Compare StocksHWM vs QCOM

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (HWM) vs QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM)

HWM
Howmet Aerospace Inc.
$239.51
VS
QCOM
QUALCOMM Incorporated
$177.03

Rewards

HWM
  • Howmet Aerospace Inc. scores 83/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 38.4% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.77 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
QCOM
  • QUALCOMM Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • QUALCOMM Incorporated scores 73/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with reinvestment efficiency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 23.3% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.

Risks

HWM
  • FCF yield of 1.5% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Trailing P/E of 64.6x is 63% above the historical average of 39.5x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
  • PEG ratio of 3.18 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
QCOM
  • FCF yield of 6.9% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
  • 16 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.

Key Valuation Metrics

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HWM
QCOM
Valuation
$1.43B
Free Cash Flow
$12.82B
1.49%
FCF Yield
6.87%
64.56
Trailing P/E
19.06
42.65
Forward P/E
16.65
Quality & Moat
20.04%
ROIC
18.22%
28.17%
ROE
20.31%
34.17%
Gross Margin
54.80%
3.18
PEG Ratio
0.11
Balance Sheet Safety
0.60
Debt / Equity
0.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
1.03
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.42
0.20%
Dividend Yield
2.08%
HWM: 2Ties: 1QCOM: 9
HWMQCOM

Historical Fundamentals

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HWM

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

QCOM

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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HWM
$21.57
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$3.06B
Δ Market Cap
+$66.10B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
QCOM
$5.06
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$11.96B
Δ Market Cap
+$60.46B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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HWM
47.3% Overvalued
Price is 47.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $239.51
Fair Value: $162.57
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
QCOM
135.1% Overvalued
Price is 135.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $177.03
Fair Value: $75.29
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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HWM

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $240?

+23.9%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +24.6%

The market implies +23.9% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +24.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

QCOM

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $177?

+15.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +3.8%

The market implies +15.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +3.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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HWM
83/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
QCOM
73/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by reinvestment efficiency. Revenue Predictability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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HWM
-2.54
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
QCOM
-3.16
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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HWM
Insiders 0.9%Institutions 94.8%Retail & Other 4.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,877
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
QCOM
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 82.7%Retail & Other 17.2%
No. of Institutional Holders3,708
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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HWM
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
QCOM
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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HWM
2
Sells (3M)
5
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $18.94M
SHULTZ BARBARA LOU
Officer
$260,005
@ $260.00 · 2026-02-26
MARCHUK NEIL EDWARD
Officer
$11.36M
@ $251.70 · 2026-02-18
LIN LOLA FELICE
Officer
$2.37M
@ $180.51 · 2025-08-05
MARCHUK NEIL EDWARD
Officer
$4.76M
@ $158.53 · 2025-05-12
SHULTZ BARBARA LOU
Officer
$193,962
@ $155.17 · 2025-05-05
LIN LOLA FELICE
Officer
$902,886
@ $136.39 · 2025-02-18
MARCHUK NEIL EDWARD
Officer
$6.85M
@ $96.94 · 2024-08-23
GIACOBBE KENNETH J
Chief Financial Officer
$14.96M
@ $96.58 · 2024-08-22
MARCHUK NEIL EDWARD
Officer
$2.75M
@ $84.26 · 2024-06-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
QCOM
3
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $12.70M
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$325,854
@ $130.34 · 2026-04-13
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$330,815
@ $132.33 · 2026-03-12
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$458,799
@ $137.65 · 2026-02-06
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$577,620
@ $173.30 · 2026-01-02
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$2.20M
@ $175.29 · 2025-12-19
ROGERS ALEXANDER H
Officer
$2.83M
@ $178.01 · 2025-12-16
CHAPLIN ANN C
General Counsel
$1.28M
@ $178.03 · 2025-12-16
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$567,702
@ $170.33 · 2025-11-07
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$1.38M
@ $166.06 · 2025-10-20
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$522,808
@ $156.86 · 2025-09-02
MARTIN NEIL A
Officer
$122,463
@ $154.82 · 2025-08-21
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$493,610
@ $148.10 · 2025-08-04
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$537,560
@ $161.28 · 2025-07-02
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$486,965
@ $146.10 · 2025-06-02
MARTIN NEIL A
Officer
$120,808
@ $153.70 · 2025-05-21
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$465,846
@ $139.77 · 2025-05-05
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$91,442
@ $141.11 · 2025-04-09
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$119,900
@ $132.63 · 2025-04-08
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$235,262
@ $132.10 · 2025-04-04
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$523,292
@ $156.82 · 2025-03-03
MARTIN NEIL A
Officer
$130,074
@ $174.83 · 2025-02-21
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$509,397
@ $169.80 · 2025-02-12
ROGERS ALEXANDER H
Officer
$3.28M
@ $169.83 · 2025-02-10
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$463,851
@ $154.62 · 2025-01-02
CHAPLIN ANN C
General Counsel
$409,056
@ $158.12 · 2024-12-16
ROGERS ALEXANDER H
Officer
$1.67M
@ $160.59 · 2024-12-10
CHAPLIN ANN C
General Counsel
$1.24M
@ $160.59 · 2024-12-10
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$484,617
@ $161.54 · 2024-12-05
MARTIN NEIL A
Officer
$202,120
@ $155.00 · 2024-11-21
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$491,349
@ $163.78 · 2024-11-14
THOMPSON JAMES H.
Chief Technology Officer
$1.38M
@ $172.09 · 2024-11-08
CHAPLIN ANN C
General Counsel
$313,779
@ $165.06 · 2024-11-04
ROGERS ALEXANDER H
Officer
$539,157
@ $166.15 · 2024-10-02
THOMPSON JAMES H.
Chief Technology Officer
$1.36M
@ $169.80 · 2024-10-01
PALKHIWALA AKASH J
Chief Operating Officer
$497,848
@ $165.95 · 2024-10-01
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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HWM
FearGreed
😐Neutral(53/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
QCOM
FearGreed
😏Greed(63/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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HWM
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (53)
QCOM
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (63)
View HWM Full AnalysisView QCOM Full Analysis
HWM vs QCOM: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io