Insider Trading April 13, 2026 06:40 PM

Qualcomm Executive Disposes of $325,854 in Shares as Company Advances Buyback and Dividend Plans

CFO and COO Akash J. Palkhiwala sold 2,500 shares under a 10b5-1 plan as Qualcomm rolls out a $20 billion repurchase program and raises its dividend

By Priya Menon QCOM
Qualcomm Executive Disposes of $325,854 in Shares as Company Advances Buyback and Dividend Plans
QCOM

Qualcomm EVP, CFO and COO Akash J. Palkhiwala sold 2,500 shares of company stock on April 13, 2026, under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan for about $325,854. The transactions, executed in two tranches, fetched prices between $130.1206 and $131.1652. After the sales, Palkhiwala directly owns 30,684 shares, including 85 shares acquired through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan on April 1, 2026. The company has also announced a $20 billion repurchase program and a quarterly dividend increase to $0.92 per share.

Key Points

  • Akash J. Palkhiwala sold 2,500 Qualcomm shares on April 13, 2026, under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan, generating approximately $325,854 in proceeds.
  • Qualcomm announced a $20 billion share buyback and raised its quarterly dividend from $0.89 to $0.92 per share, increasing the annualized payout to $3.68; the dividend change applies to dividends payable after March 26, 2026.
  • Analyst coverage is mixed: Goldman Sachs began coverage with a Neutral rating noting diversification into automotive and datacenter markets, while Bernstein downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform due to smartphone market headwinds and potential shipment declines.

Summary: Qualcomm EVP, CFO and COO Akash J. Palkhiwala sold 2,500 shares of Qualcomm stock on April 13, 2026, for approximately $325,854. The sale was carried out under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan in two transactions, with sale prices ranging from $130.1206 to $131.1652. After these disposals, Palkhiwala directly holds 30,684 shares, a total that includes 85 shares purchased under the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan on April 1, 2026.

The stock was trading at $131.20 at the time of reporting and is down 23% year-to-date. According to InvestingPro analysis cited in company reporting, Qualcomm appears undervalued at current levels. InvestingPro Tips also note that Qualcomm has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years.


Insider transaction details

Palkhiwala’s 2,500-share sale on April 13, 2026, was executed in two separate transactions and processed under a 10b5-1 plan. The per-share prices recorded for the two trades were within the narrow band of $130.1206 to $131.1652. Following these transactions, the executive’s direct holdings stand at 30,684 shares, which includes 85 shares acquired through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan on April 1, 2026.

Company capital allocation and dividend update

Qualcomm has announced a substantial $20 billion share buyback program. The company also increased its quarterly dividend from $0.89 to $0.92 per share, effective for dividends payable after March 26, 2026. That raise brings the annualized dividend to $3.68 per share.

Analyst views and strategic moves

Market commentators have expressed mixed views. Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Qualcomm with a Neutral rating, highlighting the company’s efforts to broaden revenue streams into markets such as automotive and datacenters. By contrast, Bernstein downgraded Qualcomm to Market Perform from Outperform, citing challenges in the smartphone market and the prospect of declining shipments.

Separately, Qualcomm has entered a multi-year strategic agreement with Snap Inc. under which Qualcomm’s Snapdragon technology will power future generations of Snap’s Specs. Company statements characterize this as part of Qualcomm’s continued expansion into new technology areas.


Context and implications

These developments - the insider sale by a senior executive, the large buyback program, the dividend increase and mixed analyst commentary - together underline the company’s current positioning in both financial and strategic dimensions. The facts reported here reflect corporate actions and external analyst assessments without projecting outcomes beyond the stated information.

Risks

  • Pressure in the smartphone market and potential shipment declines, as cited by Bernstein - risk to Qualcomm’s mobile revenue and related suppliers.
  • Mixed analyst perspectives create uncertainty around near-term expectations and valuation, impacting technology and semiconductor sector sentiment.
  • Market volatility reflected in a 23% year-to-date share price decline introduces uncertainty for investors assessing current valuation, affecting equity markets and institutional allocation decisions.

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