Intel Overcomes Significant Earnings Hurdles (INTC, SMH)

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) is out with earnings and the results are far better than what was expected under the circumstances.  The chip and processor giant reported a monster number of $0.59 EPS and $12.85 billion in revenues.  Thomson Reuters had estimates at $0.46 EPS and $11.6 billion in revenue.  Gross margin came in at 61%, the company generated $4 billion in cash flow from operations and it spent $4 billion to buy back 189 million shares of common stock, and it paid out $994 million in dividends during the quarter.

The company put revenues at $12.8 billion, plus or minus $500 million. Thomson Reuters estimates for next quarter are $0.45 EPS and $11.87 billion in revenue. It also sees margins at 61% plus or minus two points.

Intel said that PC client sales were up 17%, data center sales were up 32%, other architecture sales were up about 70%, Intel Atom microprocessor and chipset sales were up 4% to $370 million.  Average processor prices rose sequentially as well.

Shares closed up 1.2% at $19.86 and the 52-week trading range is $17.60 to $24.25.  Intel did all of this fighting slowing PC sales, a Sandy Bridge recall issue, while it closed its McAfee buy and its Infineon buy, and while the tablet craze is currently moving without it.  What may have helped was an extra week in the quarter, which the company stipulated in its press release. Regardless of caveats, the stock is trading up over 5% around $21.00 in the after-hours session after the report.

The move is strong enough to drive the Semiconductor HOLDRs (NYSE: SMH) as well.  Its shares are up over 2% at $34.78 in the after-hours session.

JON C. OGG