Is NXP Semiconductors N.V. a Quality Business?
Analyzing business fundamentals using proven investment principles
Decent metrics but limited evidence of durable competitive advantage
About NXP Semiconductors N.V.
NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a Dutch semiconductor manufacturing and design company and the third largest European semiconductor company by market capitalization, headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Incorporated in 2006, the company provides semiconductor products including microcontrollers, application processors, communication processors, wireless connectivity solutions (NFC, UWB, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, Wi-Fi), analog and interface devices, RF power amplifiers, security controllers, and environmental and inertial sensors. Serving automotive, industrial and IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure applications, NXP employs approximately 34,000 people across more than 30 countries and generated $12.61 billion in revenue in 2024, marketing its products to OEMs, contract manufacturers, and distributors worldwide.
📚 How We Measure Business Quality
The Zyberno Score answers one question: "Is this a quality business worth owning?"
We analyze 16 fundamental metrics across four key dimensions, using principles from
Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch,
and Charlie Munger. Each category is worth 25 points for a total of 100.
This score measures business quality only — not whether the stock is cheap, what return you'll get, or when to buy. For that, see the Valuation Trilogy below.
🎯 Recent Earnings Momentum
A separate, shorter-horizon signal — not part of the long-term quality score above. Standardized Unexpected Earnings (SUE) measures how far NXPI's latest quarter beat or missed its own seasonal earnings trend.
View NXPI's full earnings-surprise history and what this signal means →
💡 Quality Is Only Half the Picture
A high quality score means NXPI shows strong business fundamentals.
But even the best business can be a poor investment at the wrong price.
As Warren Buffett says: "Price is what you pay, value is what you get."
To complete your analysis, examine our Valuation Trilogy:
In the Brina Matrix, NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) registers Expensive Hype — Margin of Safety -100.00% and Brina Gap -4.7% are both unfavorable. The stock is priced above its historical earnings power and the market already assumes faster growth than the fundamentals support.
📈 Price Action Check
Market trend context — not part of the Zyberno Score
The market has been actively rewarding NXPI over the past year. Strong momentum on a quality business usually means the story is already being recognised — check the valuation signals above before paying up. Full momentum analysis →
Conclusion: Is NXPI a Good Stock?
According to Zyberno's analysis, NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) is an Average Business, earning a Zyberno Score of 56/100.
What drives NXPI's score
Zyberno's analysis of NXPI's fundamentals identifies the following key drivers. An ROE of 25.2% is well above the 15% quality threshold, indicating NXP Semiconductors N.V. generates exceptional returns from shareholders' equity — a hallmark of businesses with durable competitive advantages. ROIC of 15.0% is strong, reflecting efficient capital allocation. A net margin of 21.0% is exceptional — NXP Semiconductors N.V. keeps 21 cents of profit from every dollar of revenue after all expenses. A debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07x is high, indicating significant financial leverage that amplifies both gains and risks. An interest coverage ratio of 6.4x indicates comfortable debt servicing capacity. A free cash flow margin of 21.5% is impressive, demonstrating that NXP Semiconductors N.V. converts a significant share of revenue into real cash available to shareholders. Revenue has contracted at approximately 2.2% annually over the past five years, a trend Zyberno's model treats as a concern. A Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 is mixed, with some positive and some negative financial health signals.
According to Zyberno's valuation model, at its current price of $225.86, NXPI appears to be significantly overvalued compared to an estimated intrinsic value per share of $108.71, with a negative margin of safety of -100.0%. Value investors would typically wait for a better entry price. Based on current pricing and fundamentals, Zyberno's model estimates a 5-year annual return of -16.7%.
The Brina Gap measures the difference between the growth a business can fundamentally sustain and the growth the market is already pricing in. NXP Semiconductors N.V.'s Brina Gap is -4.7% — the enterprise value implies the market expects somewhat faster growth than the business fundamentals currently support. The market is modestly overestimating forward growth capacity.
Zyberno's score and valuation reflect the direct output of the model — business quality from fundamentals, margin of safety from owner earnings, Brina Gap from the reverse DCF. The numbers are not adjusted toward the current price, analyst ratings, or market sentiment. The score measures the quality of the business. The valuation measures the price you pay for it.
Zyberno Verdict
According to Zyberno's model, NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) is not a buy — an Average Business (56/100) with a negative Margin of Safety of -100.0% and a Brina Gap of -4.7% showing the stock is expensive on both valuation and forward growth expectations.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does NXPI's Zyberno Score of 56/100 mean?
According to Zyberno's scoring model, a score of 56/100 places NXP Semiconductors N.V. in the Average Business category — decent metrics but limited evidence of durable competitive advantage. Zyberno's model scores 75–100 as excellent, 65–74 as good, 50–64 as average, 30–49 as below average, and below 30 as poor, based on the investment frameworks of Buffett, Graham, Lynch, and Munger. Note that a high quality score measures business fundamentals, not whether the stock is currently priced attractively — for that, see the margin of safety analysis.
What makes a stock "high quality"?
A high-quality stock typically exhibits: strong returns on equity and invested capital (indicating competitive advantages), healthy profit margins, low debt levels, ample liquidity, consistent cash flow generation, and sustainable growth. We analyze 16 key metrics across four categories - Profitability (ROE, ROIC, margins), Financial Strength (debt, liquidity, coverage), Cash Flow Quality (FCF, OCF vs earnings), and Growth & Consistency (revenue/profit trends, Piotroski score) - drawing from the investment philosophies of Buffett, Graham, Lynch, and Munger.
How is the quality score different from a stock rating?
Our quality score measures business fundamentals - how well the company operates, generates profits, and maintains financial health. Unlike analyst "buy/sell" ratings, we don't tell you whether to purchase the stock. A company can have excellent quality (great business) but poor investment potential (if overpriced), or vice versa. For valuation analysis, see our Margin of Safety page.
Why do you use Owner Earnings instead of regular earnings?
Owner Earnings, a concept popularized by Warren Buffett, represents the true cash available to shareholders after maintaining the business. Unlike accounting earnings, which can be manipulated through depreciation schedules and accruals, Owner Earnings = Operating Cash Flow minus Maintenance Capital Expenditures. This gives a clearer picture of what a business actually generates for its owners. Learn more about NXPI's Owner Earnings.
How often is the quality score updated?
Quality scores are recalculated whenever new financial data becomes available, typically after quarterly earnings reports. The underlying metrics (ROE, ROIC, debt ratios, etc.) come from company filings and are updated as soon as they're reported. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date data, visit the full NXPI stock report.
📊 Full NXPI Stock Report
Complete financial data, charts, all 250+ metrics, and detailed analysis for NXP Semiconductors N.V..
🎯 NXPI Earnings Surprise (SUE)
See whether NXP Semiconductors N.V. is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.
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