Intel Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells computing and related products and services worldwide. It operates through Client Computing Group, Data Center and AI, Network and Edge, Mobileye, and Intel Foundry Services segments. The company's products portfolio comprises central processing units and chipsets, system-on-chips (SoCs), and multichip packages; mobile and desktop processors; hardware products comprising graphics processing units (GPUs), domain-specific accelerators, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); and memory and storage, connectivity and networking, and other semiconductor products. It also offers silicon devices and software products; and optimization solutions for workloads, such as AI, cryptography, security, storage, networking, and leverages various features supporting diverse compute environments. In addition, the company develops and deploys advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and autonomous driving technologies and solutions; and provides advanced process technologies backed by an ecosystem of IP, EDA, and design services, as well as systems of chips, including advanced packaging technologies, software and accelerate bring-up, and integration of chips and driving standards. Further, it delivers and deploys intelligent edge platforms that allow developers to achieve agility and drive automation using AI for efficient operations with data integrity, as well as provides hardware and software platforms, tools, and ecosystem partnerships for digital transformation from the cloud to edge. The company serves original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, cloud service providers, and other manufacturers and service providers. It has a strategic agreement with Synopsys, Inc. to develop EDA and IP solutions; and ARM that enables chip designers to build optimized compute SoCs on the Intel 18A process. Intel Corporation was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Intel Corporation

Key Points
Intel stock soared following investments from the U.S. government and Nvidia.
Investors were disappointed with its first-quarter guidance.
The world's leading chip manufacturer, TSMC, continues to deliver strong results and is affordably priced.
After years of lagging the market, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has suddenly found new life.
The stock has more than doubled over the last six months, even after its sharp pullback following disappointing guidance in its fourth-quarter earnings report.
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Intel has rebounded with the help of the U.S. government, which took a 9.9% stake in the stock last August, which was followed by Nvidia investing $5 billion in the chip-maker in September.
Both moves gave Intel much-needed capital to continue investing in its foundry business and to develop new AI products. It also showed confidence in the company's turnaround prospects under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who has cut costs, streamlined the business, scaled back on capital expenditures, and is aiming to overhaul the culture, making it less bureaucratic and more like a start-up.
However, the recent pullback on its earnings report shows that the stock may be overbought and that expectations seem to have outrun the current reality of the business. Intel is still struggling to grow and turn a profit. Revenue fell 4% in the fourth quarter to $13.7 billion, and it reported a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) loss of $591 million, though it was profitable on an adjusted basis.
For the first quarter, it expects revenue of $11.7 billion-$12.7 billion, which is a sharp sequential decline, and sees adjusted earnings per share of just break-even.
For investors looking to capitalize on the AI infrastructure boom, there's a more reliable stock to buy here. In fact, it's a chief rival of Intel. I'm talking about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (NYSE: TSM), the world's leading contract manufacturer of semiconductors.
A track record of excellence
TSMC, as the company is often known, isn't a household name like Intel. It doesn't make branded products, and it's based in Taiwan rather than the U.S.
However, the company is one of the most valuable in the world at a market cap of $1.8 trillion, and it's a linchpin in the global economy as it's the primary chip manufacturer for tech titans like Apple, Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, and others. It manufactures more than half of the contract chips in the world and is estimated to account for 90% of the advanced contract chips.
That gives it a strong competitive advantage, and its results back that up as it's turned in phenomenal growth and profit margins during the AI boom.
In its fourth quarter, revenue rose 25.5% to $33.7 billion, and it reported an operating margin of 54%, or $18.2 billion in operating income.
TSMC now makes 77% of its revenue from advanced chips, which it defines as those that are 7 nanometers (nm) or less. The stock also trades at an attractive valuation at a price-to-earnings ratio of 32, making it only slightly more expensive than the S&P 500. Historically, the stock has traded at a discount because it's based in Taiwan and some investors fear that China could invade the island territory.
TSMC stock has also been a longtime winner on the stock market, up more than 1,000% over the last decade.
Intel vs. TSMC
Intel operates in two primary segments: its products division, which refers to its chip designs, and its foundry division, which is focused on manufacturing. Historically, the company has manufactured chips solely for itself, but it restructured its business in 2021 to open its foundry to outside customers and has signed up some new customers, including Amazon.
Intel has staked the future of the foundry business on advanced processes like 18A (18 angstroms or 1.8nm), which it recently launched. 18A and the upcoming 14A, which is expected to enter production in 2028, have the potential to make Intel a real competitor to TSMC. However, a meaningful challenge from Intel is likely years away, and Intel has been losing billions of dollars a year on the foundry business as it builds out advanced processes in an attempt to establish a third-party manufacturing business.
At this point, Intel stock is more expensive than TSMC, even though its revenue is basically flat and it's losing money on a GAAP basis. TSMC, on the other hand, expects to grow revenue by a compound annual rate of around 25% through 2029, and it's currently keeping more than half of its revenue as operating income.
While Intel's turnaround may be appealing as a story, TSMC is the much safer bet here and should continue to beat the market as long as the AI boom continues.
Should you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?
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Jeremy Bowman has positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Broadcom, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Forget Intel: This AI Infrastructure Stock is a Better Bet for 2026

Key Points
Intel's Q4 report arrived with sales and earnings beats, but guidance for this year's first quarter fell short of expectations.
Intel's next quarterly report and round of forward guidance could provide some crucial insights into the outlook for its chip foundry tech.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) stock recently got hit with a major pullback. The company posted its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 22 and delivered sales and earnings that came in ahead of the market's expectations. The semiconductor player posted non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjusted earnings of $0.15 per share on sales of $13.7 billion, beating the average analyst forecast for per-share earnings of $0.08 on sales of $13.4 billion.
On the other hand, the company's forward guidance came in below Wall Street's expectations. The company guided for first-quarter sales to come in between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, with the midpoint of that guidance range falling short of the average analyst estimate's call for sales of $12.51 billion. Meanwhile, management's forecast for a break-even quarter missed Wall Street's target for adjusted earnings per share of $0.05.
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Despite the big pullback, Intel stock is still up 111% over the last year. What comes next for the semiconductor company, and what do investors need to be watching out for?
AI sales and the foundry business take center stage
Intel's data center and artificial intelligence (AI) segment grew sales 8.9% year over year to hit $4.7 billion in the fourth quarter. The performance came in significantly better than the $4.43 billion in sales called for by the average analyst estimate, and the company said that sales would have been even higher were it not for supply issues.
The company is shifting production at its fabs to meet demand for its new server chips, but the transition is taking some time -- and this dynamic partially explains the underwhelming Q1 guidance. Management expects factory output along those lines to improve in each subsequent quarter this year.
Intel has started shipping chips manufactured on its 18A process and says development for its next-gen 14A process remains on track. On the other hand, the foundry business continues to be a big money loser. The segment posted a $10.3 billion operating loss last year, and adoption among third-party customers remains relatively low. Sales to third-party customers came in $222 million last quarter.
Intel expects that revenue for its foundry business will be up double digits on a sequential quarterly basis in Q1, but the market clearly had a negative reaction to the outlook on the manufacturing front. After posting an adjusted gross margin of 37.9% in Q4, the company is targeting a margin of 34.5% in the current quarter.
If the gross margin decline stems in part from a greater product mix tied to the 18A process, that could suggest that the foundry platform's manufacturing yields have underwhelming efficiency. With that in mind, Intel could be looking at softer margins for chips made on the process and relatively weak demand from third-party customers.
When the company delivers its next earnings report, forward guidance for sales and gross margins should provide some meaningful indicators on whether 18A can play a bigger role in powering the business's turnaround, or if investors will have to shift their hopes to the upcoming 14A process.
Should you buy stock in Intel right now?
Before you buy stock in Intel, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Intel wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 28, 2026.
Keith Noonan has positions in Intel. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Stock Just Took a Hit. Here's What Smart Investors Are Watching Next.

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Wednesday closed down -0.01%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.32%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) fell -0.01%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) rose +0.32%.
Stock indexes settled mixed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 falling from a new all-time high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 3-month high. Strength in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks led the broader market higher on Wednesday after a sharp increase in orders at ASML Holding NV added fresh optimism to the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending. ASML Holding NV, the only producer of lithography machines that are needed to make advanced semiconductors, reported today that Q4 bookings were a record 13.2 billion euros, well above the consensus of 6.85 billion euros. Also, better-than-expected earnings results from Seagate Technology Holdings NV and Texas Instruments added to the bullish market sentiment.
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Stocks fell from their best levels and turned mixed on Wednesday after the FOMC, as expected, kept interest rates unchanged and Fed Chair Powell refrained from signaling any imminent rate cuts amid a solid economy.
The dollar index (DXY00) finished higher on Wednesday, recovering some of Tuesday’s plunge to a nearly 4-year low. The dollar sank on Tuesday after President Trump said that he's comfortable with the recent weakness in the dollar. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump’s comments pushed gold prices (GCG26) up more than +3% on Wednesday to a new all-time high.
WTI crude oil (CLH26) climbed to a 4-month high today after President Trump said in a social media post that he wants Iran to come to the table and negotiate a “fair and equitable deal with No Nuclear Weapons.” He warned Iran that time is running out to make a deal with the US, noting that a fleet of US warships entering the region is ready to complete their mission “with speed and violence.”
US MBA mortgage applications fell -8.5% in the week ended January 23, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.4% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down 15.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +8 bp to 6.24% from 6.16% in the prior week.
As expected, the FOMC voted 10-2 to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%. The post-FOMC statement said economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace and inflation remains somewhat elevated. The FOMC also said, "job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization," and dropped language from the prior meeting that said downside risks to employment have increased.
Fed Chair Powell said the Fed is well-positioned and can afford to wait for incoming data before making its next move on interest rates. He added that the economy has once again surprised us with its strength, and there's been a disconnect between surveys and spending.
Threats to stocks and the dollar remain. President Trump has threatened new 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, and lingering concerns about Greenland. In addition, there is the risk of another partial government shutdown. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.
The market’s focus this week will be on new tariff news and the prospects for a continued resolution (CR) to fund the government. On Thursday, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 5,000 to 205,000. Also, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to be unrevised at 4.9%. In addition, the Nov trade deficit is expected to widen to -$44.10 billion. Finally, Nov factory offers are expected to increase by +1.6% m/m. On Friday, Dec PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.8% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov, and Dec PPI ex-food and energy is expected to ease to +2.9% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov. Also, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI is expected to climb by +0.8 to 43.5.
Q4 earnings season is in full swing, with 102 of the S&P 500 companies scheduled to report earnings this week. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla report earnings results after today’s close, and Apple reports after the close on Thursday. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 81% of the 106 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.6% in Q4. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 13% chance for a -25 bp rate cut at the next policy meeting on March 17-18.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Wednesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell from a 1.5-week high and closed down by -1.02%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose to a 2-week high and closed up +0.27%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.05%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) on Wednesday closed down by -5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1.4 bp to 4.247%. Wednesday’s rally in WTI crude oil to a 4-month high boosted inflation expectations and undercut T-note prices. T-notes maintained their losses after the FOMC kept interest rates unchanged and said economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace, and inflation remains somewhat elevated.
European government bond yields were mixed on Wednesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell -1.7 bp to 2.857%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 5-week high of 4.547% and finished up by +1.9 bp at 4.544%.
The German Feb GfK consumer confidence index rose by +2.8 to -24.1, stronger than expectations of -25.5.
Austrian central bank governor Kocher said the ECB would need to consider another interest rate cut if further increases in the euro's value were large enough to lower inflation projections.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and AI infrastructure stocks rallied on Wednesday after positive earnings results from ASML Holding NV, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, and Texas Instruments, signaling continued strong AI spending. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed up more than +19% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. Also, Intel (INTC) and Western Digital (WDC) closed up more than +10%, and Texas Instruments (TXN) and Sandisk (SNDK) closed up more than +9%. In addition, Microchip Technology (MCHP) and Micron Technology (MU) closed up more than +6%, and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) and Analog Devices (ADI) closed up more than +4%.
F5 Inc. (FFIV) closed up more than +8% after reporting Q4 net revenue of $822.5 million, well above the consensus of $758.8 million, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to +5% to +6% from a previous estimate of 0% to +4%.
Elevance Health (ELV) closed up more than +5% after it said it will allocate $2.3 billion to share repurchases this year.
MSCI Inc. (MSCI) closed up more than +5% after reporting Q4 total recurring subscriptions of $2.45 billion, better than the consensus of $2.44 billion.
AT&T (T) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q4 revenue of $33.5 billion, stronger than the consensus of $32.83 billion.
Newmont (NEM) closed up more than +3% to lead gold mining stocks higher after gold prices jumped more than +3% to a new all-time high.
PPG Industries (PPG) closed up more than +3% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.91 billion, above the consensus of $3.78 billion.
GE Vernova (GEV) closed up more than +2% after reporting Q4 revenue of $10.96 billion, above the consensus of $10.27 billion.
Carvana (CVNA) closed down more than -14% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after short seller Gotham City Research said the company overstated earnings with the help of close ties to businesses controlled by the family of CEO Garcia.
Amphenol (APH) closed down more than -12% after Bloomberg Intelligence said the company’s sales forecast “underwhelms,” and after a robust Q4 beat, which suggests potential demand pull-forward.
Textron (TXT) closed down more than -7% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.40 to $6.60, below the consensus of $6.86.
Qorvo (QRVO) closed down more than -6% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.05 to $1.35, weaker than the consensus of $1.37.
Danaher (DHR) closed down more than -4% after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $8.35 to $8.50, the midpoint below the consensus of $8.46.
Otis Worldwide (OTIS) closed down more than -2% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.80 billion, below the consensus of $3.87 billion.
PayPal Holdings (PYPL) closed down more than -2% after Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded the stock to sell from neutral with a price target of $50.
Earnings Reports(1/29/2026)
A O Smith Corp (AOS), Altria Group Inc (MO), Ameriprise Financial Inc (AMP), Apple Inc (AAPL), Arthur J Gallagher & Co (AJG), Blackstone Inc (BX), Caterpillar Inc (CAT), Comcast Corp (CMCSA), Deckers Outdoor Corp (DECK), Dover Corp (DOV), Dow Inc (DOW), Hartford Insurance Group Inc/The (HIG), Hologic Inc (HOLX), Honeywell International Inc (HON), International Paper Co (IP), KLA Corp (KLAC), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX), Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT), Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc (MRSH), Mastercard Inc (MA), Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ), Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC), Parker-Hannifin Corp (PH), PulteGroup Inc (PHM), ResMed Inc (RMD), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL), Sandisk Corp/DE (SNDK), Sherwin-Williams Co/The (SHW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Stryker Corp (SYK), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO), Tractor Supply Co (TSCO), Trane Technologies PLC (TT), Valero Energy Corp (VLO), Visa Inc (V), Western Digital Corp (WDC), Weyerhaeuser Co (WY).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Finish Mixed as Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), designs and manufactures microprocessors and related technologies, closed Wednesday at $48.78, up 11.04%. The stock moved higher after reports of prospective Nvidia and Apple foundry deals and insider buying. Investors are watching whether these partnerships can offset earlier concerns about Intel’s 2026 outlook.
Trading volume reached 200 million shares, about 107% above its three-month average of 96 million shares. Intel IPO'd in 1980 and has grown 14,885% since going public.
How the markets moved today
S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) slipped 0.01% to 6,978, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) rose 0.17% to 23,857. Within semiconductors, industry peers Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) closed at $252.74 (up 0.28%) and Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) finished at $191.52 (up 1.59%), trailing Intel’s sharper rebound.
What this means for investors
Intel’s market move today can be mostly attributed to a pre-market report suggesting that Nvidia and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) may shift some of their 2028 chip production to Intel. While the highest-end chips will still be manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM), any business shifting to Intel is good news for its foundry ambitions. Other news about Intel’s CEO buying stock and a high price target from an analyst likely added to the stock’s great day.
Despite today’s good news, it’s worth remembering that Intel’s shares have still not recovered from their double-digit fall after last week’s Q4 2025 earnings report that showed a $300 million GAAP loss and ongoing supply constraints.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 197% for the S&P 500.
They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 28, 2026.
Jeff Santoro has positions in Apple and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Intel, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, Jan. 28: Intel Surges After Reports of Nvidia and Apple Foundry Partnerships

The NASDAQ 100 After Hours Indicator is up 128.37 to 26,151.16. The total After hours volume is currently 125,620,079 shares traded.
The following are the most active stocks for the after hours session:
Intel Corporation (INTC) is +0.087 at $48.85, with 12,315,136 shares traded. INTC's current last sale is 108.56% of the target price of $45.
Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X Shares (TSLL) is +1.21 at $18.45, with 6,955,002 shares traded. This represents a 193.32% increase from its 52 Week Low.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is -0.058 at $256.38, with 6,197,543 shares traded.AAPL is scheduled to provide an earnings report on 1/29/2026, for the fiscal quarter ending Dec2025. The consensus earnings per share forecast is 2.65 per share, which represents a 240 percent increase over the EPS one Year Ago
AT&T Inc. (T) is +0.05 at $24.12, with 3,767,830 shares traded. Smarter Analyst Reports: AT&T Posts Strong Q3 Results on Customer Growth
Grab Holdings Limited (GRAB) is -0.01 at $4.52, with 3,646,258 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for GRAB is in the "buy range".
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is +0.513 at $192.01, with 3,596,718 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for NVDA is in the "buy range".
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is -25.9061 at $455.72, with 3,103,630 shares traded. Smarter Analyst Reports: Monday’s Pre-Market: Here’s What You Need to Know Before the Market Opens
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) is +0.02 at $17.36, with 2,386,263 shares traded. KVUE's current last sale is 96.44% of the target price of $18.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is unchanged at $137.58, with 2,145,623 shares traded. Over the last four weeks they have had 3 up revisions for the earnings forecast, for the fiscal quarter ending Dec 2025. The consensus EPS forecast is $1.68. XOM is scheduled to provide an earnings report on 1/30/2026, for the fiscal quarter ending Dec2025. The consensus earnings per share forecast is 1.68 per share, which represents a 167 percent increase over the EPS one Year Ago
Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) is -0.06 at $18.70, with 1,530,923 shares traded., following a 52-week high recorded in today's regular session.
The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) is +0.08 at $103.55, with 1,418,441 shares traded. Over the last four weeks they have had 7 up revisions for the earnings forecast, for the fiscal quarter ending Mar 2026. The consensus EPS forecast is $1.33. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for SCHW is in the "buy range".
IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) is +0.01 at $45.81, with 1,316,422 shares traded. As reported by Zacks, the current mean recommendation for IONQ is in the "buy range".
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

After Hours Most Active for Jan 28, 2026 : INTC, TSLL, AAPL, T, GRAB, NVDA, MSFT, KVUE, XOM, NU, SCHW, IONQ

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.06%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.11%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.19%.
Stock indexes are mixed today, after the S&P 500 posting a new all-time high earlier in the day and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 3-month high. Strength in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks is buoying market today after a sharp increase in orders at ASML Holding NV added fresh optimism to the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending. ASML Holding NV, the only producer of lithography machines that are needed to make advanced semiconductors, reported today that Q4 bookings were a record 13.2 billion euros, well above the consensus of 6.85 billion euros. Also, Seagate Technology Holdings NV and Texas Instruments reported better-than-expected earnings results from.
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However, stocks fell back from their best levels after the Federal Reserve announced it would halt its series of interest rate reductions, choosing to keep the benchmark rate steady between 3.5% and 3.75%. This decision met broad market expectations and ended a period of three consecutive quarter-point cuts that were designed to protect the labor market from potential weakness.
The dollar index (DXY00) is moving higher today, recovering some of Tuesday’s plunge to a nearly 4-year low. The dollar sank on Tuesday after President Trump said that he's comfortable with the recent weakness in the dollar. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump’s comments have pushed gold prices (GCG26) up more than +3% today to a new all-time high.
WTI crude oil (CLH26) climbed to a 4-month high today after President Trump said in a social media post that he wants Iran to come to the table and negotiate a “fair and equitable deal with No Nuclear Weapons.” He warned Iran that time is running out to make a deal with the US, noting that a fleet of US warships entering the region is ready to complete their mission “with speed and violence.”
US MBA mortgage applications fell -8.5% in the week ended January 23, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.4% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down 15.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +8 bp to 6.24% from 6.16% in the prior week.
Threats to stocks and the dollar remain. President Trump has threatened new 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, and lingering concerns about Greenland. In addition, there is political uncertainty about the Fed, as the FOMC is expected to leave rates unchanged at today’s meeting, potentially drawing new threats from Mr. Trump for refusing to cut rates further.
The risk of another partial government shutdown is negative for stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.
The market’s focus this week will be on new tariff news and the prospects for a continued resolution (CR) to fund the government. Later today, the FOMC is expected to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%. Post-FOMC-meeting comments from Fed Chair Powell will also be scrutinized for clues about the future of Fed policy. On Thursday, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 5,000 to 205,000. Also, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to be unrevised at 4.9%. In addition, the Nov trade deficit is expected to widen to -$44.10 billion. Finally, Nov factory offers are expected to increase by +1.6% m/m. On Friday, Dec PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.8% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov, and Dec PPI ex-food and energy is expected to ease to +2.9% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov. Also, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI is expected to climb by +0.8 to 43.5.
Q4 earnings season is in full swing, with 102 of the S&P 500 companies scheduled to report earnings this week. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla report earnings results after today’s close, and Apple reports after the close on Thursday. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 81% of the 83 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 3% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell from a 1.5-week high and is down by -0.83%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose to a 2-week high and closed up +0.27%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.05%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are down by -4 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.2 bp to 4.255%. Today’s rally in the S&P 500 to a new record high is curbing safe-haven demand for T-notes. Also, long liquidation and position squaring are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC decision later today.
European government bond yields are mixed today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -1.3 bp to 2.862%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 5-week high of 4.546% and is up by +1.9 bp at 4.544%.
The German Feb GfK consumer confidence index rose by +2.8 to -24.1, stronger than expectations of -25.5.
Austrian central bank governor Kocher said the ECB would need to consider another interest rate cut if further increases in the euro's value were large enough to lower inflation projections.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and AI infrastructure stocks are rallying today after positive earnings results from ASML Holding NV, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, and Texas Instruments, signaling continued strong AI spending. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) is up more than +17% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. Also, Intel (INTC), Western Digital (WDC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +8%. In addition, Microchip Technology (MCHP) is up more than +6%, and Sandisk (SNDK) and Micron Technology (MU) are up more than +5%. Finally, NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) and ON Semiconductor Corp (ON) are up more than +4%, and Analog Devices (ADI) is up more than +3%.
F5 Inc. (FFIV) is up more than +7% after reporting Q4 net revenue of $822.5 million, well above the consensus of $758.8 million, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to +5% to +6% from a previous estimate of 0% to +4%.
Elevance Health (ELV) is up more than +5% after it said it will allocate $2.3 billion to share repurchases this year.
AT&T (T) is up more than +3% after reporting Q4 revenue of $33.5 billion, stronger than the consensus of $32.83 billion.
PPG Industries (PPG) is up more than +3% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.91 billion, above the consensus of $3.78 billion.
MSCI Inc. (MSCI) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 total recurring subscriptions of $2.45 billion, better than the consensus of $2.44 billion.
Starbucks (SBUX) is up more than +2% after reporting Q1 US comparable same-store sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +1.88%, and forecasting full-year comparable sales of at least +3%, above the consensus of +2.83%.
Amphenol (APH) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after Bloomberg Intelligence said the company’s sales forecast “underwhelms,” and after a robust Q4 beat, which suggests potential demand pull-forward.
Textron (TXT) is down more than -9% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.40 to $6.60, below the consensus of $6.86.
Qorvo (QRVO) is down more than -5% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.05 to $1.35, weaker than the consensus of $1.37.
Otis Worldwide (OTIS) is down more than -3% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.80 billion, below the consensus of $3.87 billion.
Danaher (DHR) is down more than -2% after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $8.35 to $8.50, the midpoint below the consensus of $8.46.
PayPal Holdings (PYPL) is down more than -1% after Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded the stock to sell from neutral with a price target of $50.
Earnings Reports(1/28/2026)
Amphenol Corp (APH), ASML Holding NV (ASML), AT&T Inc (T), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Corning Inc (GLW), Danaher Corp (DHR), Elevance Health Inc (ELV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), GE Vernova Inc (GEV), General Dynamics Corp (GD), International Business Machine (IBM), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), Lennox International Inc (LII), Meta Platforms Inc (META), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), MSCI Inc (MSCI), NVR Inc (NVR), Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS), Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF), ServiceNow Inc (NOW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tesla Inc (TSLA), Textron Inc (TXT), United Rentals Inc (URI), Waste Management Inc (WM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Mixed After the Fed Pauses Rate Cuts

Key Points
Intel stock has been on a tear, rising more than 100% in recent months.
However, Intel only just turned profitable last quarter after a drought, so the valuation is sky-high.
There's another AI chipmaker that looks like a better buy right now.
Ever since the Trump administration took a 10% stake in Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) in August 2025, shares of the chipmaker have skyrocketed by more than 70% -- from $24 per share to about $43 at this writing.
This year alone, Intel stock has climbed 15% year to date. It's not just the investment by the U.S. government that has fueled Intel, as it also got a $5 billion investment from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) to partner on making chips for data centers and PCs.
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The company has also generated excitement with its innovative new Panther Lake CPU chips, rolling out this month. In addition, Intel has narrowed the losses in its foundry business, and investors are hoping for a continued turnaround there.
Intel stock falls on weak outlook
There are some risks with Intel. For starters, the chipmaker just posted lackluster earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter. While it beat earnings estimates, revenue fell 4% from a year ago. But more concerning is its first-quarter revenue outlook, which was below analysts' estimates. The main culprit was supply constraints, which won't allow Intel to meet demand. As a result, the stock plummeted 22% from its recent peak.
Also, the company had been operating at a net loss for the better part of the past two years, only breaking above water in 2024's third quarter. So its valuation is sky-high, as the company has seen its stock price surge with little net income to show for it.
That makes it a bit of a risky play, to me, not counting the intense competition and any potential concerns about international customers balking because of the U.S. government stake, even though it is a passive one.
Instead, investors should turn their attention to another, more reliable star in the AI universe, Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO).
Broadcom has put up Nvidia-like returns
While Nvidia gets most of the headlines, Broadcom has performed nearly as well. The stock has returned about 32% over the past year, beating Nvidia, and has a five-year annualized return of about 48%. That's short of Nvidia's five-year annualized 68% return, but it's certainly no slouch.
Broadcom is a chipmaker, but it does not compete directly with Nvidia. It makes a variety of semiconductor chips designed for moving data across large networks, such as broadband, telecommunications, and mobile networks, as well as for hyperscalers and data centers.
In its two fastest-growing markets -- the networking chips and the AI application-specific integrated circuits, or ASIC, chips for hyperscalers -- it is the dominant player, with a roughly 70% to 80% market share in each.
Broadcom's revenue has been surging in recent years, fueled by AI. In Q4, revenue from its AI-related chips jumped about 74% year over year and accounted for roughly one-third of its total revenue. In the upcoming fiscal Q1, Broadcom projects record revenue of $19.1 billion and a roughly 100% increase in AI chip revenue, year over year.
Revenue over the next several quarters will be driven by its $73 billion backlog in AI-related orders, as AI-related income becomes a larger part of the overall revenue mix.
Certainly, a multiyear partnership with OpenAI announced last October to design and deploy 10 gigawatts of AI accelerators to boost the performance of AI applications will be another major source of income for Broadcom.
By 2030, the company is targeting $90 billion to $120 billion in AI related revenue. That would be up from about $20 billion in 2025. Reaching the high end of the target range would mean about 43% annual growth over the next five years.
A good long-term value
Quite simply, Broadcom stands at the center of the AI revolution and should reap the benefits for a long time to come as the dominant player in the space.
If there are concerns, it's the risk of having revenue more concentrated in fewer clients than say Nvidia, but these large hyperscale clients mostly have long-term deals and are deeply embedded, so the risk is not all that great. Broadcom enjoys a fairly wide moat with efficiencies of scale, high switching costs, and advanced technologies.
What makes Broadcom also stand out is its relatively lower valuation. It is trading at 33 times forward earnings, which is about the Nasdaq 100 average. But if you look at the five-year price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.9, you see it's a good value given its projected growth over the next five years.
And as an added benefit, Broadcom is one of the relatively few technology companies that pay dividends. It's low-yield, about 0.8%, but Broadcom has increased it every year for the past 15 years, so its a reliable income generator. It might be even better to invest that back into the portfolio to boost the total return.
Intel's enjoying a nice run, but Broadcom is one of the best long-term stocks you can buy. Its a no-brainer.
Should you buy stock in Broadcom right now?
Before you buy stock in Broadcom, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Broadcom wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 197% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 28, 2026.
Dave Kovaleski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Forget Intel: This Dividend‑Rich Chip Powerhouse Is a Safer Way to Profit From AI and Cloud Infrastructure

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.03%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.02%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.43%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.02%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.38%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 posting a new all-time high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 3-month high. Strength in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks is leading the overall market higher today after a sharp increase in orders at ASML Holding NV added fresh optimism to the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending. ASML Holding NV, the only producer of lithography machines that are needed to make advanced semiconductors, reported today that Q4 bookings were a record 13.2 billion euros, well above the consensus of 6.85 billion euros. Also, better-than-expected earnings results from Seagate Technology Holdings NV and Texas Instruments added to the bullish market sentiment.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
However, stocks fell back from their best levels amid long liquidation and position squaring ahead of today’s FOMC meeting results and remarks from Fed Chair Powell. The markets are expecting the FOMC to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%.
The dollar index (DXY00) is moving higher today, recovering some of Tuesday’s plunge to a nearly 4-year low. The dollar sank on Tuesday after President Trump said that he's comfortable with the recent weakness in the dollar. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump’s comments have pushed gold prices (GCG26) up more than +3% today to a new all-time high.
WTI crude oil (CLH26) climbed to a 4-month high today after President Trump said in a social media post that he wants Iran to come to the table and negotiate a “fair and equitable deal with No Nuclear Weapons.” He warned Iran that time is running out to make a deal with the US, noting that a fleet of US warships entering the region is ready to complete their mission “with speed and violence.”
US MBA mortgage applications fell -8.5% in the week ended January 23, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.4% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down 15.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +8 bp to 6.24% from 6.16% in the prior week.
Threats to stocks and the dollar remain. President Trump has threatened new 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, and lingering concerns about Greenland. In addition, there is political uncertainty about the Fed, as the FOMC is expected to leave rates unchanged at today’s meeting, potentially drawing new threats from Mr. Trump for refusing to cut rates further.
The risk of another partial government shutdown is negative for stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.
The market’s focus this week will be on new tariff news and the prospects for a continued resolution (CR) to fund the government. Later today, the FOMC is expected to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%. Post-FOMC-meeting comments from Fed Chair Powell will also be scrutinized for clues about the future of Fed policy. On Thursday, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 5,000 to 205,000. Also, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to be unrevised at 4.9%. In addition, the Nov trade deficit is expected to widen to -$44.10 billion. Finally, Nov factory offers are expected to increase by +1.6% m/m. On Friday, Dec PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.8% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov, and Dec PPI ex-food and energy is expected to ease to +2.9% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov. Also, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI is expected to climb by +0.8 to 43.5.
Q4 earnings season is in full swing, with 102 of the S&P 500 companies scheduled to report earnings this week. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla report earnings results after today’s close, and Apple reports after the close on Thursday. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 81% of the 83 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 3% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell from a 1.5-week high and is down by -0.83%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose to a 2-week high and closed up +0.27%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.05%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are down by -4 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +2.2 bp to 4.255%. Today’s rally in the S&P 500 to a new record high is curbing safe-haven demand for T-notes. Also, long liquidation and position squaring are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC decision later today.
European government bond yields are mixed today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -1.3 bp to 2.862%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 5-week high of 4.546% and is up by +1.9 bp at 4.544%.
The German Feb GfK consumer confidence index rose by +2.8 to -24.1, stronger than expectations of -25.5.
Austrian central bank governor Kocher said the ECB would need to consider another interest rate cut if further increases in the euro's value were large enough to lower inflation projections.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and AI infrastructure stocks are rallying today after positive earnings results from ASML Holding NV, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, and Texas Instruments, signaling continued strong AI spending. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) is up more than +17% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. Also, Intel (INTC), Western Digital (WDC), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +8%. In addition, Microchip Technology (MCHP) is up more than +6%, and Sandisk (SNDK) and Micron Technology (MU) are up more than +5%. Finally, NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) and ON Semiconductor Corp (ON) are up more than +4%, and Analog Devices (ADI) is up more than +3%.
F5 Inc. (FFIV) is up more than +7% after reporting Q4 net revenue of $822.5 million, well above the consensus of $758.8 million, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to +5% to +6% from a previous estimate of 0% to +4%.
Elevance Health (ELV) is up more than +5% after it said it will allocate $2.3 billion to share repurchases this year.
AT&T (T) is up more than +3% after reporting Q4 revenue of $33.5 billion, stronger than the consensus of $32.83 billion.
PPG Industries (PPG) is up more than +3% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.91 billion, above the consensus of $3.78 billion.
MSCI Inc. (MSCI) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 total recurring subscriptions of $2.45 billion, better than the consensus of $2.44 billion.
Starbucks (SBUX) is up more than +2% after reporting Q1 US comparable same-store sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +1.88%, and forecasting full-year comparable sales of at least +3%, above the consensus of +2.83%.
Amphenol (APH) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after Bloomberg Intelligence said the company’s sales forecast “underwhelms,” and after a robust Q4 beat, which suggests potential demand pull-forward.
Textron (TXT) is down more than -9% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.40 to $6.60, below the consensus of $6.86.
Qorvo (QRVO) is down more than -5% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.05 to $1.35, weaker than the consensus of $1.37.
Otis Worldwide (OTIS) is down more than -3% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.80 billion, below the consensus of $3.87 billion.
Danaher (DHR) is down more than -2% after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $8.35 to $8.50, the midpoint below the consensus of $8.46.
PayPal Holdings (PYPL) is down more than -1% after Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded the stock to sell from neutral with a price target of $50.
Earnings Reports(1/28/2026)
Amphenol Corp (APH), ASML Holding NV (ASML), AT&T Inc (T), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Corning Inc (GLW), Danaher Corp (DHR), Elevance Health Inc (ELV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), GE Vernova Inc (GEV), General Dynamics Corp (GD), International Business Machine (IBM), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), Lennox International Inc (LII), Meta Platforms Inc (META), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), MSCI Inc (MSCI), NVR Inc (NVR), Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS), Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF), ServiceNow Inc (NOW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tesla Inc (TSLA), Textron Inc (TXT), United Rentals Inc (URI), Waste Management Inc (WM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Supported by Solid Tech Earnings

Key Points
ASML sees revenue growth accelerating in 2026.
Bookings more than doubled in the fourth quarter.
After strong gains in premarket trading, the stock pulled back, potentially indicating valuation concerns.
The AI boom is broadening.
Much like Intel has been a turnaround winner on the market over the last six months, ASML (NASDAQ: ASML) has also caught investors' eyes, becoming the latest semiconductor stock to bounce back after lagging behind.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
ASML is the world's only maker of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which make the most advanced chips. These are highly complex, very expensive machines, and because ASML only sells around 100 of them each quarter, the stock is highly sensitive to the demand cycle, which operates at a different cadence from semiconductor demand.
Coming into the fourth quarter report, ASML had mostly reported middling results in recent quarters, showing slow bookings growth. However, the stock doubled over the last six months on signs that the semicap, or semiconductor cycle is turning, and, indeed, its bookings soared in the fourth quarter.
What we learned from ASML's fourth quarter
Investors didn't seem to know what to make of ASML's latest update. The stock jumped in pre-market hours, trading up around 5%, but quickly turned negative once the regular session began, perhaps a reflection of valuation concerns.
ASML's revenue rose 6.6% in the quarter to 7.58 billion euros, and earnings per share was up 7.3% to 7.34.
However, investors seemed more impressed with the direction of the business as it recorded 13.2 billion euros in bookings in the quarter, more than double from the quarter a year ago, and bookings for the year rose 48% to 28 billion euros, a bullish sign for future growth.
CEO Christophe Fouquet said, "Over the past quarters, we have seen a notable increase and acceleration of capacity expansion planning across a large majority of our customer base."
ASML's guidance for 2026 called for modest growth as it typically takes the company 12 to 18 months to convert bookings into revenue, once its machines are deployed. The company sees revenue of 34 billion-39 billion euros for 2026, implying 14.7% growth at the midpoint.
ASML also announced plans to cut 1,700 jobs to streamline the business and focus on engineering and innovation.
Is ASML a buy?
Given that ASML is the only maker of EUV equipment, it's hard to overlook its central position in the semiconductor industry and the emerging tailwind from AI.
EUV sales as a percentage of systems went from 38% in 2024 to 48% in 2025, and that percentage should continue to grow this year.
While the stock is certainly more expensive than it was six months ago, the outlook for AI is getting brighter. If the surge in bookings in the fourth quarter continues into 2026, we should see the stock climb, especially as AI demand is expected to keep growing in the coming years.
Should you buy stock in ASML right now?
Before you buy stock in ASML, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and ASML wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $461,527!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,155,666!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 950% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 197% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of January 28, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has positions in ASML. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML and Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

ASML's CEO Says AI Demand Is Accelerating. Is the Stock a Buy for 2026?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.28%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.04%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.81%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) are up +0.25%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) are up +0.79%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 posting a new all-time high and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 3-month high. Strength in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks is leading the overall market higher today after a sharp increase in orders at ASML Holding NV added fresh optimism to the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending. ASML Holding NV, the only producer of lithography machines that are needed to make advanced semiconductors, reported today that Q4 bookings were a record 13.2 billion euros, well above the consensus of 6.85 billion euros. Also, better-than-expected earnings results from Seagate Technology Holdings NV and Texas Instruments added to the bullish market sentiment.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
The dollar index (DXY00) is slightly higher today, recovering some of Tuesday’s plunge to a nearly 4-year low. The dollar sank on Tuesday after President Trump said that he's comfortable with the recent weakness in the dollar. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump’s comments have pushed gold prices (GCG26) up more than +3% today to a new all-time high.
WTI crude oil (CLH26) climbed to a 4-month high today after President Trump said in a social media post that he wants Iran to come to the table and negotiate a “fair and equitable deal with No Nuclear Weapons.” He warned Iran that time is running out to make a deal with the US, noting that a fleet of US warships entering the region is ready to complete their mission “with speed and violence.”
US MBA mortgage applications fell -8.5% in the week ended January 23, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -0.4% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down 15.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +8 bp to 6.24% from 6.16% in the prior week.
Threats to stocks and the dollar remain. President Trump has threatened new 100% tariffs on US imports from Canada, the possibility of a US government shutdown over ICE funding, and lingering concerns about Greenland. In addition, there is political uncertainty about the Fed, as the FOMC is expected to leave rates unchanged at today’s meeting, potentially drawing new threats from Mr. Trump for refusing to cut rates further.
The risk of another partial government shutdown is negative for stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.
The market’s focus this week will be on new tariff news and the prospects for a continued resolution (CR) to fund the government. Later today, the FOMC is expected to keep the fed funds target range unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%. Post-meeting comments from Fed Chair Powell on Wednesday will also be scrutinized for clues about the future of Fed policy. On Thursday, initial weekly unemployment claims are expected to increase by 5,000 to 205,000. Also, Q3 nonfarm productivity is expected to be unrevised at 4.9%. In addition, the Nov trade deficit is expected to widen to -$44.10 billion. Finally, Nov factory offers are expected to increase by +1.6% m/m. On Friday, Dec PPI final demand is expected to ease to +2.8% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov, and Dec PPI ex-food and energy is expected to ease to +2.9% y/y from +3.0% y/y in Nov. Also, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI is expected to climb by +0.8 to 43.5.
Q4 earnings season is in full swing, with 102 of the S&P 500 companies scheduled to report earnings this week. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla report earnings results after today’s close, and Apple reports after the close on Thursday. Earnings have been a positive factor for stocks, with 81% of the 83 S&P 500 companies that have reported beating expectations. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, S&P earnings growth is expected to climb by +8.4% in Q4. Excluding the Magnificent Seven megacap technology stocks, Q4 earnings are expected to increase by +4.6%.
The markets are discounting a 3% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at the conclusion of today’s FOMC meeting.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell from a 1.5-week high and is down -0.52%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose to a 2-week high and closed up +0.27%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed up +0.05%.
Interest Rates
March 10-year T-notes (ZNH6) today are down by -2 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +1.2 bp to 4.245%. Today’s rally in the S&P 500 to a new record high is curbing safe-haven demand for T-notes. Also, long liquidation and position squaring are weighing on T-notes ahead of the FOMC decision later today.
European government bond yields are mixed today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -2.5 bp to 2.849%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose to a 5-week high of 4.540% and is up by +0.4 bp at 4.529%.
The German Feb GfK consumer confidence index rose by +2.8 to -24.1, stronger than expectations of -25.5.
Austrian central bank governor Kocher said the ECB would need to consider another interest rate cut if further increases in the euro's value were large enough to lower inflation projections.
Swaps are discounting a 0% chance of a +25 bp rate hike by the ECB at its next policy meeting on February 5.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and AI infrastructure stocks are rallying today after positive earnings results from ASML Holding NV, Seagate Technology Holdings Plc, and Texas Instruments, signaling continued strong AI spending. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) is up more than +17% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100. Also, Intel (INTC) and Sandisk (SNDK) are up more than +8%, and Western Digital (WDC), Microchip Technology (MCHP), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +6%. In addition, Micron Technology (MU) and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI) are up more than +3%, and Analog Devices (ADI) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are up more than +2%.
F5 Inc. (FFIV) is up more than +8% after reporting Q4 net revenue of $822.5 million, well above the consensus of $758.8 million, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to +5% to +6% from a previous estimate of 0% to +4%.
Starbucks (SBUX) is up more than +4% after reporting Q1 US comparable same-store sales rose +4%, stronger than the consensus of +1.88%, and forecasting full-year comparable sales of at least +3%, above the consensus of +2.83%.
Brinker International (EAT) is up more than +3% after reporting Q2 adjusted EPS of $2.87, stronger than the consensus of $2.62.
AT&T (T) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 revenue of $33.5 billion, stronger than the consensus of $32.83 billion.
GE Vernova (GEV) is up more than +2% after raising its 2026 revenue forecast to $44 billion-$45 billion from a previous forecast of $41 billion-$42 billion.
Corning (GLW) is up more than +2% after reporting Q4 core sales of $4.41 billion, greater than the consensus of $4.36 billion.
Amphenol (APH) is down more than -13% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after Bloomberg Intelligence said the company’s sales forecast “underwhelms,” and after a robust Q4 beat, which suggests potential demand pull-forward.
Textron (TXT) is down more than -7% after forecasting 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.40 to $6.60, below the consensus of $6.86.
Qorvo (QRVO) is down more than -6% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.05 to $1.35, weaker than the consensus of $1.37.
Otis Worldwide (OTIS) is down more than -5% after reporting Q4 net sales of $3.80 billion, below the consensus of $3.87 billion.
Danaher (DHR) is down more than -1% after forecasting full-year adjusted EPS of $8.35 to $8.50, the midpoint below the consensus of $8.46
Earnings Reports(1/28/2026)
Amphenol Corp (APH), ASML Holding NV (ASML), AT&T Inc (T), Automatic Data Processing Inc (ADP), CH Robinson Worldwide Inc (CHRW), Corning Inc (GLW), Danaher Corp (DHR), Elevance Health Inc (ELV), Fair Isaac Corp (FICO), GE Vernova Inc (GEV), General Dynamics Corp (GD), International Business Machine (IBM), Lam Research Corp (LRCX), Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), Lennox International Inc (LII), Meta Platforms Inc (META), Microsoft Corp (MSFT), MSCI Inc (MSCI), NVR Inc (NVR), Otis Worldwide Corp (OTIS), Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF), ServiceNow Inc (NOW), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV), Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Tesla Inc (TSLA), Textron Inc (TXT), United Rentals Inc (URI), Waste Management Inc (WM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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