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	9.47%	-20.10%	39.24%	27.97%	10.64%

Qualcomm has been an average relative performer, year to date.

Conclusion

Qualcomm provides digital communications products to a variety of consumers and companies worldwide. The company is joining the smart watch game, as it has introduced its newest product, Toq. The stock has been rising higher in recent years and is now testing multiyear highs. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been increasing, which has led to pleased investors. Relative to its peers and sector, Qualcomm has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Qualcomm to OUTPERFORM.