Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Intel, UNH, Rigetti — And All Eyes On Powell
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 16 2025
0mins
Should l Buy INTC?
Source: Benzinga
Economic Indicators and Federal Reserve Outlook: July's inflation data showed mixed results, with the consumer price index steady at 2.7% year-over-year while the Producer Price Index rose sharply by 0.9%, complicating the Federal Reserve's decision on potential rate cuts, which investors still expect to be around 25 basis points in September.
Stock Market Highlights: Intel's stock surged over 25% following speculation of a U.S. government stake linked to the CHIPS Act, marking its best week since 2000, while other notable movements included bullish positions in UnitedHealth by prominent investors and bearish trends for companies like Rigetti Computing and Coherent Corp after disappointing earnings reports.
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Analyst Views on INTC
Wall Street analysts forecast INTC stock price to fall
29 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
19 Hold
5 Sell
Hold
Current: 46.480
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 46.480
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 Stock Rebounds but Fundamentals Lag Behind
- Stock Rebound: Intel's stock nearly doubled in 2025, yet the company's fundamental business metrics remain unhealed, indicating disappointment among long-term shareholders.
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In 2022, Intel's revenue plunged by 20% and net income fell nearly 40%, with a further 80% drop in net income in 2023, reflecting the impact of high inflation and macroeconomic pressures on demand.
- Management Changes: Following $15.9 billion in impairment and $2.8 billion in restructuring charges, Intel's board forced former CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, appointing Lip-Bu Tan as the new CEO in hopes of revitalizing performance.
- Future Outlook: Despite a rise in gross margin to 34.8% in 2025, Intel reported a GAAP loss of approximately $300 million, as weakness in the PC segment offset gains in data center and AI sales, leaving the success of its rebound uncertain.
See More
Ethereum Price Plummets Amid Stablecoin Optimism
- Price Drop: Ethereum has fallen 40% in the past three months to $1,909.74, down over 60% from its all-time high of $4,946.05, raising investor concerns about its future performance amid such volatility.
- Stablecoin Market Outlook: The U.S. government's stablecoin legislation legitimizes tokenized versions of traditional currencies, with Citigroup analysts predicting the market could reach between $1.9 trillion and $4 trillion by 2030, up from about $307 billion currently, indicating a potential growth of around 1,200%.
- Ethereum's Market Share: Over 50% of stablecoins are currently issued on Ethereum, suggesting that as stablecoins gain traction, the value and transaction volume on the Ethereum blockchain are likely to increase significantly, although it may face competition from new entrants.
- Tokenization Trend: Beyond stablecoins, the potential for tokenized assets is rising, with Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange exploring ways to tokenize stocks, which could accelerate Ethereum's usage, although further regulatory steps and systemic changes are necessary.
See More
Micron Technology's Rise in AI Infrastructure
- Surging Market Demand: Micron Technology's revenue for Q1 of fiscal 2026 surged 57% year-over-year to $13.6 billion, with 79% derived from DRAM, highlighting the immense potential of the AI market.
- Strategic Shift: After exiting the consumer PC market last year, Micron has focused on AI memory needs, indicating its commitment to future market opportunities and enhancing its competitiveness in the AI hardware sector.
- Investment Expansion: Micron broke ground on a $100 billion semiconductor factory in New York, expected to create over 9,000 jobs and become the largest semiconductor factory in the U.S., further solidifying its market leadership.
- Strong Financial Performance: With a gross margin of 56.8%, operating margin of 32.5%, and net margin of 28.15%, Micron's forward P/E ratio of 10.57 and PEG ratio of 1.12 indicate its attractiveness and growth potential in the AI hardware market.
See More
Kyndryl Stock Plummets 47.9% Amid Disappointing Earnings
- Earnings Miss: Kyndryl's Q3 fiscal 2026 report revealed adjusted earnings per share of $0.52 and sales of $3.86 billion, both falling short of analyst expectations of $0.60 and $3.91 billion, leading to a significant loss of investor confidence.
- Weak Sales Growth: Although Kyndryl Consult saw a 24% year-over-year sales increase, overall revenue still failed to meet expectations, indicating pressure in market competition that could affect future market share.
- Guidance Downgrade: The company revised its full-year free cash flow forecast down to between $325 million and $375 million, significantly lower than the previous $550 million estimate, while projecting a sales decline of 2% to 3%, indicating a trend of deteriorating performance.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Following a 47.9% stock price drop over the past week, compared to a mere 1.4% decline in the S&P 500, the market sentiment reflects extreme pessimism regarding Kyndryl's future performance.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Significant Challenges Ahead
- Stock Volatility: NuScale Power's stock peaked at $57 last year but has since fallen 70%, indicating significant uncertainty and investment risk in the nuclear energy sector, prompting investors to carefully assess future performance.
- Slow Project Progress: Although NuScale's RoPower project in Romania has received a Final Investment Decision (FID), the facility is not expected to be operational until at least July 2033 due to trial delays, which will impact the company's long-term revenue expectations.
- Contract Signing Challenges: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for potential 6GW capacity development lacks formal contracts, leading to a financial burden of $495 million for the company, increasing operational risks.
- Manufacturing Capability Needs: To achieve scalable production, NuScale must establish a manufacturing supply chain, with management noting that total payments for large projects could exceed billions of dollars, putting pressure on the company's liquidity and financial stability.
See More
Ray Dalio Warns of Global Capital War
- Capital Flow Warning: Billionaire Ray Dalio warns that the global capital flow system is breaking down, potentially leading to a 'capital war' that could significantly impact the stock market, especially given the current high levels of debt.
- Debt Crisis Concerns: The U.S. government's increasing debt and reduced foreign purchases of U.S. bonds may lead to soaring bond yields and higher borrowing costs, thereby affecting corporate financing capabilities.
- AI Investment Demand: The estimated $3 trillion required for AI development by 2030 is testing the limits of capital markets, and any systemic shock could lead to a depletion of available funding.
- Historical Lessons: Dalio's warning echoes past market crashes, particularly the role of debt in bursting bubbles, prompting investors to focus on stocks with strong cash flows to navigate potential market contractions.
See More
Intel Stock Rebounds but Fundamentals Lag Behind
- Stock Rebound: Intel's stock nearly doubled in 2025, yet the company's fundamental business metrics remain unhealed, indicating disappointment among long-term shareholders.
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In 2022, Intel's revenue plunged by 20% and net income fell nearly 40%, with a further 80% drop in net income in 2023, reflecting the impact of high inflation and macroeconomic pressures on demand.
- Management Changes: Following $15.9 billion in impairment and $2.8 billion in restructuring charges, Intel's board forced former CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, appointing Lip-Bu Tan as the new CEO in hopes of revitalizing performance.
- Future Outlook: Despite a rise in gross margin to 34.8% in 2025, Intel reported a GAAP loss of approximately $300 million, as weakness in the PC segment offset gains in data center and AI sales, leaving the success of its rebound uncertain.
See More
Ethereum Price Plummets Amid Stablecoin Optimism
- Price Drop: Ethereum has fallen 40% in the past three months to $1,909.74, down over 60% from its all-time high of $4,946.05, raising investor concerns about its future performance amid such volatility.
- Stablecoin Market Outlook: The U.S. government's stablecoin legislation legitimizes tokenized versions of traditional currencies, with Citigroup analysts predicting the market could reach between $1.9 trillion and $4 trillion by 2030, up from about $307 billion currently, indicating a potential growth of around 1,200%.
- Ethereum's Market Share: Over 50% of stablecoins are currently issued on Ethereum, suggesting that as stablecoins gain traction, the value and transaction volume on the Ethereum blockchain are likely to increase significantly, although it may face competition from new entrants.
- Tokenization Trend: Beyond stablecoins, the potential for tokenized assets is rising, with Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange exploring ways to tokenize stocks, which could accelerate Ethereum's usage, although further regulatory steps and systemic changes are necessary.
See More
Micron Technology's Rise in AI Infrastructure
- Surging Market Demand: Micron Technology's revenue for Q1 of fiscal 2026 surged 57% year-over-year to $13.6 billion, with 79% derived from DRAM, highlighting the immense potential of the AI market.
- Strategic Shift: After exiting the consumer PC market last year, Micron has focused on AI memory needs, indicating its commitment to future market opportunities and enhancing its competitiveness in the AI hardware sector.
- Investment Expansion: Micron broke ground on a $100 billion semiconductor factory in New York, expected to create over 9,000 jobs and become the largest semiconductor factory in the U.S., further solidifying its market leadership.
- Strong Financial Performance: With a gross margin of 56.8%, operating margin of 32.5%, and net margin of 28.15%, Micron's forward P/E ratio of 10.57 and PEG ratio of 1.12 indicate its attractiveness and growth potential in the AI hardware market.
See More
Kyndryl Stock Plummets 47.9% Amid Disappointing Earnings
- Earnings Miss: Kyndryl's Q3 fiscal 2026 report revealed adjusted earnings per share of $0.52 and sales of $3.86 billion, both falling short of analyst expectations of $0.60 and $3.91 billion, leading to a significant loss of investor confidence.
- Weak Sales Growth: Although Kyndryl Consult saw a 24% year-over-year sales increase, overall revenue still failed to meet expectations, indicating pressure in market competition that could affect future market share.
- Guidance Downgrade: The company revised its full-year free cash flow forecast down to between $325 million and $375 million, significantly lower than the previous $550 million estimate, while projecting a sales decline of 2% to 3%, indicating a trend of deteriorating performance.
- Investor Confidence Shaken: Following a 47.9% stock price drop over the past week, compared to a mere 1.4% decline in the S&P 500, the market sentiment reflects extreme pessimism regarding Kyndryl's future performance.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Significant Challenges Ahead
- Stock Volatility: NuScale Power's stock peaked at $57 last year but has since fallen 70%, indicating significant uncertainty and investment risk in the nuclear energy sector, prompting investors to carefully assess future performance.
- Slow Project Progress: Although NuScale's RoPower project in Romania has received a Final Investment Decision (FID), the facility is not expected to be operational until at least July 2033 due to trial delays, which will impact the company's long-term revenue expectations.
- Contract Signing Challenges: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for potential 6GW capacity development lacks formal contracts, leading to a financial burden of $495 million for the company, increasing operational risks.
- Manufacturing Capability Needs: To achieve scalable production, NuScale must establish a manufacturing supply chain, with management noting that total payments for large projects could exceed billions of dollars, putting pressure on the company's liquidity and financial stability.
See More
Ray Dalio Warns of Global Capital War
- Capital Flow Warning: Billionaire Ray Dalio warns that the global capital flow system is breaking down, potentially leading to a 'capital war' that could significantly impact the stock market, especially given the current high levels of debt.
- Debt Crisis Concerns: The U.S. government's increasing debt and reduced foreign purchases of U.S. bonds may lead to soaring bond yields and higher borrowing costs, thereby affecting corporate financing capabilities.
- AI Investment Demand: The estimated $3 trillion required for AI development by 2030 is testing the limits of capital markets, and any systemic shock could lead to a depletion of available funding.
- Historical Lessons: Dalio's warning echoes past market crashes, particularly the role of debt in bursting bubbles, prompting investors to focus on stocks with strong cash flows to navigate potential market contractions.
See More
