Becker Business Podcast: “Intel – Not So Fast” (1-23-26)

Host: Scott Becker
Release Date: January 23, 2026

Overview

This episode centers on the sudden shift in Intel’s stock trajectory following unexpectedly low first-quarter revenue and earnings guidance. Host Scott Becker analyzes how quickly market sentiment can turn, even for companies experiencing a dramatic turnaround, and reflects on the unpredictability of business news, using Intel as the week’s prime example.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intel’s Recent Surge and Turnaround

• Over the past year, Intel has significantly rebounded, with its stock price rising dramatically and garnering investments from Nvidia, government sources, and others.
• Just a day before this recording, Intel’s stock was up 47% year to date, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

2. Disappointing Earnings Guidance and the Market’s Response

• Intel released its outlook for Q1, projecting revenues at $12.2 billion—below Wall Street’s high-end expectation of $12.6 billion.
  • “Today they released their outlook for the first quarter and expects revenues to be lower than Wall Street expected, but still massive at 12.2 billion.” (Scott Becker, 01:18)
• The company also expects earnings per share to fall short of expectations.
• On this news, Intel’s stock dropped sharply, down about 14% at the time of recording (as much as 15% intraday).

3. Context and Perspective on Intel’s Journey

• Despite the short-term dip, Becker notes Intel’s “much healthier track” compared to a couple of years ago and sees reasons for ongoing optimism.
  • “At the end of the day, the company is on a much healthier track than it was a couple years ago. I think there’s lots of reasons to still be optimistic about it.” (Scott Becker, 02:05)
• The episode emphasizes the rapid pace of change: Intel’s gains abruptly shrinking from +47% YTD to +25% after the announcement.

4. Broader Market Impact and Personal Commentary

• Scott notes he’s not a direct investor in Intel but holds Astera Labs, a company closely related to Intel’s space, which also fell on Intel’s news.
  • “We are not direct investors in Intel, but one of the stocks we are an investor in is Astera Labs. And of course Astera follows Intel in similar businesses. So it's also down today. So that's depressing.” (Scott Becker, 02:16)
• He underscores the “fascinating” speed of market sentiment shifts, reiterating how “just yesterday” Intel was riding high.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Intel’s rollercoaster:
  • “What a difference a day makes.” (Scott Becker, 00:40)
• On market volatility:
  • “The fascinating thing about this is how quickly the picture changes.” (Scott Becker, 02:23)
• On optimism for Intel:
  • “The company is on a much healthier track than it was a couple years ago... I think there's lots of reasons to still be optimistic about it.” (Scott Becker, 02:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:30 – 00:40: Introduction to episode, market update focus
• 00:41 – 01:20: Intel’s stock performance recap and turnaround story
• 01:21 – 02:10: Q1 revenue outlook, Wall Street expectations, and implications
• 02:11 – 02:45: Broader impact, Becker’s investment disclosure, reflections on volatility

Tone & Style

Scott Becker’s tone is insightful, candid, and pragmatic. He strikes a balance between optimism for Intel’s underlying fundamentals and realism about the market’s volatility, peppering in personal reflections and a touch of humor.

Summary

In this concise and timely episode, Scott Becker uses the case of Intel’s surprising earnings outlook to illustrate how fickle market sentiments can be, even during periods of apparent corporate revival. He reminds listeners that, despite day-to-day swings, Intel is still fundamentally stronger than in the recent past, and that business news often shifts faster than most expect.