SoftBank and the U.S. Government: Implications of Intel's Twin Boosts for Semiconductor ETFs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 20 2025
0mins
Should l Buy INTC?
Source: Benzinga
Intel Receives Financial Support: Intel Corp has secured a $2 billion investment from SoftBank and is negotiating a 10% equity stake from the U.S. government, boosting investor confidence initially but leading to a stock decline as uncertainties linger.
Impact on Semiconductor ETFs: Several popular semiconductor ETFs that hold significant Intel shares could benefit if Intel's stock rises due to this support, although the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF has a lower Intel presence.
Risks of Government Ownership: Analysts warn that federal ownership of a major chipmaker like Intel carries risks such as political implications and slower corporate decision-making, which could affect passive ETF investors.
SoftBank's Broader AI Strategy: SoftBank's investment in Intel aligns with its larger strategy in the AI sector, potentially transforming the semiconductor supply chain and complicating considerations for AI-focused ETFs.
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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.
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- 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.
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- Equity Dilution Risk: Over the past year, the company issued more than $840 million in additional common stock to fill funding gaps, which raises concerns about significant shareholder dilution and the market's perception of its future financing capabilities.
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- Market Challenges: In 2022, Intel's revenue plummeted by 20% and net income nearly fell by 40%, primarily due to high inflation and weak consumer demand, resulting in bloated PC inventories and market share losses to competitors like Nvidia and AMD.
- Leadership Change: In 2024, former CEO Pat Gelsinger was forced to resign due to poor performance, and Lip-Bu Tan was appointed as the new CEO; despite a rise in gross margin, the company still faced a GAAP loss of around $300 million under his leadership.
- Future Outlook: Tan believes that central processing units (CPUs) will remain crucial in the AI era, contrasting with Nvidia and AMD's GPU-focused strategy, and the success of Intel's rebound will hinge on the effective execution of its strategic plans.
See More
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- 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
Quantum Computing Inc. Faces Significant Financial Risks
- Revenue vs. Market Cap: Quantum Computing Inc. generated only approximately $546,000 in revenue over the past 12 months, while its market capitalization stands at $1.87 billion, indicating a severe disconnect that could undermine investor confidence.
- High R&D Spending: The company spends tens of millions annually on development, and while it has $555 million in cash reserves, the ongoing high expenditures could erode financial stability and impact future growth prospects.
- Equity Dilution Risk: Over the past year, the company issued more than $840 million in additional common stock to fill funding gaps, which raises concerns about significant shareholder dilution and the market's perception of its future financing capabilities.
- Management Trust Issues: The management frequently makes exaggerated claims that lack substantial backing, leading to skepticism about the sustainability of its contracts, primarily consisting of one-off research grants, which further heightens investor concerns about future performance.
See More
Advantages of Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF
- Dividend Yield Advantage: The Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF boasts a recent dividend yield of 3.8%, significantly higher than many other quality dividend-focused ETFs, indicating its strong potential for passive income and suitability for long-term investors.
- Low Expense Ratio: With an expense ratio of just 0.06%, investors only pay $0.60 annually for every $1,000 invested, greatly enhancing net returns and making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors.
- Diversified Portfolio: The ETF allocates only 10% of its assets to tech stocks, with 20% in energy companies and 19% in consumer defensive sectors, providing a diversified investment strategy that helps mitigate risks during market fluctuations.
- Stable Historical Performance: Tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which includes about 100 high-quality stocks with at least 10 years of dividend payments, the ETF has shown a five-year average annual return of 10.91%, highlighting its potential for stable income and capital appreciation.
See More
Intel's Path to Recovery in 2025
- Performance Review: Intel achieved peak sales of $79 billion in 2021, but rising costs and increased R&D expenses led to a gross margin decline to 55.5%, setting the stage for subsequent performance issues.
- Market Challenges: In 2022, Intel's revenue plummeted by 20% and net income nearly fell by 40%, primarily due to high inflation and weak consumer demand, resulting in bloated PC inventories and market share losses to competitors like Nvidia and AMD.
- Leadership Change: In 2024, former CEO Pat Gelsinger was forced to resign due to poor performance, and Lip-Bu Tan was appointed as the new CEO; despite a rise in gross margin, the company still faced a GAAP loss of around $300 million under his leadership.
- Future Outlook: Tan believes that central processing units (CPUs) will remain crucial in the AI era, contrasting with Nvidia and AMD's GPU-focused strategy, and the success of Intel's rebound will hinge on the effective execution of its strategic plans.
See More
Investors Divided on Market Outlook Amidst Recent Volatility
- Investor Sentiment Survey: According to the latest survey from the American Association of Individual Investors, 38.5% of investors are optimistic about the next six months, while 38.1% are concerned about a potential market downturn, indicating a significant divide in market sentiment that could influence short-term investment decisions.
- Volatility Response Strategy: Although pulling out of the market during instability seems prudent, history shows that mistimed exits can lead to substantial losses; thus, staying invested and focusing on quality stocks is an effective strategy to navigate volatility and protect assets during market rebounds.
- Market Rebound Example: For instance, in April 2025, many investors sold stocks due to fears surrounding new tariffs, yet the market rebounded significantly, with the S&P 500 soaring nearly 20% between April and October, highlighting the unpredictability of the market and the norm of short-term fluctuations.
- Investment Recommendations: Before investing in the S&P 500 Index, the analyst team has identified 10 potential stocks that could yield substantial returns in the coming years, underscoring the importance of seeking quality investment opportunities in the current market environment.
See More
DigitalOcean's AI Revenue Continues to Surge
- AI Revenue Doubling: DigitalOcean's AI revenue has doubled in each of the last five reported quarters, with expectations for continued growth in Q4 2025, indicating strong potential for significant contributions to overall business performance.
- Accelerating Revenue Growth: The company generated $659 million in total revenue during the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting a 14.5% year-over-year increase, which is an acceleration from the 12.4% growth in the same period of 2024, highlighting the increasing impact of its AI business on overall revenue.
- Cost Control and Profitability: DigitalOcean managed to reduce operating expenses while expanding its AI product portfolio, resulting in a doubling of operating income to $118.2 million for the first three quarters of 2025, showcasing effective cost management alongside growth initiatives.
- Market Appeal Remains Strong: Despite a 41% stock price increase in 2025 and an additional 27% rise in early 2026, DigitalOcean's price-to-sales ratio stands at 7.2, below its historical average, suggesting that the stock remains attractive and poised for further upside potential.
See More
