Spotlight on QCOM's lobbying, funds, insider sales, with $75M antitrust shadow

Court: S.D. California

Case: 3:17-cv-00121

Qualcomm QCOM is back in focus after disclosing $1.45 million in Q2 lobbying activity and drawing attention from both hedge funds and Capitol Hill. Congressional trades show a net buying trend, even as insider sales remain elevated. Meanwhile, recent analyst ratings suggest growing confidence in QCOM's valuation upside, with price targets ranging from $155 to $225.

But while institutional interest surges, Qualcomm’s past regulatory scrutiny continues to linger in the form of a $75 million investor settlement tied to antitrust practices.

Key Takeaways

• Lobbying Disclosed: $1.45M spent in Q2 lobbying on AI, transportation funding, AV tech, and bills like the H.R. 1 and STAR Act.
• Congressional Trades: 7 trades in 6 months — 5 buys, 2 sells; Marjorie Taylor Greene made 3 purchases.
• Insider Sales Only: 41 open-market insider trades in 6 months, totaling $6.96M — all sales, no purchases.
• Hedge Fund Moves: 1,322 funds added shares; 1,198 reduced. Kingstone Capital added 58.7M shares (+656K%).
• Latest Analyst Ratings:JPMorgan: Overweight, $190 PTBofA: Buy, $200 PTRosenblatt: Buy, $225 PTUBS: Neutral, $165 PT
• Median Analyst Target: $180; current price around $158.

Timeline Overview

• Jan 17, 2017: FTC files complaint over licensing and chip supply practices.
• Jan 18–19, 2017: Media coverage triggers an 18.3% drop in QCOM stock.
• Jan 23, 2017: Investors sue Qualcomm over anticompetitive behavior and control failures.

Allegations Include

The case centered on Qualcomm’s refusal to license patents to competitors, offering lower royalties to Apple for exclusive chip use, and denying chips to companies that rejected its licensing terms. These practices violated FRAND principles and drew regulatory backlash, ultimately affecting shareholder value.

Investor Update

Qualcomm agreed to a $75 million payout to resolve the investor claims tied to these FTC allegations. Though the settlement closes the legal chapter, it remains part of Qualcomm’s investor risk profile amid current market and regulatory attention.

You can check more information about it and file for a payout HERE.