UPDATE 2-Qualcomm's outlook misses Street, Samsung deal helps

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Wireless chip supplier Qualcomm Inc on Wednesday forecast weaker than expected full- year results, but its extension of a key deal with Korea's Samsung Electronics helped offset the disappointment for some investors. Qualcomm forecast full-year revenue of $10.5 billion to $11.3 billion, below Wall Street expectations for revenue of $11.61 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said it expected earnings of $2.10 to $2.30 per share in the full year of 2010, below the $2.32 expected by analysts on average. While the results were disappointing, analysts said that given the shares had fallen 9 percent since late September, a lot of softness had already been priced in. One analyst said a weaker-than-expected profit outlook could mean that Samsung, one of Qualcomm's biggest customers, managed to negotiate a cheaper technology licensing rate. "It's good news they've extended, but I'm fairly confident the terms aren't that favorable to Qualcomm," Charter Equity Research analyst Ed Snyder said. "The guidance for this quarter was light and the full-year guidance is a bit discouraging, light on revenue and significantly light on earnings," he added. Qualcomm's net profit fell to $803 million, or 48 cents per share in the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 27, from $878 million, or 52 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Analysts on average had expected earnings of 52 cents per share, according to to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue fell to $2.69 billion in the fourth quarter from $3.34 billion a year ago, when it reported a $560 million payment from Nokia from a legal settlement. Wall Street had expected revenue of $2.72 billion, Qualcomm's shares, which have fallen more than 9 percent since late September on concerns about its outlook, closed at $41.60 on Nasdaq down 1.47 percent. The shares rose 0.9 percent to $41.96 in after-hours trading. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Carol Bishopric) Keywords: QUALCOMM/ ([e-mail]; + 1 646 2236186) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

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