Finance1 min read

Weak quarter for Intel sends shivers through cooling chip stocks

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The semiconductor index faced compounded losses following an earlier decline prompted by Alphabet's earnings report. Intel's projected $600 million revenue loss across two quarters from its halted factory operations exacerbated the negative momentum. Sector peers like AMD and Broadcom also slid during post-market trading, although market observers emphasized that lower liquidity during evening hours can exaggerate overall price volatility.

Key points

  • The broader semiconductor index has now retreated 21% from its record peak established in…: The broader semiconductor index has now retreated 21% from its record peak established in June.
  • Analysts stressed that Intel's challenges reflect weakening personal computer demand rath…: Analysts stressed that Intel's challenges reflect weakening personal computer demand rather than a broader collapse in artificial intelligence spending.
  • Tightening financing conditions over the past month have disrupted leveraged AI infrastru…: Tightening financing conditions over the past month have disrupted leveraged AI infrastructure companies and frozen scheduled public offerings.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The semiconductor index sold off in post-close trading on Thursday after chipmaker Intel blamed "near term headwinds across the PC industry," sending its shares tumbling 18% in the after-hours session. That followed the SOX's 1.4% drop during the regular session due to a messy earnings report from big AI spender Alphabet on Wednesday.

Intel said a factory explosion in Israel will cost it roughly $600 million in lost revenue over two quarters because it has been shut down for about two weeks. Intel's fall took other big chip stocks down in post-close trading as well.

"Overall semis weakness after hours is primarily a function of INTC guide and negative sentiment spillover," said Michael James, equity sales trader at Rosenblatt Securities.

Intel's problems in the PC sector, an area of technology that does not garner the same scrutiny on Wall Street as the AI buildout, does not seem to necessarily mean big problems for other chipmakers that operate more prominently in AI.

Nevertheless, investors in the less-active post-market trade chose to shoot first and ask questions later. AMD dropped 4% and…

Finance