Major Averages Slightly Lower as Investors Track Middle East Tensions
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy INTC?
The major averages are marginally lower near noon as investors continue to track Middle East tensions ahead of a ceasefire deadline. Sentiment has been supported by hopes around potential Iran-related talks despite uncertainty over the conflict's next phase. Meanwhile, oil was higher once again, though the price remains below $100 per barrel.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Applesaid that John Ternus willof the company, with Tim Cook transitioning to executive chairmanAmazonannounced an additionalUnitedHealthprovided areport for Q1GE Aerospacereportedand reiterated its FY26 guidance3Mreportedand reiterated its FY26 outlook2. WALL STREET CALLS:HSBCIntelto Buy on server CPU shipment growthKeyBancCrowdStriketo Overweight on AI tailwindsExxon Mobilto Peer Perform at Wolfe ResearchGraphic Packagingto Underperform at Raymond JamesNorthcoastCava Groupat Sell on "lofty' valuation3. AROUND THE WEB:Magnum Ice Cream'sshort interest in Europe has increased to 19% of shares available for trading, Bloomberg reportsMatch GroupCEO Spencer Rascoff's "primary focus" is winning over women, hoping this will arrest years of falling numbers and turn around Tinder's trajectory, FT saysA U.S. jury has found Uberliable for a sexual assault by a driver in 2019, handing Uber a second consecutive defeat in its first trials of more than 3,000 pending lawsuits, NY Times saysSalesforceCEO Marc Benioff dismissed the idea of vibe coded CRM replacing SaaS companies, saying data security and compliance make Salesforce indispensable, WSJ reportsDozens of allegations of customer financial fraud by former employees of Gibraltar Life Insurance, a Prudential Groupsubsidiary, have surfaced, Nikkei Asia reports4. MOVERS:Velo3Dhigher after announcing it willas an official sponsor and additive manufacturing technology provider for two 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge eventsVaalco Energyincreases after providingfrom its Gabon drilling program and well results from its Etame 14H wellLucidgains after Uberin the companyHycroft Miningfalls after engaging with an engineering firm toAXT Inc. (AXTI) lower after announcing an5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Genuine Partsand reaffirmed its guidance for FY26RTX, with CEO Chris Calio commenting, "RTX delivered a very strong start to 2026"Quest Diagnosticsand raised its guidance for FY26D.R. Hortonand narrowed its guidance for FY26, with CEO David Auld commenting, "The D.R. Horton team delivered a solid second quarter"Synchrony, with EPS beating consensusINDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.18%, or 86.83, to 49,355.73, the Nasdaq was down 0.18%, or 42.93, to 24,361.47, and the S&P 500 was down 0.27%, or 18.95, to 7,090.19.
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: 65.700
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 65.700
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
About INTC
Intel Corporation is a global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The Company operates through three segments: Intel Products, Intel Foundry, and All Other. Its Intel Products segment includes Client Computing Group (CCG), Data Center and AI (DCAI), Network and Edge (NEX). The CCG is bringing together the operating system, system architecture, hardware, and software application integration to enable PC experiences. DCAI delivers workload-optimized solutions to cloud service providers and enterprises, along with silicon devices for communications service providers, network and edge, and HPC customers. NEX helps networks and edge compute systems from fixed-function hardware to general-purpose compute, acceleration, and networking devices running cloud native software on programmable hardware. The Intel Foundry segment comprises technology development, manufacturing and foundry services. All Other segments include Altera, Mobileye, 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.
Intel Gains from Rising AI CPU Demand, Morgan Stanley Prefers Memory Stocks
- AI Demand Boosts CPU Market: With rising AI demand, Intel (INTC) and AMD (AMD) are positioned as key beneficiaries, particularly in the server segment, which is expected to significantly enhance their market performance, although the broader investment narrative has not fully centered around this segment.
- Morgan Stanley's Investment Preference: Morgan Stanley believes that while Intel and AMD play crucial roles in AI-driven CPU demand, they favor U.S. memory stocks, particularly Micron (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK), indicating a more optimistic outlook on memory demand.
- Intel Price Target Increase: Morgan Stanley raised Intel's price target from $41 to $56 and boosted its 2027 EPS estimate from $0.97 to $1.34, surpassing the market consensus of $1.03, reflecting analysts' confidence in its future profitability.
- Earnings Expectations and Stock Performance: Intel is set to report Q1 results on April 23, with expectations of $0.01 EPS on $12.42 billion in revenue, and shares have already climbed over 60% since the last earnings release, indicating growing market optimism about its recovery.
See More
Intel Set to Benefit from Billions in Manufacturing Investments
- Massive Investment: Intel is set to invest tens of billions in its manufacturing capabilities, a move that is expected to significantly enhance production efficiency and market competitiveness, ultimately leading to substantial returns for the company.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the afternoon stock prices on April 16, 2026, Intel's shares rose by 3.90%, indicating investor optimism regarding the company's future growth potential and bolstering market confidence.
- Enhanced Manufacturing Capacity: These investments will enable Intel to expand its semiconductor production capabilities to meet the increasing market demand, particularly in high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, ensuring its leadership position at the forefront of technology.
- Strategic Implications: This investment represents not only an upgrade to existing facilities but also lays the groundwork for Intel's long-term competitiveness in the global semiconductor market, positioning the company favorably in future technological contests.
See More
Apple Appoints John Ternus as New CEO
- Leadership Transition: Apple announced that current CEO Tim Cook will step down in September, appointing John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, as his successor; Ternus, who has been with Apple for over 25 years, has led the development of key products like the iPad, AirPods, and iPhone, highlighting the company's commitment to internal talent and succession planning.
- AI Strategy Challenge: Upon taking the helm, Ternus faces the significant task of revamping Apple's artificial intelligence strategy, particularly as the company has encountered development hurdles with its Siri model, leading to market speculation about his ability to drive innovation in AI to catch up with competitors.
- Analyst Optimism: Wall Street analysts view Ternus's promotion as a potential catalyst for revitalizing Apple and its AI strategy, with Morgan Stanley analysts noting that his appointment underscores Apple's continued focus on product-centric strategies, reinforcing its core competitive advantages in the market.
- Career Background: Ternus graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and has held several key positions at Apple, ultimately becoming senior vice president of hardware engineering; his extensive experience and deep understanding of Apple's culture provide a solid foundation for his future leadership role.
See More
John Ternus to Succeed Tim Cook as Apple's CEO
- Internal Promotion Tradition: John Ternus will become Apple's eighth CEO in September, continuing the company's tradition of promoting from within, which underscores Apple's commitment to nurturing internal talent.
- Rich Experience Background: With 25 years at Apple, Ternus has overseen hardware development for iPads, AirPods, and recent iPhone models, showcasing his pivotal role in product development and indicating a continued focus on innovation.
- AI Strategy Challenge: Upon taking the helm, Ternus will face significant challenges in revamping Apple's lagging AI strategy, particularly with the slow progress of the Siri model, and analysts believe his leadership could reignite optimism in Apple's AI initiatives.
- Leadership Style and Vision: Ternus expressed optimism about the future in his appointment statement, emphasizing that collaboration with Apple's talented team will drive the company's ongoing success in technological innovation and market competitiveness.
See More
Intel Faces Supply Chain Challenges Impacting Chip Production
- Supply Chain Issues: Intel investors are focusing on the company's efforts to resolve supply chain challenges that have limited its ability to ramp up chip production to meet the rising demand from businesses adopting AI-related services.
- Production Constraints: Intel has warned that supply shortages for its server chips, particularly those used alongside graphics processors from companies like Nvidia, will be most acute in the first quarter, with some easing expected in the second quarter.
- Growing Market Demand: As more businesses adopt AI services, the production challenges faced by Intel could impact its market share, especially in the highly competitive semiconductor industry.
- Need for Strategic Adjustments: To address supply chain bottlenecks, Intel may need to reassess its production strategies to ensure it can meet future market demands and maintain competitiveness.
See More
HSBC Upgrades Intel, Strong Demand for Server CPUs
- Demand-Driven Upgrade: HSBC upgraded Intel's rating from Hold to Buy, emphasizing that the sustained demand for server CPUs is the main driver of the company's growth, with expected server CPU shipments to increase by 20% year-over-year in 2026.
- Price Increase Expectations: In a high-demand and supply-constrained environment, Intel anticipates raising average selling prices, with a projected 20% year-over-year increase in 2026, significantly boosting the company's revenue and gross margins.
- Optimistic Financial Outlook: Analysts expect Intel's revenue for the second quarter to reach $14.2 billion, exceeding Wall Street estimates by 9%, indicating that the company's competitiveness in the market is strengthening.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: The server CPU shortage is expected to extend into 2027, driving a further 20% increase in shipments and a 10% rise in average selling prices, laying a solid foundation for Intel's long-term growth.
See More
Intel Gains from Rising AI CPU Demand, Morgan Stanley Prefers Memory Stocks
- AI Demand Boosts CPU Market: With rising AI demand, Intel (INTC) and AMD (AMD) are positioned as key beneficiaries, particularly in the server segment, which is expected to significantly enhance their market performance, although the broader investment narrative has not fully centered around this segment.
- Morgan Stanley's Investment Preference: Morgan Stanley believes that while Intel and AMD play crucial roles in AI-driven CPU demand, they favor U.S. memory stocks, particularly Micron (MU) and Sandisk (SNDK), indicating a more optimistic outlook on memory demand.
- Intel Price Target Increase: Morgan Stanley raised Intel's price target from $41 to $56 and boosted its 2027 EPS estimate from $0.97 to $1.34, surpassing the market consensus of $1.03, reflecting analysts' confidence in its future profitability.
- Earnings Expectations and Stock Performance: Intel is set to report Q1 results on April 23, with expectations of $0.01 EPS on $12.42 billion in revenue, and shares have already climbed over 60% since the last earnings release, indicating growing market optimism about its recovery.
See More
Intel Set to Benefit from Billions in Manufacturing Investments
- Massive Investment: Intel is set to invest tens of billions in its manufacturing capabilities, a move that is expected to significantly enhance production efficiency and market competitiveness, ultimately leading to substantial returns for the company.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the afternoon stock prices on April 16, 2026, Intel's shares rose by 3.90%, indicating investor optimism regarding the company's future growth potential and bolstering market confidence.
- Enhanced Manufacturing Capacity: These investments will enable Intel to expand its semiconductor production capabilities to meet the increasing market demand, particularly in high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, ensuring its leadership position at the forefront of technology.
- Strategic Implications: This investment represents not only an upgrade to existing facilities but also lays the groundwork for Intel's long-term competitiveness in the global semiconductor market, positioning the company favorably in future technological contests.
See More
Apple Appoints John Ternus as New CEO
- Leadership Transition: Apple announced that current CEO Tim Cook will step down in September, appointing John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, as his successor; Ternus, who has been with Apple for over 25 years, has led the development of key products like the iPad, AirPods, and iPhone, highlighting the company's commitment to internal talent and succession planning.
- AI Strategy Challenge: Upon taking the helm, Ternus faces the significant task of revamping Apple's artificial intelligence strategy, particularly as the company has encountered development hurdles with its Siri model, leading to market speculation about his ability to drive innovation in AI to catch up with competitors.
- Analyst Optimism: Wall Street analysts view Ternus's promotion as a potential catalyst for revitalizing Apple and its AI strategy, with Morgan Stanley analysts noting that his appointment underscores Apple's continued focus on product-centric strategies, reinforcing its core competitive advantages in the market.
- Career Background: Ternus graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and has held several key positions at Apple, ultimately becoming senior vice president of hardware engineering; his extensive experience and deep understanding of Apple's culture provide a solid foundation for his future leadership role.
See More
John Ternus to Succeed Tim Cook as Apple's CEO
- Internal Promotion Tradition: John Ternus will become Apple's eighth CEO in September, continuing the company's tradition of promoting from within, which underscores Apple's commitment to nurturing internal talent.
- Rich Experience Background: With 25 years at Apple, Ternus has overseen hardware development for iPads, AirPods, and recent iPhone models, showcasing his pivotal role in product development and indicating a continued focus on innovation.
- AI Strategy Challenge: Upon taking the helm, Ternus will face significant challenges in revamping Apple's lagging AI strategy, particularly with the slow progress of the Siri model, and analysts believe his leadership could reignite optimism in Apple's AI initiatives.
- Leadership Style and Vision: Ternus expressed optimism about the future in his appointment statement, emphasizing that collaboration with Apple's talented team will drive the company's ongoing success in technological innovation and market competitiveness.
See More
Intel Faces Supply Chain Challenges Impacting Chip Production
- Supply Chain Issues: Intel investors are focusing on the company's efforts to resolve supply chain challenges that have limited its ability to ramp up chip production to meet the rising demand from businesses adopting AI-related services.
- Production Constraints: Intel has warned that supply shortages for its server chips, particularly those used alongside graphics processors from companies like Nvidia, will be most acute in the first quarter, with some easing expected in the second quarter.
- Growing Market Demand: As more businesses adopt AI services, the production challenges faced by Intel could impact its market share, especially in the highly competitive semiconductor industry.
- Need for Strategic Adjustments: To address supply chain bottlenecks, Intel may need to reassess its production strategies to ensure it can meet future market demands and maintain competitiveness.
See More
HSBC Upgrades Intel, Strong Demand for Server CPUs
- Demand-Driven Upgrade: HSBC upgraded Intel's rating from Hold to Buy, emphasizing that the sustained demand for server CPUs is the main driver of the company's growth, with expected server CPU shipments to increase by 20% year-over-year in 2026.
- Price Increase Expectations: In a high-demand and supply-constrained environment, Intel anticipates raising average selling prices, with a projected 20% year-over-year increase in 2026, significantly boosting the company's revenue and gross margins.
- Optimistic Financial Outlook: Analysts expect Intel's revenue for the second quarter to reach $14.2 billion, exceeding Wall Street estimates by 9%, indicating that the company's competitiveness in the market is strengthening.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: The server CPU shortage is expected to extend into 2027, driving a further 20% increase in shipments and a 10% rise in average selling prices, laying a solid foundation for Intel's long-term growth.
See More
