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HSBC recently downgraded Intel (INTC) to “Reduce” from “Hold,” warning that the chipmaker's impressive 50% rally since August lacks a solid foundation. The analysts point out that Intel's recent momentum stems from three major investment announcements: a $2 billion stake from SoftBank (SFTBY), $11.1 billion from the U.S. government for a 9.9% stake, and a $5 billion investment from Nvidia (NVDA), representing roughly 4% ownership.
However, HSBC argues these deals are merely band-aids that don't fix Intel's fundamental problems. The real issue lies in Intel's struggling foundry division, which continues to face operational setbacks and hasn't gained meaningful customer support.