Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation (Notes)

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Basis of Presentation (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2015
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
Financial Statement Preparation. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by QUALCOMM Incorporated (collectively with its subsidiaries, the Company or Qualcomm) in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2015. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year. The Company operates and reports using a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in September. Each of the three-month periods ended December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014 included 13 weeks.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income attributable to Qualcomm by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under the Company’s share-based compensation plans and shares subject to written put options and/or accelerated share repurchase agreements, if any, and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money share equivalents, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of an award, if any, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, if any, and the estimated tax benefits that would be recorded in paid-in capital when an award is settled, if any, are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period. The dilutive common share equivalents, calculated using the treasury stock method, for the three months ended December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014 were 14,430,000 and 25,003,000, respectively. Shares of common stock equivalents outstanding that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because the effect would be anti-dilutive or certain performance conditions were not satisfied at the end of the period were 1,172,000 and 1,470,000 during the three months ended December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, respectively.
Share-Based Compensation. Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company’s share-based awards, was comprised as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
December 27,
2015
 
December 28,
2014
Cost of equipment and services revenues
$
10

 
$
12

Research and development
165

 
174

Selling, general and administrative
72

 
87

Share-based compensation expense before income taxes
247

 
273

Related income tax benefit
(60
)
 
(44
)
 
$
187

 
$
229


The Company recorded $31 million in share-based compensation expense during each of the three months ended December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014 related to share-based awards granted during those periods. At December 27, 2015, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units granted prior to that date was $1.6 billion, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years. During the three months ended December 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, net share-based awards granted, after forfeitures and cancellations, represented 0.7% and 0.4%, respectively, of outstanding shares as of the beginning of each fiscal period, and total share-based awards granted represented 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively, of outstanding shares as of the end of each fiscal period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which outlines a comprehensive revenue recognition model and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue upon transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the expected consideration to be received in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step approach for recognizing revenue, which may require a company to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. The new standard will be effective for the Company starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The FASB will permit entities to adopt one year earlier if they choose (i.e., the original effective date). The new standard allows for two methods of adoption: (a) full retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented, or (b) modified retrospective adoption, meaning the cumulative effect of applying the new standard is recognized as an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance. The Company does not intend to adopt the standard early and is in the process of determining the adoption method as well as the effects the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes,” which requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The new accounting guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of interim or annual reporting periods. The Company plans to adopt the standard prospectively in the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which requires that (i) all equity investments, other than equity-method investments, in unconsolidated entities generally be measured at fair value through earnings and (ii) when the fair value option has been elected for financial liabilities, changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk will be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. Additionally, the ASU changes the disclosure requirements for financial instruments. The new standard will be effective for the Company starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted for certain provisions. The Company is in the process of determining the effects the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements as well as whether to adopt certain provisions early.