Intel vs NVIDIA

Apple's mixed Q4 results lead to price target raise

Apple reported fiscal Q4 2026 revenue of $114.48 billion, up 12% year-over-year, beating expectations. Earnings per share rose 14% to $2.10. However, guidance for the December quarter, while revenue above forecasts, showed slower Services growth and lower gross margins due to rising memory costs. The stock fell about 3% in after-hours trading before stabilizing. CNBC's Investing Club raised its price target from $340 to $360, maintaining a 'hold' rating. Key highlights include 17.5% growth in iPhone sales, 24% growth in Mac sales, strong performance in Greater China, and the successful launch of the foldable iPhone Duo. The company also repurchased $24 billion in stock during the quarter. CEO John Ternus emphasized the iPhone's role as an AI hub.

• Apple's Q4 FY2026 revenue was $114.48 billion, up 12% year over year, beating estimates of $113.39 billion.
• Earnings per share reached $2.10, up 14% and above the $1.99 consensus.
• Services revenue grew just below 10% to $31.57 billion, slightly missing estimates.

AMD Beats Q3 Estimates, Data Center Revenue Surges 45%

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reported third-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, with revenue jumping 45% year-over-year to $13.38 billion, driven by booming sales of AI chips. Data center revenue nearly doubled, accounting for 64% of total revenue. CEO Lisa Su said she expects server revenue to double year-over-year in 2027 and data center AI growth to accelerate even faster than previously projected. The company's stock rose 8% in extended trading before paring gains amid election results. AMD also highlighted growing adoption of its Helios rack-scale systems by major customers like Meta, Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Oracle. The company expects Q4 revenue of about $17 billion, beating estimates. AMD's performance comes amid industry fears of overspending on AI infrastructure, but strong demand for AI chips, especially for agentic AI applications, is fueling growth.

• AMD reported Q3 revenue of $13.38 billion, beating estimates of $13.09 billion.
• Data center revenue nearly doubled year-over-year, now accounting for 64% of total revenue.
• CEO Lisa Su expects server revenue to double in 2027 and data center AI growth to accelerate.

8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Intel (2026-10-29)

On October 29, 2026, Intel Corporation filed a Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 2.02 (Results of Operations and Financial Condition) announcing the release of its financial results for the third quarter ended September 26, 2026. The filing references Exhibit 99.1, an accompanying earnings press release detailing Q3 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP performance metrics, management reconciliations, and forward-looking guidance for the fourth quarter of 2026. The submission serves as the formal SEC furnishing of Intel's quarterly earnings release and associated conference call materials.

• Intel Corporation furnished its Q3 2026 financial results for the fiscal period ended September 26, 2026, via an earnings press release issued on October 29, 2026 (Exhibit 99.1).
• The filing includes forward-looking statements and financial guidance relating to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, along with associated non-GAAP reconciliations.
• The report was formally signed and authorized by Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner on October 29, 2026.

Post-Midterms Clash Over Data Centers Looms

Following the November 3 midterm elections, Democrats gained control of Congress, setting up a political clash with the Republican White House over data center construction. Exit polls show widespread voter opposition to AI data centers, with nearly 80% against building them in their neighborhoods. Several states and counties voted to restrict or ban data centers, including Ohio where Meta planned a large facility. Democrats, now controlling Congress, may pursue legislation like a nationwide moratorium proposed by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, as well as the GRID Savings Act. Industry analysts predict construction delays in states like Georgia and Texas due to political opposition. The backlash reflects broader concerns about AI's environmental impact, community consent, and economic inequality, with data centers becoming a symbol of tech power.

• Democrats gained control of Congress in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.
• NBC exit poll: nearly 80% of voters oppose data centers in their neighborhoods.
• Ohio county passed a ban on data centers where Meta planned a 700,000 sq ft facility.

AI Is Changing How Semiconductor Fabs Work — and Engineers Are Moving Faster Because of It

NVIDIA blog post published November 03, 2026, discussing how AI is transforming semiconductor fabrication processes.

AI Bubble Will Burst, Says Doctorow: Buy at 90% Off

In an interview with Trending Topics, Cory Doctorow, a prominent Big Tech critic, argues that the current AI boom is a speculative bubble with poor unit economics that worsen with scale, predicting severe economic and social consequences. He criticizes Anthropic's upcoming IPO, comparing it to Elon Musk's SpaceX listing, which he says used retail investors as exit liquidity. Doctorow advises Europe against building its own AI models, instead recommending waiting for the bubble to burst and buying infrastructure at a discount, or using Chinese models. He advocates for 'tearing down the walls' of digital sovereignty, calling for changes to the Copyright Directive to allow data portability from US clouds and for legal iPhone jailbreaking to permit alternative app stores. He also views protests against data centers as part of an anti-oligarchy movement, and notes the US may already be in a recession without AI, citing Apollo Capital's analysis.

• Cory Doctorow predicts the AI bubble will burst, citing poor unit economics and recommending Europe to wait and buy assets at a discount.
• Anthropic is planning an IPO, which Doctorow criticizes as risky for retail investors, comparing it to SpaceX's listing.
• He claims 35% of the S&P 500 is made up of seven AI companies, six of which lose money, with Nvidia being the exception.