Intel's Weak Quarterly Guidance Leads to Over 6% Stock Drop
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 22 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CSX?
Source: CNBC
- Intel's Earnings Guidance: Intel expects first-quarter revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion with breakeven adjusted earnings per share, falling short of analysts' expectations of 5 cents per share and $12.51 billion in sales, resulting in a more than 6% drop in after-hours trading.
- Intuitive Surgical's Strong Results: Intuitive Surgical reported adjusted earnings of $2.53 per share for the fourth quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.26, with revenue of $2.87 billion surpassing the $2.75 billion forecast, leading to a 3% increase in stock price.
- Capital One Acquisition Announcement: Capital One announced its agreement to acquire startup Brex for $5.15 billion, structured as 50% cash and 50% stock, while its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.86 per share fell short of the $4.11 expected by analysts, causing a 2% decline in stock price.
- CSX Revenue Growth: CSX reported intermodal revenue of $562 million for the fourth quarter, exceeding the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $551.2 million, and expects low single-digit revenue growth for the full year 2026, resulting in a 3% increase in stock price.
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Analyst Views on CSX
Wall Street analysts forecast CSX stock price to fall
13 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 41.440
Low
30.00
Averages
39.08
High
43.00
Current: 41.440
Low
30.00
Averages
39.08
High
43.00
About CSX
CSX Corporation is a transportation company. The Company provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across an array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. It provides rail-based freight transportation services, including traditional rail service, the transport of intermodal containers and trailers, as well as other transportation services such as rail-to-truck transfers and bulk commodity operations. Through its subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), it provides a link to the transportation supply chain through its approximately 20,000 route-mile rail network and serves major population centers in 26 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. CSXT is also engaged in real estate sales, leasing, acquisition and management and development activities. It serves merchandise, intermodal, coal, and trucking businesses.
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.
- Analyst Target Increase: Bernstein analyst David Vernon raised CSX Corporation's price target from $36 to $39, maintaining a Market Perform rating, which reflects an optimistic outlook on the rail sector amid improving competition and commodity trends.
- Market Performance Expectations: RBC Capital Markets also raised CSX's target price from $39 to $43 on March 26, keeping an Outperform rating, indicating positive expectations for Q1 results and suggesting that the freight environment is beginning to improve.
- Industry Risk Considerations: Despite the optimistic outlook for CSX, Bernstein noted that railroads are not insulated from broader macro risks related to the Iran conflict, which could impact overall market performance and requires investor caution.
- Investment Potential Comparison: While CSX is viewed as a potentially strong investment, analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk, prompting investors to consider a diversified investment strategy.
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- Market Decline: On Thursday, the S&P 500 fell by 0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.44%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.29%, indicating a broad market decline driven by inflation concerns and investor pessimism.
- Energy Price Volatility: Crude oil prices experienced significant fluctuations as WTI initially rallied before retreating after Israel's assistance to the US in opening the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the direct impact of geopolitical tensions on energy markets.
- Rising Bond Yields: The 10-year German Bund yield rose to a 2.25-year high of 3.01%, while the 10-year US Treasury yield reached a 6.75-month high of 4.32%, reflecting market expectations of potential tightening monetary policies by central banks, which could increase borrowing costs.
- Economic Data Impact: US weekly initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 205,000, indicating a strong labor market, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey unexpectedly rose to a 6-month high of 18.1, further intensifying market concerns over potential interest rate hikes.
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- Market Turmoil: U.S. stocks fell sharply as the Iran war escalated and oil prices surged by 6%, pushing Brent crude futures higher and causing the Dow to hit a new low for 2026, reflecting heightened market concerns over inflation data.
- Micron's Strong Quarter: Micron Technology reported impressive sales and earnings beats, yet its stock faced pressure due to management's cautious spending comments, with Deutsche Bank raising its price target to $550, indicating confidence in its future growth potential despite market confusion.
- Natural Gas Supply-Demand Imbalance: Sempra's CEO Jeffrey Martin highlighted the U.S. oversupply of natural gas, contrasting with shortages elsewhere, suggesting significant potential for U.S. LNG exports that could reshape future energy market dynamics.
- Robust Pharmaceutical Sales: Barclays raised Johnson & Johnson's price target to $234, citing strong U.S. pharmaceutical sales growth, particularly after the FDA approval of its oral psoriasis drug, indicating optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
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- Diesel Price Surge: U.S. diesel prices surpassed $5 per gallon for the first time in over three years, reaching $5.04, a 34% increase from the previous day, reflecting the historic oil supply disruption caused by the escalating war in the Middle East, which poses significant pressure on the transportation sector.
- Rising Transportation Costs: In response to soaring diesel prices, trucking and rail companies are raising fuel surcharges, which could further inflate transportation costs, potentially impacting consumer prices and spending, thereby exerting negative pressure on the economy.
- Gasoline Price Increase: Gasoline prices have also surged 27% since the onset of the war, averaging $3.79 per gallon, marking the highest level since October 2023, indicating the overall tension in the energy market.
- Continued Oil Price Rise: With Iran attacking tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged over 40% during the conflict, with U.S. crude trading around $94 per barrel and Brent at approximately $101, suggesting that fuel prices will remain under pressure until oil flows resume.
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- Target Price Increase: Jefferies analyst Stephanie Moore raised CSX's price target from $42 to $50 while reiterating a Buy rating, indicating growing investor interest in transportation networks as core assets resistant to AI disruption.
- Dividend Growth: CSX announced a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share, reflecting an 8% increase from the previous $0.13, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to stable cash flow and shareholder returns, with payment scheduled for March 13, 2026.
- Infrastructure Value: Moore emphasized that the value of transportation networks derives not only from software or labor inputs but also from long-lived, capital-intensive, and regulated infrastructure that is nearly impossible to rebuild, highlighting CSX's unique market position.
- Industry Outlook: While CSX is viewed as a promising investment, analysts believe that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk, reflecting a diverse perspective on investment opportunities in the current market.
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- U.S. Manufacturing Growth: The U.S. manufacturing sector reported a second consecutive month of growth, providing positive news for investors.
- Investor Sentiment: This growth in manufacturing is likely to boost investor confidence in the economy.
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