Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈNASDAQ Global Select
Back to all articles
Somewhat Bearish -25

Why are Intel, Qualcomm, AMD stocks falling today?

πŸ“‰ Intel stock fell approximately 10% after a more than two-fold increase over the past month, as investors locked in profits following a powerful rally driven by AI infrastructure optimism.

πŸ’» Notebook computer shipments dropped 27% month-over-month in April, prompting concerns about weakening demand in traditional computing markets that could negatively impact Intel and AMD.

🍎 Intel's potential Apple foundry partnership is a real catalyst with a potential $35 billion to $40 billion market value, but meaningful volumes are not expected until 2028 or later.

🏭 Bank of America raised its Intel price target to $96 while maintaining an "Underperform" rating because the current share price exceeds this valuation floor.

πŸ“± Qualcomm shares declined over 13% after surging more than 41% in five sessions, with Wall Street remaining cautious despite recent earnings beats and data-center optimism.

☁️ CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed Qualcomm expects to begin shipping a custom data-center chip to a major hyperscaler customer starting in the December quarter.

πŸ“Š FactSet data indicates that average analyst ratings for Qualcomm remain "Hold" while the stock trades significantly above the consensus target price.

πŸ€– AMD stock declined around 6% as part of the broader semiconductor sector pullback, which saw the iShares Semiconductor ETF rise 77% year-to-date before profit-taking.

🏒 The sharp retracement in chip stocks follows days of record highs and intense buying by investors pouring money into companies seen as beneficiaries of the AI boom.

⚠️ Analysts warn that while momentum is currently positive, good news regarding Apple foundry business and data-center chips may be fully reflected in current share prices.

Bullish Signals
  • Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock has emerged as a major contract chip manufacturer contender, contributing to its recent strong performance.
  • Intel and Qualcomm are positioning for significant future growth, with Intel potentially adding $35 billion to $40 billion in market opportunity from Apple foundry services.
  • Bank of America raised its price target on Intel shares to $96, indicating institutional confidence despite the current rating.
  • Qualcomm's quarterly earnings at the end of April were stronger than expected, validating its expansion into data-centre processors.
  • CEO Cristiano Amon expects Qualcomm to begin shipping a custom data-centre chip in the December quarter, opening a large multi-generation engagement with a major hyperscale cloud customer.
  • Intel has more than tripled since late March amid positive news regarding potential Apple manufacturing agreements.
  • The iShares Semiconductor exchange-traded fund has risen 77% this year as investors pour money into companies seen as beneficiaries of the AI boom.
Risk Factors
  • Intel's stock fell ~10% after a >2x run in a month as investors take profits, while weakening PC demand (notebook shipments -27% MoM) introduces downside risk.
  • The anticipated revenue boost from Apple's foundry agreement is delayed until 2028+, leaving near-term valuation exposed despite the potential $10B+ annual revenue upside.
  • Deutsche analyst Ross Seymore warns that 'good news' regarding Intel's foundry momentum is already adequately reflected in the current share price, suggesting limited upside remains.
  • Bank of America maintains an 'Underperform' rating on Intel despite raising its target to $96, as the target still sits below the company's current trading price.
  • Qualcomm stock dropped >13% from recent highs following a +41% surge over five sessions, with Wall Street caution evident as shares trade well above consensus targets under 'Hold' ratings.
  • The hype around Qualcomm's December-quarter data-center chip shipment is considered a longer-dated story that may lead to another valuation-driven de-rating once initial optimism fades.
  • Significant investments in factories and production infrastructure are required for Intel, delaying meaningful manufacturing volumes and revenue gains until 2028 or later.
  • Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano Amon characterized the hyperscaler data-center chip opportunity as tentative, stating only that they are 'thinking about a multi-generation engagement' with no confirmed timeline.
Full Analysis
Major semiconductor stocks including Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD fell sharply on Tuesday as investors locked in profits following an extended, powerful rally driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence infrastructure and next-generation chip demand. The iShares Semiconductor ETF had surged 77% this year, but sentiment turned negative as shares that had reached record highs a day earlier retreated. Intel specifically dropped approximately 10% after more than doubling over the past month, while Qualcomm declined over 13% following a five-session surge of 41%. AMD fell around 6% in the broader pullback. Analysts cited valuation risk as a primary driver for the decline, with Deutsche Bank noting that potential good news regarding Intel's foundry prospects was already priced into its share price. KeyBanc Capital Markets highlighted weakening demand in traditional computing markets, pointing to a 27% month-over-month drop in April notebook shipments, which negatively impacts PC-focused chipmakers like Intel and AMD. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya estimated that Intel could add more than $10 billion in annual revenue if it secures a meaningful share of Apple's foundry business, though he warned revenues would likely not materialize until 2028 due to necessary investments in factory infrastructure. Qualcomm's decline was also attributed to valuation concerns, as the stock trades well above its consensus target price despite positive earnings and CEO Cristiano Amon's optimism regarding a custom data-center chip shipment expected for the December quarter. FactSet data indicates Wall Street maintains an average "Hold" rating on Qualcomm, suggesting the recent rally may be a short-term spike before a de-rating occurs. Investors are now stepping back from positions that have appreciated significantly in recent weeks to reassess long-term value amid these technical and fundamental adjustments.