Intel could be close to a major foundry win.DigiTimes reported on Wednesday that Nvidia is planning to tap Intel's (INTC 1.14%) foundry for some manufacturing and advanced packaging needs beginning in 2028. Nothing has been confirmed, so this remains in the realm of rumors and speculation. However, it does line up with comments made by Intel management during the fourth-quarter earnings call.If this Nvidia rumor is true, Intel's foundry business will get a significant boost from the king of AI chips. A mix ...

Core Viewpoint - Texas Instruments (TI) is making a significant investment of $60 billion in a manufacturing megaproject to produce foundational microchips in the U.S., with Apple also committing to increase its U.S. spending to $600 billion over the next four years, indicating a strong push for domestic semiconductor production [1][2]. Company Overview - TI is building seven new factories in the U.S., including four in Sherman, Texas, which will increase its production capacity fivefold [3][7]. - The company specializes in analog and embedded chips, which are essential components in various electronic devices, from smartphones to industrial applications [4][9]. - TI's chips are produced on legacy nodes of 45 to 130 nanometers, which are more cost-effective compared to the advanced chips made by competitors [10]. Market Dynamics - TI's market share in the analog segment has declined from 19.8% in 2020 to 14.7% in 2024, raising concerns about demand stability amid tariff uncertainties [6]. - The company is positioned as a potential "tariff winner," as its U.S. foundry could allow it to offer competitive pricing against Taiwan-made chips [6]. Investment and Economic Impact - The $60 billion project is expected to create 60,000 jobs in the U.S., with a significant portion of capital spending occurring domestically [23]. - TI received $1.6 billion in CHIPS Act funding and a 35% investment tax credit, alongside state-level incentives from Texas [18]. Infrastructure and Resources - The new fabs in Sherman will utilize approximately 1,700 gallons of water per minute, with plans to recycle at least 50% of that water [21]. - TI's manufacturing will run entirely on renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency in chip production [21]. Talent Acquisition - TI is addressing the talent gap in semiconductor manufacturing by partnering with universities and community colleges to attract skilled engineers [23]. - The company anticipates that the influx of younger people to the area will facilitate talent acquisition compared to previous years [23].

Market Overview - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to keep interest rates steady at +4.25-4.50% during its five meetings in 2025, acknowledging moderated growth but stable unemployment and labor market conditions [2][4] - Fed Chair Powell indicated that tariffs are beginning to impact inflation metrics, with the latest CPI Inflation Rate rising to +2.7% [5][4] - Market indexes experienced declines following Powell's statements, although the Nasdaq managed a slight gain of +0.15% by the close [1][6] Company Earnings Reports - Microsoft reported fiscal Q4 earnings of $3.65 per share, exceeding expectations by $0.30, with revenues of $76.4 billion, up +18% year over year, driven by a +39% increase in its Azure cloud business [6] - Meta Platforms significantly surpassed earnings projections with $7.14 per share against an anticipated $5.83, and revenues of $47.52 billion, up from $44.84 billion, with a +6% increase in Daily Active People to 3.48 billion [7] - Ford Motor Co. reported Q2 earnings per share of $0.37, exceeding estimates, with revenues over $50 billion, but shares fell due to $800 million in costs attributed to direct tariff exposure [9] - Qualcomm's fiscal Q3 earnings were $2.77 per share, beating expectations by $0.07, but revenues of $10.37 billion slightly missed the forecast, leading to a -4.6% drop in shares [10]