Debt to Equity
since 2005
Calculation
Qualcomm Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, calculation
| Debt to equity | = | Total debt1 | ÷ | Stockholders’ equity1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 0.50 | = | 15,112) | ÷ | 30,401) |
| Sep 28, 2025 | 0.70 | = | 14,811) | ÷ | 21,206) |
| Sep 29, 2024 | 0.56 | = | 14,634) | ÷ | 26,274) |
| Sep 24, 2023 | 0.71 | = | 15,398) | ÷ | 21,581) |
| Sep 25, 2022 | 0.86 | = | 15,482) | ÷ | 18,013) |
| Sep 26, 2021 | 1.58 | = | 15,745) | ÷ | 9,950) |
| Sep 27, 2020 | 2.59 | = | 15,726) | ÷ | 6,077) |
| Sep 29, 2019 | 3.25 | = | 15,933) | ÷ | 4,909) |
| Sep 30, 2018 | 17.64 | = | 16,370) | ÷ | 928) |
| Sep 24, 2017 | 0.71 | = | 21,893) | ÷ | 30,746) |
| Sep 25, 2016 | 0.37 | = | 11,757) | ÷ | 31,778) |
| Sep 27, 2015 | 0.35 | = | 10,969) | ÷ | 31,421) |
| Sep 28, 2014 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 39,169) |
| Sep 29, 2013 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 36,088) |
| Sep 30, 2012 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 33,523) |
| Sep 25, 2011 | 0.04 | = | 994) | ÷ | 26,951) |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 0.05 | = | 1,086) | ÷ | 20,858) |
| Sep 27, 2009 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 20,316) |
| Sep 28, 2008 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 17,944) |
| Sep 30, 2007 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 15,835) |
| Sep 24, 2006 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 13,406) |
| Sep 25, 2005 | 0.00 | = | —) | ÷ | 11,119) |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2026-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-09-25).
1 US$ in millions
The financial trajectory from 2005 to 2026 reveals a transition from a highly conservative capital structure to a period of extreme leverage volatility, followed by a sustained trend of stabilization and equity recovery.
- Conservative Capitalization Period (2005–2014)
- During the initial decade of the observed period, the capital structure was characterized by low reliance on debt. Stockholders' equity grew consistently from 11,119 million USD in 2005 to a peak of 39,169 million USD in 2014. Consequently, the debt-to-equity ratio remained minimal, recording values as low as 0.04 in 2011.
- Leverage Escalation and Equity Volatility (2015–2018)
- A significant shift occurred starting in 2015, marked by a substantial increase in total debt, which rose from approximately 11,000 million USD in 2015 to a peak of 21,893 million USD in 2017. This coincided with a precipitous decline in stockholders' equity, which collapsed from 30,746 million USD in 2017 to 928 million USD in 2018. This convergence resulted in a critical spike in the debt-to-equity ratio, which reached an extraordinary peak of 17.64 in 2018.
- Deleveraging and Equity Recovery (2019–2026)
- Following the 2018 peak, a consistent downward trend in the debt-to-equity ratio is observed. This improvement was driven primarily by a strong recovery in stockholders' equity, which climbed from 4,909 million USD in 2019 to 30,401 million USD by 2026. Simultaneously, total debt was gradually reduced and stabilized between 14,000 million USD and 16,000 million USD. By 2026, the debt-to-equity ratio returned to a sustainable level of 0.50, reflecting a restoration of financial balance.
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Comparison to Competitors
Qualcomm Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to competitors
| Qualcomm Inc. | Advanced Micro Devices Inc. | Analog Devices Inc. | Applied Materials Inc. | Broadcom Inc. | Intel Corp. | KLA Corp. | Lam Research Corp. | Marvell Technology Inc. | Micron Technology Inc. | NVIDIA Corp. | Texas Instruments Inc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 0.50 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.93 | 0.30 | 0.31 | 0.04 | 0.05 | — |
| Sep 28, 2025 | 0.70 | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.80 | 0.41 | 1.25 | 0.45 | 0.30 | 0.27 | 0.11 | 0.86 |
| Sep 29, 2024 | 0.56 | 0.03 | 0.22 | 0.33 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 1.97 | 0.58 | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.23 | 0.80 |
| Sep 24, 2023 | 0.71 | 0.04 | 0.20 | 0.34 | 1.64 | 0.47 | 2.02 | 0.61 | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.66 |
| Sep 25, 2022 | 0.86 | 0.05 | 0.18 | 0.45 | 1.74 | 0.41 | 4.75 | 0.80 | 0.29 | 0.14 | 0.41 | 0.60 |
| Sep 26, 2021 | 1.58 | 0.04 | 0.18 | 0.45 | 1.59 | 0.40 | 1.02 | 0.83 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.41 | 0.58 |
| Sep 27, 2020 | 2.59 | 0.06 | 0.43 | 0.52 | 1.72 | 0.45 | 1.30 | 1.12 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.74 |
| Sep 29, 2019 | 3.25 | 0.17 | 0.47 | 0.65 | 1.32 | 0.37 | 1.29 | 0.96 | 0.24 | 0.16 | 0.21 | 0.65 |
| Sep 30, 2018 | 17.64 | 0.99 | 0.58 | 0.78 | 0.66 | 0.35 | 1.38 | 0.37 | 0.00 | 0.14 | 0.27 | 0.56 |
| Sep 24, 2017 | 0.71 | 2.28 | 0.77 | 0.57 | 0.87 | 0.39 | 2.21 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.60 | 0.48 | 0.39 |
| Sep 25, 2016 | 0.37 | 3.45 | 0.34 | 0.46 | 0.72 | 0.38 | 4.44 | 0.74 | 0.00 | 0.82 | 0.32 | 0.34 |
| Sep 27, 2015 | 0.35 | — | 0.17 | 0.60 | 0.84 | 0.37 | 7.57 | 0.46 | 0.00 | 0.60 | 0.32 | 0.41 |
| Sep 28, 2014 | 0.00 | 11.83 | 0.18 | 0.25 | 1.70 | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.27 | 0.00 | 0.61 | 0.31 | 0.45 |
| Sep 29, 2013 | 0.00 | 3.78 | 0.18 | 0.27 | 0.00 | 0.23 | 0.21 | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.66 | 0.00 | 0.48 |
| Sep 30, 2012 | 0.00 | 3.80 | 0.20 | 0.27 | 0.00 | 0.26 | 0.23 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.42 | 0.01 | 0.52 |
| Sep 25, 2011 | 0.04 | 1.27 | 0.23 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.26 | 0.30 | 0.00 | 0.24 | 0.01 | 0.51 |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 0.05 | 2.39 | 0.13 | 0.03 | 0.15 | 0.04 | 0.33 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.29 | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Sep 27, 2009 | 0.00 | 7.30 | 0.00 | 0.03 | 0.57 | 0.05 | 0.34 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.67 | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Sep 28, 2008 | 0.00 | — | 0.00 | 0.03 | — | 0.05 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 0.12 | 0.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Sep 30, 2007 | 0.00 | 1.76 | 0.00 | 0.03 | — | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.21 | 0.13 | 0.31 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Sep 24, 2006 | 0.00 | 0.66 | 0.00 | 0.06 | — | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.25 | 0.01 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | 0.00 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.05 | — | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.06 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2026-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-09-25).
Comparison to Sector (Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment)
Qualcomm Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to sector (semiconductors & semiconductor equipment)
| Qualcomm Inc. | Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 0.50 | — |
| Sep 28, 2025 | 0.70 | 0.38 |
| Sep 29, 2024 | 0.56 | 0.46 |
| Sep 24, 2023 | 0.71 | 0.46 |
| Sep 25, 2022 | 0.86 | 0.43 |
| Sep 26, 2021 | 1.58 | 0.49 |
| Sep 27, 2020 | 2.59 | 0.60 |
| Sep 29, 2019 | 3.25 | 0.56 |
| Sep 30, 2018 | 17.64 | 0.49 |
| Sep 24, 2017 | 0.71 | 0.56 |
| Sep 25, 2016 | 0.37 | 0.47 |
| Sep 27, 2015 | 0.35 | 0.43 |
| Sep 28, 2014 | 0.00 | 0.26 |
| Sep 29, 2013 | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Sep 30, 2012 | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Sep 25, 2011 | 0.04 | 0.18 |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Sep 27, 2009 | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Sep 28, 2008 | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Sep 30, 2007 | 0.00 | 0.11 |
| Sep 24, 2006 | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | 0.00 | 0.07 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2026-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-09-25).
Comparison to Industry (Information Technology)
Qualcomm Inc., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to industry (information technology)
| Qualcomm Inc. | Information Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 0.50 | — |
| Sep 28, 2025 | 0.70 | 0.52 |
| Sep 29, 2024 | 0.56 | 0.61 |
| Sep 24, 2023 | 0.71 | 0.65 |
| Sep 25, 2022 | 0.86 | 0.69 |
| Sep 26, 2021 | 1.58 | 0.82 |
| Sep 27, 2020 | 2.59 | 0.95 |
| Sep 29, 2019 | 3.25 | 0.97 |
| Sep 30, 2018 | 17.64 | 0.82 |
| Sep 24, 2017 | 0.71 | 0.80 |
| Sep 25, 2016 | 0.37 | 0.65 |
| Sep 27, 2015 | 0.35 | 0.56 |
| Sep 28, 2014 | 0.00 | 0.38 |
| Sep 29, 2013 | 0.00 | 0.28 |
| Sep 30, 2012 | 0.00 | 0.24 |
| Sep 25, 2011 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| Sep 26, 2010 | 0.05 | 0.24 |
| Sep 27, 2009 | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Sep 28, 2008 | 0.00 | 0.28 |
| Sep 30, 2007 | 0.00 | 0.26 |
| Sep 24, 2006 | 0.00 | 0.19 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2026-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2025-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-09-29), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-09-25), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-09-26), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-09-27), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-09-28), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-09-24), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-09-25).