Der beste Einstiegszeitpunkt bei Intel scheint mir zu sein, wenn die Aktie nach den nächsten Quartalszahlen fällt - es sei denn, die Aktie fällt vorher schon so weit, dass selbst schlechte News "gute News" sind, weil sie nicht NOCH schlechter ausfielen.
Semiconductors Picture Darkens at Intel By TSC Staff 3/3/2006 12:43 PM EST
Intel (INTC:Nasdaq) continues to struggle in its two-front war against weakening personal computer demand and competitor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD:NYSE) .
For the second time in 45 days, the chip giant told Wall Street Friday that its first-quarter sales estimates are too high, sending its stock to a 52-week low. Intel said it expects its top line to range from $8.7 billion to $9.1 billion in the March quarter, below the Thomson First Call consensus for $9.42 billion.
Intel's warning is another blow to investors hoping 2006 would be a watershed year for the company, whose stock has been moribund for half a decade. It will also raise questions about a new and nagging problem at the chipmaker: an inability to estimate reseller inventories.
The stock fell 28 cents, or 1.4%, to $19.98. It went as low as $19.86 earlier.
In announcing fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 18, Intel predicted that first-quarter revenue would be $9.1 billion to $9.7 billion, below the then-consensus estimate of $10.05 billion. At the time, the company also announced it would stop offering regular midquarter updates, but the pledge didn't keep analysts from issuing several dour forecasts for the chip giant over the last several days.
Intel, which never provides specific earnings guidance, said Friday that its sales issues will crimp profitability.
"The company expects the first-quarter gross margin percentage to be adversely impacted by the change in revenue," Intel said. "Expenses (R&D plus MG&A) are expected to be lower than previously forecast due to lower revenue- and profit-related spending." Intel pegged gross margin at 59% in January, plus or minus a couple of points.
The Thomson First Call consensus earnings estimate is 27 cents a share for the first quarter.
The revenue warning follows growing skepticism on Wall Street about Intel's business prospects. On Wednesday, analysts at J.P. Morgan predicted that shrinking market share at Dell (DELL:Nasdaq) and competitive pressure from AMD would cause Intel to miss its sales forecast.
"We believe Intel's inventory is increasing faster than expected while its largest customer, Dell (19% of calendar 2005 revenue), continues to lose market share," J.P. Morgan said. "As a result, we believe Intel could have almost $800 million of excess inventory in the first quarter, far above the $300 million excess in the fourth quarter of 2005, which adds risk to gross margins."
J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Danely was similarly skeptical after Intel's January earnings update, saying: "We continue to believe additional downside to estimates is likely due to a continued inventory correction and excess processor capacity in 2006." (J.P. Morgan has been involved in a public offering of debt of equity for Intel within the past 12 months.)
Also on Wednesday, Morgan Stanley revised its estimates for AMD's earnings, lifting projected 2006 EPS to $1.70 from $1.60 as a result of the company's increased penetration in the enterprise server market.
AMD shares were recently up 57 cents, or 1.4%, to $41.90.
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