QCOM

Qualcomm Inc/de

A maker of the chips that power many of the world's smartphones, cars, and connected devices, most famously the Snapdragon platform found in handsets from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi. It also earns royalties licensing its cellular patents to manufacturers around the globe. Founded in 1985 in San Diego, its name blends "quality" and "communications." A fun quirk: Snapdragon was reportedly named to suggest "fast" (snap) and "fierce" (dragon).