uploaded image
Image generated with Dall-e 3

Intel Near 2024 Lows Ahead of Earnings: Will the Stock Recover?

By:Thomas Westwater

The AI race is coming into focus amid semiconductor volatility


  • Intel is scheduled to report Q2 earnings on Thursday, Aug. 1 after the market close.

  • The chipmaker is expected to post earnings of $0.09 on $11.93 billion in revenue.

  • The stock’s volatility is elevated ahead of earnings, and options put the expected move at +/- 2.51 points, or 8% of today’s stock price.

Intel (INTC) is scheduled to report second-quarter fiscal earnings after the market closes on Thursday, Aug. 1. A conference call with management will follow at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

Intel stock is down about 37% since the start of the year, with much of the losses accumulated during April, when the chipmaker reported heavy operating losses in its foundry unit business as it attempted to recapture market share from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM).

However, INTC has outperformed the broader chip sector in July. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is down nearly 8% this month, as the Biden administration weighs a measure that would potentially stop foreign chipmakers from selling products containing American technology. The increased odds for a Trump presidency following this month’s assassination attempt are also fueling concerns over a new trade war between the U.S. and China.


Intel numbers: What do investors expect?

According to Yahoo Finance, analysts expect Intel to report Q2 earnings per share (EPS) of $0.09 on $11.93 billion in revenue. That would mark a decline from a year ago when Intel reported Q2 EPS of $0.13 on $12.95 billion in revenue.

Intel has a good track record of beating estimates, however. The company beat EPS estimates in four of the last four earnings cycles.

Intel’s earnings will focus on capital expenditures, spending and its product roadmap. The artificial intelligence (AI) boom provided a major tailwind to semiconductor stocks, but Intel wasn’t positioned to capitalize fully on the trend. Management hopes its third-generation Gaudi 3 chip will capture some market share in AI applications. The industry reception has largely been positive for the new accelerator, but sales need to follow.

Nvidia (NVDA) remains the market leader for GPU chips, the preferred application for AI infrastructure. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday, July 30, is also outpacing Intel’s efforts. NVDA, the favorite AI play for investors, is up over 130% this year, while AMD is down about 5%.


Trading Intel through earnings

Based on options pricing, the expected move for earnings is +2.51 points or 8% of today’s stock price of 31.51. Implied volatility is elevated compared to the past year, with Intel holding a 70.5 implied volatility rank (IVR).

Traders may opt to play credit strategies for earnings, given the elevated volatility. The risk is that Intel moves beyond the expected move.

Technically, the May swing low at 29.73 provides a decisive level that bulls will need to defend. A break below this level would threaten further downside and weaken Intel’s already-weak technical posture.

intc chart.png



Thomas Westwater, a tastylive financial writer and analyst, has eight years of markets and trading experience. @fxwestwater

For live daily programming, market news and commentary, visit tastylive or the YouTube channels tastylive (for options traders), and tastyliveTrending for stocks, futures, forex & macro. 

Trade with a better brokeropen a tastytrade account today. tastylive, Inc. and tastytrade, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies. 


Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before deciding to invest in options.

Related Posts

tastylive content is created, produced, and provided solely by tastylive, Inc. (“tastylive”) and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any security, futures contract, digital asset, other product, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any person. Trading securities, futures products, and digital assets involve risk and may result in a loss greater than the original amount invested. tastylive, through its content, financial programming or otherwise, does not provide investment or financial advice or make investment recommendations. Investment information provided may not be appropriate for all investors and is provided without respect to individual investor financial sophistication, financial situation, investing time horizon or risk tolerance. tastylive is not in the business of transacting securities trades, nor does it direct client commodity accounts or give commodity trading advice tailored to any particular client’s situation or investment objectives. Supporting documentation for any claims (including claims made on behalf of options programs), comparisons, statistics, or other technical data, if applicable, will be supplied upon request. tastylive is not a licensed financial adviser, registered investment adviser, or a registered broker-dealer.  Options, futures, and futures options are not suitable for all investors.  Prior to trading securities, options, futures, or futures options, please read the applicable risk disclosures, including, but not limited to, the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Disclosure and the Futures and Exchange-Traded Options Risk Disclosure found on tastytrade.com/disclosures.

tastytrade, Inc. ("tastytrade”) is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA, NFA, and SIPC. tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc. (“tastyworks”). tastytrade offers self-directed brokerage accounts to its customers. tastytrade does not give financial or trading advice, nor does it make investment recommendations. You alone are responsible for making your investment and trading decisions and for evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of tastytrade’s systems, services or products. tastytrade is a wholly-owned subsidiary of tastylive, Inc.

tastytrade has entered into a Marketing Agreement with tastylive (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade. tastytrade and Marketing Agent are separate entities with their own products and services. tastylive is the parent company of tastytrade.

tastycrypto is provided solely by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. tasty Software Solutions, LLC is a separate but affiliate company of tastylive, Inc. Neither tastylive nor any of its affiliates are responsible for the products or services provided by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. Cryptocurrency trading is not suitable for all investors due to the number of risks involved. The value of any cryptocurrency, including digital assets pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or any other asset, may go to zero.

© copyright 2013 - 2024 tastylive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.  Applicable portions of the Terms of Use on tastylive.com apply.  Reproduction, adaptation, distribution, public display, exhibition for profit, or storage in any electronic storage media in whole or in part is prohibited under penalty of law, provided that you may download tastylive’s podcasts as necessary to view for personal use. tastylive was previously known as tastytrade, Inc. tastylive is a trademark/servicemark owned by tastylive, Inc.