S&P 500 Index Continues to Reach New Highs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy INTC?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Strong Market Performance: Despite geopolitical conflicts and fluctuating oil prices, the S&P 500 index has risen nearly 8% this year, marking the fourth consecutive year of gains, demonstrating market resilience and investor confidence.
- Historical Review: After a 19% loss in 2022, the S&P 500 has rebounded by 92%, and since the 2008 financial crisis, it has surged 715%, highlighting the market's recovery capability and the potential of long-term investing.
- Investment Strategy Advice: Continuing to invest at market highs is wise; over the long term, consistency and regular contributions can significantly enhance portfolio compounding, potentially yielding over $500,000 after 30 years of investing.
- Stock Selection Recommendations: While the S&P 500 performs well, the analyst team has identified 10 top stocks that do not include the index, emphasizing the importance of selecting quality stocks at high valuations to achieve superior returns.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy INTC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on INTC
Wall Street analysts forecast INTC stock price to fall
29 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
19 Hold
5 Sell
Hold
Current: 109.620
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 109.620
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
About INTC
Intel Corporation is a global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The Company's segments include Intel Products, Intel Foundry, and All Other. Its Intel Products comprise Client Computing Group (CCG) and Data Center and AI (DCAI). CCG delivers platforms and processors that power PCs and edge devices, enabling enhanced performance, connectivity and user experience for consumer and commercial markets with capabilities that also support retail, industrial robotics and AI ecosystems at the edge. DCAI delivers workload-optimized solutions based upon its x86 architecture for data centers, including CPUs, AI accelerators, NICs, IPUs and custom ASICs, enabling performance and scalability for cloud, enterprise, telecommunication and HPC environments. The Intel Foundry segment comprises technology development, manufacturing and foundry services, developing new semiconductor process technologies and advanced packaging technologies. All Other segments include Mobileye and Other.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
SpaceX Plans $55B Investment for Terafab Project
- Massive Investment: SpaceX plans an initial investment of $55 billion for the Terafab project in Texas, which, if successful, is expected to yield significant benefits for Intel and several semiconductor equipment vendors.
- Estimated Total Cost: Government filings indicate that if additional phases of the semiconductor production facility are completed, the total cost could reach approximately $119 billion, which would have profound implications for the semiconductor industry.
- Potential Gains for Intel: Wedbush analysts noted that if the project proves successful, it would positively impact Intel's 14A process, although the exact relationship between Intel and Tesla/SpaceX remains somewhat unclear.
- Risks and Challenges: Despite the promising outlook, analysts caution that building and owning a fab to support internal requirements is an expensive proposition that has become increasingly difficult to justify, especially when many products are not yet finalized.
See More
IonQ: Leading the Quantum Computing Frontier
- Significant Revenue Growth: IonQ's revenue surged 755% year-over-year in Q1 to nearly $65 million, indicating strong market demand for its quantum computing products and services, with full-year revenue guidance raised from $225 million to a range of $260 million to $270 million, reflecting management's confidence in future growth.
- Technological Milestone: The sale of IonQ's first 256-qubit system marks a significant milestone, showcasing the company's technology nearing commercial viability, which could strengthen its competitive position and lay the groundwork for future market share.
- Massive Market Potential: According to McKinsey, the quantum computing market could reach $72 billion by 2035, presenting IonQ with substantial growth opportunities, and capturing a portion of this market could yield impressive returns for investors.
- Intense Competitive Landscape: Despite IonQ's strong performance, competitors like IBM, Alphabet, and Microsoft possess nearly unlimited resources, making future market competition reliant on who can deliver the best products at reasonable prices, which will significantly impact IonQ's market standing.
See More
Trump's Fed Chair Nominee May End Bull Market
- Market Performance Review: During Trump's first term, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq saw gains of 57%, 70%, and 142% respectively, indicating a strong market influence, yet the current market faces multiple headwinds.
- Fed Chair Nomination: Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell, who served on the Fed Board from 2006 to 2011, may push for higher interest rate policies, impacting the long-term outlook for the stock market.
- Increased Market Risks: Warsh's criticism of the Fed's balance sheet could lead to the sale of long-term Treasuries, raising borrowing costs, which poses a threat to an already overvalued stock market and may trigger a downturn.
- Internal Fed Divisions: Warsh will inherit a historically divided Federal Open Market Committee, potentially leading to inefficiencies in monetary policy and undermining market confidence in the Fed, which could further affect investor sentiment.
See More
Amazon Positioned to Outperform S&P 500
- Cloud Growth Acceleration: Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a 28% revenue increase to $37.6 billion in Q1, marking its fastest growth in nearly four years, indicating a strengthening competitive position in the cloud market that is expected to drive overall performance.
- Chip Business Surge: Amazon's chip division has reached a $20 billion annual run-rate, potentially hitting $50 billion with internal usage, as rising data center spending enhances its AI infrastructure investments, significantly reducing inference costs and boosting profitability.
- Agentic AI Advantage: By collaborating with OpenAI on the BedRock platform, Amazon has strengthened its position in the agentic AI space, while its developed Model Context Protocol (MCP) is set to optimize e-commerce operations, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Strong E-commerce Platform: Amazon's e-commerce segment is achieving significant efficiency gains through robotics and AI, which, while AWS garners much attention, positions the e-commerce business for substantial profitability growth, providing a continuous growth driver for the company.
See More
SpaceX IPO Expected to Set Historical Record
- Market Anticipation: SpaceX's IPO is expected to take place in summer 2026, with no specific date set yet, but it is anticipated to be the largest and most valuable IPO in history, drawing massive investor interest and potentially significant market impact.
- Swarmer's Strong Performance: So far in 2026, around 120 IPOs have occurred, a 7% increase from the same period in 2025, with Swarmer's stock rising 117% since its debut on March 17, climbing from $12.50 to approximately $27 per share, reflecting robust market demand and investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth Potential: Swarmer expects to generate $33.1 million in revenue over the next 12 to 24 months, with about 60% (approximately $20 million) projected for 2026, indicating strong growth potential and demand in the defense sector.
- International Expansion Plans: Swarmer recently announced plans to enter the Japanese market in partnership with Rakuten Group, leveraging its influence and technological expertise in Japan to further expand its business in the global drone manufacturing and defense markets, enhancing the company's growth prospects.
See More
Vanguard's Tech ETF May Not Suit AI Investors
- ETF Holdings Analysis: Vanguard's Information Technology ETF has over 44% of its top holdings in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, yet lacks key AI players like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta, highlighting its limitations for AI investment.
- Market Share Absence: Amazon and Alphabet's cloud platforms together hold a 42% market share, and their absence would weaken the foundational infrastructure of the AI ecosystem, impacting overall investment returns.
- Capital Expenditure Trends: These three companies are expected to spend between $500 billion and $530 billion in capital expenditures in 2023, primarily on AI initiatives, indicating their ongoing investment and growth potential in the AI sector.
- Investment Strategy Reevaluation: Given that the Motley Fool's list of 10 best stocks does not include Vanguard's Information Technology ETF, investors should reassess their investment strategies to seek higher return potential.
See More
SpaceX Plans $55B Investment for Terafab Project
- Massive Investment: SpaceX plans an initial investment of $55 billion for the Terafab project in Texas, which, if successful, is expected to yield significant benefits for Intel and several semiconductor equipment vendors.
- Estimated Total Cost: Government filings indicate that if additional phases of the semiconductor production facility are completed, the total cost could reach approximately $119 billion, which would have profound implications for the semiconductor industry.
- Potential Gains for Intel: Wedbush analysts noted that if the project proves successful, it would positively impact Intel's 14A process, although the exact relationship between Intel and Tesla/SpaceX remains somewhat unclear.
- Risks and Challenges: Despite the promising outlook, analysts caution that building and owning a fab to support internal requirements is an expensive proposition that has become increasingly difficult to justify, especially when many products are not yet finalized.
See More
IonQ: Leading the Quantum Computing Frontier
- Significant Revenue Growth: IonQ's revenue surged 755% year-over-year in Q1 to nearly $65 million, indicating strong market demand for its quantum computing products and services, with full-year revenue guidance raised from $225 million to a range of $260 million to $270 million, reflecting management's confidence in future growth.
- Technological Milestone: The sale of IonQ's first 256-qubit system marks a significant milestone, showcasing the company's technology nearing commercial viability, which could strengthen its competitive position and lay the groundwork for future market share.
- Massive Market Potential: According to McKinsey, the quantum computing market could reach $72 billion by 2035, presenting IonQ with substantial growth opportunities, and capturing a portion of this market could yield impressive returns for investors.
- Intense Competitive Landscape: Despite IonQ's strong performance, competitors like IBM, Alphabet, and Microsoft possess nearly unlimited resources, making future market competition reliant on who can deliver the best products at reasonable prices, which will significantly impact IonQ's market standing.
See More
Trump's Fed Chair Nominee May End Bull Market
- Market Performance Review: During Trump's first term, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq saw gains of 57%, 70%, and 142% respectively, indicating a strong market influence, yet the current market faces multiple headwinds.
- Fed Chair Nomination: Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell, who served on the Fed Board from 2006 to 2011, may push for higher interest rate policies, impacting the long-term outlook for the stock market.
- Increased Market Risks: Warsh's criticism of the Fed's balance sheet could lead to the sale of long-term Treasuries, raising borrowing costs, which poses a threat to an already overvalued stock market and may trigger a downturn.
- Internal Fed Divisions: Warsh will inherit a historically divided Federal Open Market Committee, potentially leading to inefficiencies in monetary policy and undermining market confidence in the Fed, which could further affect investor sentiment.
See More
Amazon Positioned to Outperform S&P 500
- Cloud Growth Acceleration: Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported a 28% revenue increase to $37.6 billion in Q1, marking its fastest growth in nearly four years, indicating a strengthening competitive position in the cloud market that is expected to drive overall performance.
- Chip Business Surge: Amazon's chip division has reached a $20 billion annual run-rate, potentially hitting $50 billion with internal usage, as rising data center spending enhances its AI infrastructure investments, significantly reducing inference costs and boosting profitability.
- Agentic AI Advantage: By collaborating with OpenAI on the BedRock platform, Amazon has strengthened its position in the agentic AI space, while its developed Model Context Protocol (MCP) is set to optimize e-commerce operations, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Strong E-commerce Platform: Amazon's e-commerce segment is achieving significant efficiency gains through robotics and AI, which, while AWS garners much attention, positions the e-commerce business for substantial profitability growth, providing a continuous growth driver for the company.
See More
SpaceX IPO Expected to Set Historical Record
- Market Anticipation: SpaceX's IPO is expected to take place in summer 2026, with no specific date set yet, but it is anticipated to be the largest and most valuable IPO in history, drawing massive investor interest and potentially significant market impact.
- Swarmer's Strong Performance: So far in 2026, around 120 IPOs have occurred, a 7% increase from the same period in 2025, with Swarmer's stock rising 117% since its debut on March 17, climbing from $12.50 to approximately $27 per share, reflecting robust market demand and investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth Potential: Swarmer expects to generate $33.1 million in revenue over the next 12 to 24 months, with about 60% (approximately $20 million) projected for 2026, indicating strong growth potential and demand in the defense sector.
- International Expansion Plans: Swarmer recently announced plans to enter the Japanese market in partnership with Rakuten Group, leveraging its influence and technological expertise in Japan to further expand its business in the global drone manufacturing and defense markets, enhancing the company's growth prospects.
See More
Vanguard's Tech ETF May Not Suit AI Investors
- ETF Holdings Analysis: Vanguard's Information Technology ETF has over 44% of its top holdings in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, yet lacks key AI players like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta, highlighting its limitations for AI investment.
- Market Share Absence: Amazon and Alphabet's cloud platforms together hold a 42% market share, and their absence would weaken the foundational infrastructure of the AI ecosystem, impacting overall investment returns.
- Capital Expenditure Trends: These three companies are expected to spend between $500 billion and $530 billion in capital expenditures in 2023, primarily on AI initiatives, indicating their ongoing investment and growth potential in the AI sector.
- Investment Strategy Reevaluation: Given that the Motley Fool's list of 10 best stocks does not include Vanguard's Information Technology ETF, investors should reassess their investment strategies to seek higher return potential.
See More
