Thursday, January 22, 2026

Intel -- 4Q25 -- This Will Drive Today's Market Sentiment -- At Least At The Open -- That's What Meme Stocks Do -- This Is Not How To Make A Comeback -- Re-Posting And Updates -- January 23, 2026

Locator: 49801INTC. 

Updates

January 24, 2026The WSJ -- link here --  how intel came crashing back to earth -- see also this post:

January 24, 2026: the stock is okay -- Jim Cramer -- link here -- 

January 24, 2026: link here.

Earlier Post  

8:30 a.m. CT: at the open -- 

8:08 a.m. CT, Cramer:

  • still incredibly bullish on Intel; sees CEO's comment that Intel was unable to meet demand was a bullish comment;
  • says that Intel has Apple as a customer; CEO just not allowed to say that;
  • but says "today AMD's day." 

6:55 a.m. CT, pre-market open, January 23, 2026, at least at the open, this will drive today's market sentiment:

 

**********************************
Previously Posted  

Locator: 49791INTC. 

Tag: Intel  

See blog's disclaimer. This is not an investment site.

Updating on the fly as data is released. 

Updates

Friday, January 23, 2026: day after earnings reported -- "at its most basic level, INTC is a meme stock" -- Gene Munster, perhaps the most credible tech analyst in America. Link here.

9: 48 p.m. January 22, 2026: AppEconomy, link here. If you're heavily invested in Intel, you may want to put on your rose-colored glasses before looking at the graphic below. LOL.

7:07 p.m. January 22, 2026, the day 4Q25 earnings were released. "Guidance was soft." Holy mackerel that was an understatement. Indications are such it will be a year (certainly three quartersto see if Intel's a) turnaround plans are working; and, b) if Intel made the right decision with regard to chips. 

Intel link here.

If one wants to invest in Intel there is more than plenty of time.

Even after plunging 13%, INTC's P/E will be on the order of 5,000 tomorrow morning; before the plunge, INTC's P/E was 5,120.  

Two most concerning points regarding guidance during the conference call:

1) the company did not disclose process yield, simply saying things are going well; and,
2) the company did not disclose any -- repeat, any -- customers for its 18A chips.

More on that later. 

More than likely, Intel will now be in a trading range, dropping from current $50 - $55 to perhaps, $45 - $50.  

In the big scheme of things, Intel seems like an "old school" tech company. Boring. It may do well and make all kinds of money for its investors, but it lacks any excitement as a company. More on this later, perhaps. 

I think we've seen all we need to see with regard to Intel in the 4Q25 earnings results and earnings call.  

Results

Headline: Intel did not announce any customers and said it would not announce customers any time soon; perhaps at end of year; simply said 18A ad 14A programs "on track." Remains hopeful.

EPS: 15 cents beats estimated 8 cents (this is non-GAAP EPS (see below). BUT: the GAAP-loss was still - 12 cents, much worse then the 3-cent loss in the same period one year earlier. 

Revenue: beats but still a 4% loss from same quarter one year earlier. I believe I read elsewhere (maybe ChatGPT) that the y/y loss would be 6%. If so, analysts did a great job based on the little information they had to work with.

Immediate:


My first thoughts
: exactly as I predicted based on conversation with ChatGPT. Remember, this stock's P/E is ~ 4,500. Right now, investors are making their decision to invest in this company based on other than fundamental factors. 

Still waiting to hear process yield percent.  

Original Post 

Earnings after the close.

This morning before earnings announcement

  • revenue likely to decrease 6% y/y
  • EPS between and 8 and 12 cents (non-GAAP)

Past performance:


Conference call:

  • needs to address process yield for the 18A; historically it's been under pressure; at least 70% needs to be reported; ultimately, to be profitable, needs to be > 90%;
  • 18A customers right now; this year (2026);
  • update on 14A; won't be ready until 2028?
  • further discussions regarding Apple;
  • further discussion selling some fabs to TSMC;

    **********************************
    Disclaimer
    Brief Reminder 

    Briefly:

  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken and I am often well out front of my headlights. I am often appropriately accused of hyperbole when it comes to the Bakken.
  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
  • See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. 
  • Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything.
  • If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. 
  • Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken, US economy, and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
  • And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia. Nvidia is a metonym for AI and/or the sixth industrial revolution.
  • I've now added Broadcom to the disclaimer. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Broadcom.
  • Longer version here.   

 **********************************
The Graphics

Locator: 49800INTC.

Intel (INTC) vs Micron (MU):

AppEconomy, link here. If you're heavily invested in Intel, you may want to put on your rose-colored glasses before looking at the graphic below. LOL.

 

Compare with TSMC's:

Does This Guy Ever Quit Thinking? January 22, 2026

Locator: 49799TRUMP_NATO.

Link here.

Has an opposing force of three million ever invaded the US before? 

I wonder whose authority supersedes the president's authority on this issue? Who has jurisdiction? 

Trump, TikTok, And Ellison -- January 22, 2026

Locator: 49798TIKTOK.

This is huge. Link here to CNBC.  

According to TikTok, the new venture will be governed by a seven-member board of directors, the majority of whom are American.

In addition to Chew, the board is comprised of TPG Global’s Timothy Dattels, Susquehanna International Group’s Mark Dooley, Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban, DXC Technology CEO Raul Fernandez, Oracle ’s Kenneth Glueck, and MGX’s David Scott.

ByteDance, the Chinese parent of TikTok, will retain 19.9% of the new venture. Silver Lake, Oracle and MGX are the new managing investors. Other backers include Michael Dell’s investment firm, Vastmere Strategic Investments, Alpha Wave Partners, Revolution, and General Atlantic affiliate Via Nova.

ByteDance was subject to a national security law, originally signed by former President Joe Biden, that required the company to sell its U.S. operations or be effectively banned in the country. That law was never enacted due to several executive orders signed by President Donald Trump last year.

The WSJ, two hours ago, link here

All of this needs to be fact-checked. I could be very wrong on this but picking up details on the fly.  

TikTok: details are sketchy but apparently "the deal" has been completed. TikTok lives. 

Maybe President Trump will have time to address this deal some time. While folks were distracted with Intel, those adding to their positions in Oracle may be opening an extra bottle of champagne tonight. See my "disclaimer briefly." My hunch: this app / site is going to be monetized like never before. 

Also, it's very likely that Larry Ellison will announce the deal from the Oval Office.  

 

I've never seen an administration as impactful as this one since Richard M Nixon.

Presidents Obama, Bush II, and Biden gave us speeches. Trump is giving us action, successes. And now, like Obama, he even has his own Nobel Peace Prize. LOL. 

**********************************
Disclaimer
Briefly

Briefly

  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken and I am often well out front of my headlights. I am often appropriately accused of hyperbole when it comes to the Bakken.
  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
  • See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. 
  • Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything.
  • If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. 
  • Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken, US economy, and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
  • And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia. Nvidia is a metonym for AI and/or the sixth industrial revolution.
  • I've now added Broadcom to the disclaimer. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Broadcom.
  • Longer version here.   
  • Six New Permits; Three Permits Renewed -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49797B.

    TikTok: details are sketchy but apparently "the deal" has been completed. TikTok lives. Maybe President Trump will have time to address this deal some time. While folks were distracted with Intel, those adding to their positions in Oracle may be opening an extra bottle of champagne tonight. See my "disclaimer briefly." My hunch: this app / site is going to be monetized like never before. Time to go to a stand-alone post.

    *******************************
    Back to the Bakken 

    WTI: $59.62.

    Active rigs: 29.

    Six new permits, #42659 - #42665, inclusive:

    • Operators: CLR (4); Formentera Operations 2)
    • Fields: Ross (Mountrail County); Baukol Noonan (Divide County);
    • Comments:
      • Formentera Operations has permits for two Brady wells, NWNE 22-162-95, 
        • to be sited 331 FNL and 2210 / 2280 FEL;
      • CLR has permits for four Jean Nelson wells, SWSE 35-156-91, 
        • to be sited 445 FSL and 1956 / 2084 FEL.

    Three permits renewed:

    • Devon Energy (3); a Sorenson Federal permit in Sand Creek (McKenzie County); two Clear Creek Federal permits in Westberg (McKenzie County).

    A handful of wells / files transferred from Cobra Oil to Palo Alto Energy, LLC.

    For Serious Folks -- The Combination Of x And The Correct Chatbot Is Unparalleled -- Truly Amazing -- January 22, 2025

    Locator: 49796CHATBOT.

    The key is to:

    • follow the right folks on x; and,
    • to use the right chatbot (could vary, depending upon the task).  

    Perhaps more on this later; going biking before the "big storm."  

     

    Gaza Board Of Peace -- Folks Willing To Sign On -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49795GAZA.

    Previous presidents gave us speeches.  

    Note: Representatives from Western Europe chose not to sign on. Or weren't asked. 

    This is who is on the board and participated in the signing event.

    • Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, minister of the prime minister’s court, Bahrain
    • Nasser Bourita, minister of foreign affairs, Morocco
    • Javier Milei, president, Argentina
    • Nikol Pashinyan, prime minister, Armenia
    • Ilham Aliyev, President, Azerbaijan
    • Rosen Zhelyazkov, prime minister, Bulgaria
    • Viktor Orban, prime minister, Hungary 
    • Prabowo Subianto, president, Indonesia
    • Ayman Al Safadi, minister of foreign affairs, Jordan
    • Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, president, Kazakhstan
    • Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, president, Kosovo
    • Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, prime minister, Pakistan
    • Santiago Peña, president, Paraguay
    • Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, president, Qatar
    • Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, minister of foreign affairs, Saudi Arabia
    • Hakan Fidan, minister of foreign affairs, Turkey
    • Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, special envoy to the U.S. for the UAE
    • Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president, Uzbekistan
    • Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, prime minister, Mongolia

    Inflation Watch -- North Texas -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49794INFLATION.




    GM To Move Production Of Buick SUV From China To Kansas City, Kansas -- Thank You Mr Trump -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49793GM. 

    And people still won't give Trump credit for this.

    Link here

    Oscar Nominations Announced -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49792OSCARS. 

    Top movie, 16 nominations. Warner Bros with distribution rightsSinners

    In second place was a movie with 13 nominations. Warner Bros with distribution rightsOne Battle After Another.

    Apple with original movies: 5 nominations. Considered a very, very good year (2026) for Apple, after a "quiet" 2025.  

    All Eyes On Intel Today -- After Hours INTC Plunged 13% -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49791INTC. 

    January 23, 2026: update, link here

    Tag: Intel  

    See blog's disclaimer. This is not an investment site.

    Updating on the fly as data is released. 

    Updates

    Friday, January 23, 2026: day after earnings reported -- "at its most basic level, INTC is a meme stock" -- Gene Munster, perhaps the most credible tech analyst in America. Link here.

    9: 48 p.m. January 22, 2026: AppEconomy, link here. If you're heavily invested in Intel, you may want to put on your rose-colored glasses before looking at the graphic below. LOL.

    7:07 p.m. January 22, 2026, the day 4Q25 earnings were released. "Guidance was soft." Holy mackerel that was an understatement. Indications are such it will be a year (certainly three quartersto see if Intel's a) turnaround plans are working; and, b) if Intel made the right decision with regard to chips. 

    Intel link here.
     

    If one wants to invest in Intel there is more than plenty of time.

    Even after plunging 13%, INTC's P/E will be on the order of 5,000 tomorrow morning; before the plunge, INTC's P/E was 5,120.  

    Two most concerning points regarding guidance during the conference call:

    1) the company did not disclose process yield, simply saying things are going well; and,
    2) the company did not disclose any -- repeat, any -- customers for its 18A chips.

    More on that later. 

    More than likely, Intel will now be in a trading range, dropping from current $50 - $55 to perhaps, $45 - $50.  

    In the big scheme of things, Intel seems like an "old school" tech company. Boring. It may do well and make all kinds of money for its investors, but it lacks any excitement as a company. More on this later, perhaps. 

    I think we've seen all we need to see with regard to Intel in the 4Q25 earnings results and earnings call.  

    Results

    Headline: Intel did not announce any customers and said it would not announce customers any time soon; perhaps at end of year; simply said 18A ad 14A programs "on track." Remains hopeful.

    EPS: 15 cents beats estimated 8 cents (this is non-GAAP EPS (see below). BUT: the GAAP-loss was still - 12 cents, much worse then the 3-cent loss in the same period one year earlier. 

    Revenue: beats but still a 4% loss from same quarter one year earlier. I believe I read elsewhere (maybe ChatGPT) that the y/y loss would be 6%. If so, analysts did a great job based on the little information they had to work with.

    Immediate:


    My first thoughts
    : exactly as I predicted based on conversation with ChatGPT. Remember, this stock's P/E is ~ 4,500. Right now, investors are making their decision to invest in this company based on other than fundamental factors. 

    Still waiting to hear process yield percent.  

    Original Post 

    Earnings after the close.

    This morning before earnings announcement

    • revenue likely to decrease 6% y/y
    • EPS between and 8 and 12 cents (non-GAAP)

    Past performance:


    Conference call:

    • needs to address process yield for the 18A; historically it's been under pressure; at least 70% needs to be reported; ultimately, to be profitable, needs to be > 90%;
    • 18A customers right now; this year (2026);
    • update on 14A; won't be ready until 2028?
    • further discussions regarding Apple;
    • further discussion selling some fabs to TSMC;

      **********************************
      Disclaimer
      Brief Reminder 

      Briefly:

    • I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken and I am often well out front of my headlights. I am often appropriately accused of hyperbole when it comes to the Bakken.
    • I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
    • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
    • See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. 
    • Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything.
    • If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. 
    • Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken, US economy, and the US market.
    • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
    • And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia. Nvidia is a metonym for AI and/or the sixth industrial revolution.
    • I've now added Broadcom to the disclaimer. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Broadcom.
    • Longer version here.   

    Minneapolis Police Department -- Financial Problems -- And It's Only Going To Get Worse -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49790MPD. 

    Updates

    January 22, 2026: after posting the original note, a reader wrote me -- "Mid-January over 100 police officers applied for family/medical leave. Up to 12 weeks of pay." Yeah, it's going to be a long year.

    Original Post 

    My hunch: the anti-ICE demonstrations will be significantly reduced by the end of February. Morale and resolve in the Minneapolis Police Department will deteriorate faster than the money will run out. 

    Trump's ICE: deep, deep pockets. And really, really strong resolve. 

    I mentioned this factoid earlier this morning; the I decided to check.


    Yeah, that will go over well with the business community: the City of Minneapolis charging businesses for police protection.
     

    So Much Winning -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49789JOBS. 

    From PowerLine

    *********************************
    Meanwhile, Germany

    Link here


     

    The Year The Music Died -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49788EVS. 

    Link here

    Most Interesting Headline Of The Day -- And It's Only 8:00 A.M. -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49787VENEZUELA. 

    Link here

    President Donald Trump himself is controlling the release of funds garnered from Venezuela, an administration official told Semafor, in another sign of the leverage he wields over the country.

    Semafor first reported that the Trump administration had completed its first oil sale, valued at $500 million, and that many of the funds are being held in Qatar. Interim president Delcy Rodríguez revealed that $300 million of those funds were released to Venezuela this week.

    The Trump administration official told Semafor that all of the funds from the first sale will be given to Venezuela because its current government has “fully cooperated” with the US. But it’s unclear whether any of the funds will be held in the US; the official told Semafor proceeds from sales “will first settle in US controlled accounts at globally recognized banks.”

    Trump’s top advisers are “constantly engaged in positive discussions with oil companies that are ready and willing to make unprecedented investments in Venezuela,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.
    I find this incredibly interesting. A real hands-on president.

    Natural Gas Futures Spike -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49786NATGAS. 

    Link here

    Link here

    Another Look At Retirement Opportunities -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49785RETIREMENT. 

    Link here

    The "dot chart" can be hard to read.

    How long will a million dollars last when retiring at age 65? 

    How to read the chart:

    • each state "icon" with 6 x 5 "dot plot"
    • start from bottom row and move up
    • each row, fully filled out: 6 years 

    So, Mississippi, far upper left corner:

    • four rows starting from the bottom x 6 = 24 
    • top row: 1.5
    • total: almost 26 years

    Texas:

    • four rows total x 6 = 24 years 

    California:

    • two rows x 6 = 12 years
    • third row with 3
    • total = 15 years

    North Dakota

    • three rows x 6 = 18 years
    • fourth row = 4
    • total = 22 years

    Minnesota:

    • three rows x 6 = 18 years
    • fourth row = 4
    • total = 22 year

    Finally, Oregon:

    • throw out HI as an outlier
    • throw out DC because no one in their right mind would retire in DC
    • then California becomes the most expensive state: where $1 million would last 15 years
    • but you know, that's not bad
    • retire at age 65 and live on that million dollars until age 80
    • the second most expensive state: Oregon = 16.5 years 

    For the most part, however, it's not all that different across the states when measured in years.  

    Top 37 states:

    • MS: almost 26 years
    • Washington State: trending toward 22 years

    So, 22 years in Washington State or 26 years in Mississippi? 

    The next 11 states about 18 years before one finally goes over the cliff  -- California at 15 years.

    My take: on just this graph, in order of preference for me:

    • Texas (tied with Tennessee)
    • Tennessee (tied with Texas)
    • Idaho
    • North Carolina
    • Utah
    • Montana (maybe)

    DFW Expansion -- $12 Billion; 68 More Gates; Sixth Terminal -- January 22, 2026

    Locator: 49784DFW. 

    For now, google; links everywhere. For the archives. This is a big, big deal. Related directly to population growth in north Texas as well as Fortune 500 Corporations moving to the DFW area. Also, a reminder, the NYSE has a satellite operation in Dallas. 

    AI prompt: Are any major NY banks moving to Dallas like JPM, Goldman Sachs, Bank Of New York?

    Google Gemini:  


    Schwab: moved its corporate headquarters to Westlake, TX, a few years ago.