Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Notes)

v3.19.1
Segment Information (Notes)
 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
Segment Information
Segment Information
We are organized on the basis of products and services and have three reportable segments. We conduct business primarily through our QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) semiconductor business and our QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) licensing business. QCT develops and supplies integrated circuits and system software based on CDMA, OFDMA and other technologies for use in mobile devices, wireless networks, devices used in the Internet of Things (IoT), broadband gateway equipment, consumer electronic devices and automotive telematics and infotainment systems. QTL grants licenses to use portions of our intellectual property portfolio, which includes certain patent rights essential to and/or useful in the manufacture and sale of certain wireless products. Our QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) reportable segment makes strategic investments and includes revenues and related costs associated with development contracts with an equity method investee. We also have nonreportable segments, including Qualcomm Government Technologies or QGOV (formerly Qualcomm Cyber Security Solutions) and other wireless technology and service initiatives.
We evaluate the performance of our segments based on earnings (loss) before income taxes (EBT). In fiscal 2018, all of the costs related to pre-commercial research and development of 5G technologies, of which we recorded $115 million and $216 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2018, respectively, were included in unallocated corporate research and development expenses. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, all research and development costs associated with 5G technologies are included in segment results. Additionally, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, certain research and development costs associated with early research and development that were historically included in our QCT segment are allocated to our QTL segment. The net effect of these changes negatively impacted QTL’s EBT by $119 million and $241 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2019, respectively. QCT's EBT was positively impacted by $32 million and $44 million in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2019, respectively.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, we combined our Small Cells business, which sells products designed for the implementation of small cells to address the challenge of meeting the increased demand for mobile data, into our QCT segment. Revenues and operating results related to the Small Cells business were included in nonreportable segments through the end of fiscal 2018. Prior period segment information has not been adjusted to conform to the new segment presentation as such adjustments are insignificant.
The table below presents revenues, EBT and total assets for reportable segments (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QCT
$
3,722

 
$
3,897

 
$
7,461

 
$
8,548

QTL
1,122

 
1,219

 
2,141

 
2,485

QSI
98

 
30

 
125

 
60

Reconciling items
40

 
74

 
97

 
162

Total
$
4,982

 
$
5,220

 
$
9,824

 
$
11,255

EBT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QCT
$
542

 
$
608

 
$
1,140

 
$
1,563

QTL
674

 
809

 
1,264

 
1,664

QSI
17

 
40

 
25

 
51

Reconciling items
(427
)
 
(1,140
)
 
(1,063
)
 
(3,020
)
Total
$
806

 
$
317

 
$
1,366

 
$
258

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
March 31,
2019
 
September 30,
2018
Assets
 
 
 
QCT
$
2,948

 
$
3,041

QTL
2,405

 
1,472

QSI
1,393

 
1,279

Reconciling items
27,277

 
26,926

Total
$
34,023

 
$
32,718


Reconciling items for revenues and EBT in the previous table were as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nonreportable segments
$
40

 
$
74

 
$
97

 
$
162

 
$
40

 
$
74

 
$
97

 
$
162

EBT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unallocated cost of revenues
$
(104
)
 
$
(111
)
 
$
(218
)
 
$
(228
)
Unallocated research and development expenses
(190
)
 
(271
)
 
(337
)
 
(551
)
Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses
(84
)
 
(258
)
 
(148
)
 
(420
)
Unallocated other income (expenses) (Note 2)
18

 
(310
)
 
(130
)
 
(1,493
)
Unallocated interest expense
(159
)
 
(179
)
 
(313
)
 
(348
)
Unallocated investment and other income, net
109

 
82

 
130

 
206

Nonreportable segments
(17
)
 
(93
)
 
(47
)
 
(186
)
 
$
(427
)
 
$
(1,140
)
 
$
(1,063
)
 
$
(3,020
)

Unallocated acquisition-related expenses were comprised as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
 
March 31,
2019
 
March 25,
2018
Cost of revenues
$
99

 
$
102

 
$
202

 
$
208

Research and development expenses
1

 
2

 
2

 
3

Selling, general and administrative expenses
7

 
214

 
14

 
290