While Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC) has been a surprise winner of the broader tech ecosystem, it's unavoidable that the semiconductor giant represents a form of moral hazard, at least in the classical economic sense. Left to its own devices, Intel has struggled badly relative to its peers. However, thanks to the graciousness of the Trump administration, INTC stock is booming.
Intel still needs to prove, though, that it has truly earned its valuation spike rather than being a charity case — which is wildly ironic coming from this administration. And possibly, it's this irony that may have played at least some role in the latest analyst downgrade for INTC stock.
