Key Highlights

● QUALCOMM shares fell 3.53% to close at $172.11 on October 16.

● The consensus 12-month price target is $194.13, implying about 12.8% upside.

● Analysts are split 11 Buy, 23 Hold, and 3 Sell on the stock.

● Targets range from $100 to $400 across 37 analysts.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) closed at $172.11 on Friday October 16, 2026, with the shares listed on Nasdaq and a member of the Nasdaq-100. According to market data, the consensus mean 12-month price target is $194.13, which is 12.8% above the latest close (+12.8%). The shares fell 3.53% on the day, and a jury verdict in the dispute with Arm has been in the headlines. The mean target is skewed by a high outlier, with the median target only 1.7% above the share price.

Price targets are analyst forecasts rather than guarantees.

What Is the Latest Analyst Price Target?

The data shows a consensus mean target of $194.13 and a median of $175.00, with the highest target at $400.00 and the lowest at $100.00. The figures are drawn from 37 analysts, with the data dated September 23, 2026. Measured against the latest close, the mean target implies +12.8% and the median implies +1.7%.

If the consensus proves accurate, the shares would trade near the mean target over the next twelve months. However, the spread between the high and low targets shows that analysts hold differing views, and targets are routinely revised as new information emerges.

What Are Analysts Saying?

The consensus rating is Hold, with a split of 11 Buy, 23 Hold, 3 Sell. Recent actions in September include JLPascual maintaining Hold with a $160 target on 23 September, Bernstein reiterating Hold with a $165 target on 22 September, StoneX reiterating Buy with a $270 target on 15 September, Piper Sandler initiating at Hold with a $190 target on 9 September, and RBC Capital maintaining Hold and raising its target from $160 to $180 on the same day. The data was last updated on 23 September, so it predates the latest close.

Analysts' views can change quickly, and individual broker actions should be read in the context of the wider consensus rather than in isolation.

What Could Help the Stock Reach the Price Target?

Qualcomm and Apple have extended their chip licensing agreement, and Huawei and Qualcomm announced a broad patent licence agreement on 5 October. Arm said a jury found in its favour on four claims, but awarded Qualcomm one dollar in damages on two claims, so the outcome is mixed. If licensing certainty and demand for its chips improve, the mean target suggests potential upside.

None of this guarantees that the stock will reach the target, and outcomes will depend on company performance and market conditions.

What Could Prevent the Stock Reaching the Target?

The consensus rating is Hold, with 23 of 37 analysts on that rating. The range of targets is wide, from $100 to $400, and the median of $175 implies minimal upside. Qualcomm also registered a sale of 25 million shares by holders, and the legal dispute with Arm may create uncertainty.

What Should Investors Watch Next?

Results are scheduled for November 4, 2026. Investors may watch handset demand, licensing revenue, any follow-up to the Arm verdict and updated analyst targets after the report. Next earnings date: November 4, 2026.

A Cautiously Bullish Setup

The consensus target suggests +12.8% from the latest close of $172.11, but the figure is a forecast and not a certainty.