What Happened:
Shares of computer processor maker Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) jumped 6.38% today after memory chipmaker, Micron, reported earnings for the latest quarter. While the results trailed the consensus estimates for revenue and operating profits, Wall Street analysts noted that the semiconductor company had faced a steeper slump than anticipated, but signs of a rebound are emerging. The outlook from the company was optimistic, with Sanjay Mehrotra, the chief executive, affirming his "confidence" in the long-term demand scenario and envisaging "gradual improvements" in the industry's supply-demand equation. The stock reaction suggests that the market is putting more weight on longer-term risk/reward than near-term cyclical results.
What is the market telling us:
Intel's shares are not very volatile and over the last year have had only 12 moves greater than 5%. In context of that, today's move is indicating the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
Intel is up 17.8% since the beginning of the year, but at $31.48 per share it is still trading 39.8% below its 52-week high of $52.25 from March 2022. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Intel's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $604.5.
Is now the time to buy Intel? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.