Intel Stock: Value or Value Trap?

by John Jagerson and Wade Hansen | November 2, 2012 9:02 am

Recommendation: Buy INTC

This month, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC[1]) beat expectations, all right — by leaping over a bar that it lowered for itself five weeks prior[2]. But it’s going to take more than strong earnings for Intel to thrive in a post-PC world[3].

Tech stocks, including Google (NASDAQ:GOOG[4]) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL[5]), are looking weak this quarter. The biggest issue for Intel is whether the results from its last quarter represent macroeconomic slowing, a temporary trough in the semiconductor industry, or a troubling shift away from INTC’s core market.

PCs: Evolving or Dying?

Intel’s core market is, of course, PCs. And, oh, the battered and weary PC: Even industry leaders fret about its future. Paul Ottelini, Intel’s CEO, acknowledged the woes facing the market[6] and said that PC demand was going to grow at half its normal rate during Q4.

Intel is investing heavily in what could be the next phase of personal computing: ultrabooks, a thin laptop/tablet hybrid. Anticipated sales for ultrabooks in Q4 have been revised downward[7], however — a sign that consumers might just prefer tablets to be tablets and laptops to be laptops.

Crucially important for INTC investors is whether the chip giant will manage the transition from PC to mobile effectively to grow its market share in new technologies or if the company will get passed up by smaller, more nimble competitors.

A Lot Hinges on Windows 8

Windows 8 was officially released on Oct. 26, and as Steve Ballmer, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT[8]) CEO, stated, it’s simply the biggest deal for the company in at least 17 years. It is the product that intends to bridge MSFT’s future with the post-PC world; naturally, it should be expected that both optimism[9] and pessimism[10] abound.

Besides MSFT’s fortunes, Windows 8 also holds part of INTC’s as well. Even if slow out of the gate, gradual adoption of the OS will help spur sales of Intel-powered devices.

If Windows 8 struggles, INTC will have some very difficult quarters ahead of it.

A Value or a Value Trap?

With INTC down almost 25% from its high and trading just above its 52-week low, have the problems with the PC market been priced into the stock? Bears have been in firm control and, as a result, INTC has not participated whatsoever in the market’s rise since July.

Click to Enlarge Could this be an overreaction?

INTC still has an operating margin of 30.8%, higher than 95% of industry peers. Its return on equity is 25.4%, better than 96% of other semiconductor companies. With a trailing 12-month P/E at only 9.6, the stock has rarely been this cheap. It has traded at a lower multiple only 5% of the time since 2002. Its average multiple since 2010 has been 12.5, a 32% premium over current levels. For the stock to trade at lower valuations likely means one of three things:

• The onset of a bear market in which multiples decline across the board
• Management’s failure to respond effectively to the evolving marketplace
• A faster-than-expected collapsing PC market that undermines strategies to expand market share in high-growth segments.

At its current price, Intel stock could well represent one of the better values among tech companies, especially with a 4.2% dividend yield and a 7.1% annualized return during the last 10 years. Whether this price level is a value, and not a value trap, depends on whether the company can leverage its brand and size to move dominantly into high growth markets.

Weighing the Scales

Click to Enlarge With INTC at long-term support and trading at 75% of its value from only three months ago, a strong argument could be made that the market’s fears about the PC market are exaggerated and — like most investing emotions in the short-term — will get attenuated in the coming months. A reversion back near its long-term multiple alone could provide a 25-30% return.

However, this is not to downplay the tough road Intel has to navigate. The most pertinent issue is going to be how well INTC management can deliver over the next two to three quarters.

Recommendation: Buy INTC in anticipation of reaction against overselling from inflated bad news out of the PC market. Look for move back to $24-$26 range.

John Jagerson and S. Wade Hansen are co-founders of LearningMarkets.com, as well as the co-editors of SlingShot Trader[11], a trading service designed to help you make options profits by trading the news.

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/11/intel-value-or-value-trap-intc/

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