Qualcomm vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Qualcomm was founded in 1985 by Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi and is led by Cristiano Amon. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
Company facts
Founders
Qualcomm
Irwin Jacobs
Irwin Jacobs is an American electrical engineer who co-founded Qualcomm and was its first CEO. He had been a professor at UC San Diego and had co-founded Linkabit.
Andrew Viterbi
Andrew Viterbi brought the deepest technical credentials of Qualcomm's founding team, combining top academic training in communications theory with practical experience in defense and commercial digital systems.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Qualcomm
- Steve Mollenkopf2013–2021
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, he navigated the company through brutal antitrust litigation with Apple and the FTC, securing the critical 5G licensing agreements that stabilized Qualcomm's revenue model.
Source - Akash Palkhiwala2019–present
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
As CFO, he executed massive share repurchase programs and maintained strong gross margins despite extreme volatility in global smartphone demand.
Source - Cristiano Amon2021–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cristiano Amon, a Brazilian electrical engineer, joined Qualcomm in 1995 and led its QCT chip business and president role before becoming CEO on June 30, 2021, succeeding Steve Mollenkopf.
Source
Target
- Robert J. Ulrich1994–2008
Chairman and CEO
Under Ulrich Target grew into the second-largest US discount retailer, built its design-partnership model with designers such as Michael Graves, and added the Super Target format. He retired as chief executive in 2008 and was succeeded by Gregg Steinhafel.
Source - Gregg Steinhafel2008–2014
Chairman, President and CEO
Steinhafel resigned in May 2014 after the data breach and the poor results of Target Canada, which the company closed in 2015 after losses. Brian Cornell succeeded him later in 2014.
Source - Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Qualcomm and Target side by side
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
1985Qualcomm
Qualcomm Founded
Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi, and five colleagues found Qualcomm Incorporated in San Diego, California, initially operating as a telecommunications consulting and research firm from a converted restaurant building.
1988Qualcomm
OmniTRACS Commercial Launch
Qualcomm commercially launches OmniTRACS, a satellite-based two-way messaging and positioning system for long-haul trucking that becomes the company's first profitable product and funds ongoing CDMA research.
1989Qualcomm
First Live CDMA Demonstration
Qualcomm conducts its first outdoor live CDMA demonstration in San Diego, proving the technology works in real-world conditions and attracting serious attention from U.S. Cellular carriers and equipment manufacturers.
1991Qualcomm
Initial Public Offering
Qualcomm goes public on the Nasdaq Stock Market in December 1991, raising approximately $43 million at $16 per share in an IPO that gives the company capital to accelerate CDMA commercialization.
1993Qualcomm
IS-95 CDMA Standard Adopted
The Telecommunications Industry Association formally adopts IS-95, a CDMA standard based substantially on Qualcomm's technology, as an approved digital cellular standard in the United States validating the company's decade-long technological bet.
1995Qualcomm
First Commercial CDMA Network Launched
Sprint PCS launches the first commercial CDMA cellular network in the United States, using Qualcomm-based technology and marking the beginning of large-scale commercial deployment that would define U.S. Wireless infrastructure for the next twenty years.
1999Qualcomm
Strategic Exit from Infrastructure and Handsets
Qualcomm sells its network infrastructure division to Ericsson and its handset manufacturing business to Kyocera, focusing the company entirely on chip design and patent licensing a strategic concentration that defines its business model to the present day.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
2007Qualcomm
Snapdragon Platform Introduction
Qualcomm introduces the Snapdragon brand for its mobile system-on-chip processors, establishing a consumer-facing identity for its mobile silicon that would become synonymous with premium Android smartphone performance over the following decade.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2015Target
Target Exits Canada
Target announced in January 2015 that it would close all of its Canadian stores, ending an expansion that began in 2013.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
2019Qualcomm
Apple Settlement and Licensing Agreement
Following years of contentious litigation, Qualcomm and Apple reach a global settlement in April 2019 covering all pending litigation worldwide, with Apple agreeing to a multi-year chip supply deal and a licensing arrangement reportedly involving back payments…
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
2021Qualcomm
Nuvia Acquisition
Qualcomm acquires Nuvia, a CPU startup founded by former Apple Silicon architects, for approximately $1.4 billion, bringing custom CPU design capabilities in-house that power the Oryon cores in Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon X Elite PC chips.
2023Qualcomm
Snapdragon X Elite PC Platform Launch
Qualcomm launches the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus platforms for Windows PCs, powering Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative and marking the company's most significant push into personal computing since the failed Snapdragon 835 PC effort in 2017.
2024Qualcomm
Snapdragon 8 Elite Launch
Qualcomm launches the Snapdragon 8 Elite, its first phone chip with custom Oryon CPU cores, built on TSMC's 3nm process.
2025Qualcomm
Alphawave Semi Acquisition Completed
Qualcomm completes its roughly $2.4B purchase of Alphawave Semi to accelerate data center connectivity products.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
2026Qualcomm
Q2 FY2026 Results and $20B Buyback Authorization
Qualcomm reports Q2 FY2026 revenue of $10.599B, record quarterly QCT automotive revenue, 20% year-over-year growth in combined QCT automotive and IoT revenue, and a new $20B repurchase authorization.
2026Qualcomm
Q3 FY2026 Results and $40B Non-Handset Target
Qualcomm reports Q3 FY2026 revenue of $9.9B (down 4%), automotive revenue up 61% to $1.6B, and raises its FY2029 non-handset revenue target to $40B.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Qualcomm
- Modular2026$3.9B
- Alphawave Semi2025$2.4B
- Veoneer Active Safety (ADAS Division)2022$4.5B
- Nuvia2021$1.4B
- RF360 Holdings (joint venture buyout)2019Undisclosed
- Atheros Communications2011$3.1B
Questions about Qualcomm vs Target
Who is the CEO of Qualcomm Inc. and Target Corporation?
Qualcomm Inc. is led by Cristiano Amon and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Qualcomm Inc. founded vs Target Corporation?
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 — 83 years before Qualcomm Inc., which was founded in 1985. Target Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Qualcomm Inc..
How many employees does Qualcomm Inc. have compared to Target Corporation?
Qualcomm Inc. employs approximately 52,000 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 employees, compared to Qualcomm Inc.'s 52,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Qualcomm Inc. and Target Corporation headquartered?
Both Qualcomm Inc. and Target Corporation are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Qualcomm Inc. and Target Corporation?
Qualcomm Inc. was founded by Irwin Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Qualcomm Inc. or Target Corporation?
Target Corporation has been operating for approximately 124 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Qualcomm Inc. has been in operation for around 41 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Qualcomm vs Target overview