AMD CEO Lisa Su has already made the impossible possible once: under her leadership, AMD overthrew $AMD (+0.16%) the chip giant Intel $INTC (+1.18%) from its throne and increased its market value from just USD 2 billion at the time to around USD 160 billion today. Su made the company a serious player in the data center market. While Intel is still wavering, having just announced a new CEO, Su is already setting her sights on her next target: To beat Nvidia $NVDA (+0.12%) which dominates the lucrative AI chip business with a market share of around 90 %. AMD, on the other hand, currently only has a market share of less than 5%.

Dr. Lisa Su

Investors are skeptical despite AMD's strong figures for 2024 - 14% more sales and a 22% increase in gross profit - as the share price has recently reacted cautiously. The reason: the lag in the crucial software area, where Nvidia is still clearly superior with its CUDA platform. This is precisely where Lisa Su wants to start. Her strategy: long-term investment in better, open software solutions, intensive support for AI models, consistent solutions close to the customer. But Su asks for patience. She sees the competition as a marathon, not a sprint - true to the motto: the steady drip of innovation wears away the stone.

AMD Ryzen AI Max

Nvidia's primary focus on data center solutions gives it a "blind spot" on the local LLM trend, which Su wants to take advantage of. The need of users for Sovereign AI and Sovereign Data is intensifying, especially in Europe and also fueled by the current protectionist US policy. Rising API costs are also driving interest in local hardware solutions that are cheaper, more accessible, more powerful and more efficient than Nvidia's offerings. With the latest M4 Max and M3 Ultra Mac Studios, Apple already has $AAPL (-0.66%) already has a small lead in this area. However, with the Ryzen AI Max Platform, AMD is entering the race with a promising, more cost-effective and versatile alternative.

#nvidia
#amd
#intel
#ai
#lisasu
#ryzenai
#ryzenaimax
#Apple
#m4pro
#m3ultra
#macstudio

Sources:

https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/it/neuer-intel-chef-lip-bu-tan-kann-dieser-mann-intel-wieder-auf-die-erfolgsspur-fuehren/30253768.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/amd-lisa-su-ceo-nvidia-competition-2025-3

https://www.heise.de/news/Ryzen-AI-Max-AMD-tritt-mit-dicker-integrierter-GPU-gegen-Apples-M4-Pro-an-10225777.html

Intel wows Wall Street with new CEO

Intel $INTC (+1.18%) has brought a breath of fresh air to the company's management with the appointment of a new CEO, causing a stir on Wall Street. This decision comes at a critical time when the company is facing a number of challenges. Investors are optimistic about the new leadership impetus, but the question remains as to how well Intel can realize its strategic goals. The focus is on increasing competitiveness and modernizing product lines to meet ever-increasing market demands. The next few months will be crucial to see if the new initiatives can deliver the hoped-for results and get the company back on track. An exciting chapter in Intel's history lies ahead, and expectations are high.

Foxconn misses profit forecasts, focuses on AI growth

In the USA, Foxconn $2354a major supplier for Nvidia $NVDA (+0.12%) and Apple $AAPL (-0.66%)is facing a difficult profit situation. The company has announced a 13% drop in net profit, which has alarmed investors. Despite these setbacks, Foxconn remains optimistic and has high hopes for the growth trend in artificial intelligence (AI). According to forecasts, sales in this promising sector could even double in the coming year. This is crucial for Foxconn as it could play a key role in overcoming financial challenges and sustaining the company's growth. The next steps in the AI strategy could be the turning point for Foxconn and catapult the company into a new phase of growth.

Sources:

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/d3d43859-2107-36dc-ae3c-dd419ac869fc/intel%E2%80%99s-new-ceo-thrills-wall.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/video/nvidia-supplier-foxconn-misses-profit-140154048.html

$INTC (+1.18%)

Tan, a longtime industry leader and former CEO of $CDNS Cadence Design Systems, helped more than double sales and increase the stock price by 3,200% during his tenure

He now wants to accelerate Intel's turnaround, strengthen its manufacturing presence and restore investor confidence

Today I decided to sell my 20 $INTC (+1.18%) shares today. I went out with a total loss of around €500.

Donald Trump wants to overturn US Chips Act + Lufthansa profits slump + DHL expects little earnings growth in 2025 + Merck aims for further profitable growth in 2024 after uprising + Kontron share price jumps to record high after order

Donald Trump wants to overturn US Chips Act

• Should the US government actually stop payments or cut commitments, this would affect many US companies: Although reporting is dominated by Intel $INTC (+1.18%), Micron $MU (-0.01%), Samsung $005930and TSMC $2330, which will receive up to 8.49 billion US dollars. But also Texas Instruments $TXN (-0.03%), Applied Materials $AMAT (+0.38%)and the University of Arizona will also receive money.
• In addition, a number of small companies are to receive between 200,000 and 300,000 US dollars. All projects can be found in a list maintained by Nist. In the case of Intel, the loss of subsidy commitments could exacerbate the current crisis.

Lufthansa $LHA (-4.13%)Profit collapses

• Strikes, higher costs and lower ticket prices caused Lufthansa's profits to plummet last year.
• The core brand Lufthansa Airlines was even in the red in its day-to-day business, as the MDax-listed company announced in Frankfurt on Thursday.
• Group-wide operating profit before special items therefore slumped by over one billion to around 1.65 billion euros.
• For the current year, CEO Carsten Spohr is aiming for a "significant" improvement.
• The already announced restructuring program should contribute to this.
• Last year, Group airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and Eurowings carried 131 million passengers, seven percent more than in the previous year.
• Turnover increased by six percent to 37.6 billion euros.
• Unlike the passenger division, the cargo subsidiary Lufthansa Cargo and the maintenance division Lufthansa Technik were also able to increase their operating profit.
• The bottom line was a Group-wide surplus of just under 1.4 billion euros, 18 percent less than in the previous year.
• Nevertheless, shareholders are to receive an unchanged dividend of 30 cents per share.

DHL $DHL (-2.93%)expects only little earnings growth in 2025

• The logistics group DHL is implementing a cost-cutting program to combat sluggish global trade and the uncertain geopolitical situation.
• This is accompanied by the reduction of 8,000 jobs in the German mail and parcel business, as the company announced in Bonn on Thursday.
• CEO Tobias Meyer sees "both shadow and light" for the Group in the US customs policy.
• Meanwhile, the Bonn-based DAX-listed company expects only a sluggish improvement in earnings in 2025, after 2024 performed somewhat better than analysts had feared.
• "We continue to expect an operating result (EBIT) of over 7 billion euros in the medium term," Group CEO Tobias Meyer told the financial news agency dpa-AFX.
• He had previously targeted earnings before interest and taxes of more than EUR 7 billion for 2026.
• Similar to Brexit, the number of shipments is expected to decline on the one hand, while on the other hand DHL is likely to gain in added value, for example because more shipments will have to be cleared through customs.
• On this basis, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) are expected to increase slightly to at least EUR 6 billion in 2025.
• However, analysts surveyed by the company had estimated a median of 6.3 billion euros.
• At the same time, free cash flow is expected to remain stable at EUR 3.0 billion and thus be slightly better than expected, as in 2024.
• In 2024, the DAX-listed company earned EUR 5.9 billion in day-to-day business, a good 7 percent less than in the previous year.
• However, the operating result did not fall quite as sharply as analysts had feared.
• At 3.0 billion euros, the free cash flow was also better than experts had expected.
• DHL therefore met the targets it had set itself.
• At EUR 3.3 billion, the bottom line for shareholders in 2024 was a good 9 percent less profit than in 2023.
• The Board of Management intends to propose a stable dividend of EUR 1.85 per share at the Annual General Meeting.
• The share buyback program is to be increased by EUR 2 billion to EUR 6 billion and extended until 2026.

Merck $MRK (-0.13%)aims to continue to grow profitably after the upswing in 2024

• After a weak previous year, day-to-day business at the pharmaceutical and technology group Merck KGaA has picked up again in 2024.
• The final quarter was above average.
• CEO Belen Garijo now wants to build on the upswing in the current year.
• "Merck is back on course for growth with all three businesses," said the manager in a statement on Thursday.
• "In 2025, we will once again grow profitably across the entire company."
• Shareholders are to receive a stable dividend of 2.20 euros for the past year.
• According to the statement, Merck is targeting sales of EUR 21.5 to 22.9 billion in the current year, which corresponds to organic growth of three to six percent.
• Adjusted for special effects, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) are expected to increase organically by three to eight percent to EUR 6.1 to 6.6 billion.
• Last year, Group revenue climbed by 0.8 percent year-on-year to EUR 21.16 billion, supported by good business with medicines and semiconductor materials for artificial intelligence (AI).
• Since the second half of the year, there have also been signs of an upturn in the laboratory division, after the division had suffered from weak demand for a long time following the coronavirus boom.
• The Group also kept its costs in check.
• Adjusted for special effects, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) increased by 3.3% to almost EUR 6.1 billion.
• Merck's sales and operating result were thus in line with its own targets and also more or less in line with analysts' expectations.
• Due to higher taxes, however, the Darmstadt-based company earned just under EUR 2.79 billion, around two percent less than in the previous year.

Kontron $KTN (-2.31%)share price jumps to record high after order

• Following an order, Kontron shares reached a record high of EUR 23.34 on Wednesday.
• Most recently, the share price rose by 12.9 percent to EUR 23.18 and was one of the top positions in the small cap index SDax.
• The Austrian technology group announced a further order from the automotive industry worth 40 million euros.
• This involves the delivery of highly developed sensor technologies.
• This should at least benefit the perception of the share, commented a trader.
• On February 20, Kontron had announced an order with a total volume of 250 million US dollars over several years from a "leading supplier to the automotive industry".

Thursday: Stock market dates, economic data, quarterly figures

• ex-dividend of individual stocks
• Qualcomm USD 0.85
• BHP Group AUD 0.80

• Quarterly figures / company dates USA / Asia
• 22:00 Broadcom quarterly figures
• 22:05 Hewlett Packard Enterprise quarterly figures
• No time specified: Costco Wholesale | Universal Music Quarterly figures

• Quarterly figures / Company dates Europe
• 07:00 Lufthansa | DHL Group | Merck KGaA | Siltronic | Ströer | Zalando | Aareal Annual results
• 07:30 Compugroup Medical | Prosiebensat1 | Dürr | GFT Technologies | Air France-KLM | Bouygues Annual results
• 08:00 Deutsche Beteiligungs AG | Reckitt Benckise Annual Results
• 09:00 DHL Group Analyst Conference | Aareal Bank | Zalando BI-PK | Ströer Analyst and Press Conference
• 09:30 Lufthansa BI-PK
• 10:00 Merck KGaA PK | Siltronic Analyst Conference | Dürr BI-PK
• 10:45 Zalando Analyst Conference
• 11:00 DHL Group BI-PK
• 11:30 Prosiebensat1 BI-PK
• 12:30 Lufthansa Analyst Conference
• 14:00 Merck KGaA Analyst Conference | Dürr Analyst Conference
• 18:00 Vivendi Annual Results
• No time specified: Andritz | Solvay Annual figures

• Economic data

08:00 DE: Services turnover December

11:00 EU: Retail Sales January Eurozone FORECAST: +0.1% yoy previous: -0.2% yoy

12:00 TR: Turkish Central Bank, outcome of the Monetary Policy Council meeting Key interest rate FORECAST: n/a previously: 45.00%

14:15 EU: ECB, outcome of the Governing Council meeting and staff projection for growth and inflation in the eurozone Deposit rate FORECAST: 2.50% previously: 2.75%

14:30 US: Initial jobless claims (week) FORECAST: 235,000 previously: 242,000

14:30 US: Trade Balance January FORECAST: -128.7 bn USD previously: -98.4 bn USD

14:30 US: Productivity ex Agriculture (2nd release) 4Q annualized PROGNOSE: +1.2% yoy 1st release: +1.2% yoy 3rd quarter: +2.3% yoy Unit labor costs PROGNOSE: +3.0% yoy Preliminary: 1st release: +3.0% yoy Previously: 3rd quarter: +0.5% yoy

SoftBank plans $16 billion for AI

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son has big plans: he wants to borrow $16 billion to invest in the future of artificial intelligence. According to reports, this is just the beginning of a comprehensive strategy that also includes a potential investment of up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the creative mind behind ChatGPT. The Japanese investment firm also has the idea of raising a further $8 billion by 2026 to further expand its AI commitments. The focus is on the Stargate joint venture, where a total of $40 billion is to be invested to put the USA at the forefront of the global AI race.

Intel postpones chip factories until 2030

There is news from Intel in the USA $INTC (+1.18%)The company has postponed the completion of its long-announced chip factories in Ohio until 2030. The first factory in New Albany is now not scheduled to go into operation until between 2030 and 2031. This delay is a direct consequence of the realignment of production capacities in order to better respond to the needs of the market. The second factory will also not be completed until 2031. Despite these challenges, Intel's shares rose by more than 5% in the short term before stabilizing again.

Tesla has worst month in a long time

Tesla $TSLA (-0.45%) experienced one of its worst months in a long time in February, with a fall of almost 28%. Although the stock closed at $293.05 on the last day of the month, recovering somewhat, this was not enough to make up for the previous losses. The electric vehicle market is increasingly being invigorated by the competition and Tesla is facing a decline in new registrations in Europe. In addition, the political activities of CEO Elon Musk are creating additional uncertainty and weighing on investor confidence.

Sources:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/softbank-talks-borrow-16-billion-170211549.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/intel-delays-28-billion-ohio-151421518.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-just-wrapped-up-its-second-worst-month-ever-210850281.html

Siemens Energy $ENR (-0.38%) and Rolls-Royce $RR. (-5.85%) cooperate

The energy technology group Siemens Energy has concluded an agreement with the British industrial group Rolls-Royce for the development of so-called "mini-nuclear power plants". The aim of this agreement is for Siemens Energy to become the sole supplier for the non-nuclear part of the British manufacturer's planned modular nuclear power plants, known as "Turbine Island", the company announced on Friday. This area includes steam turbines, generators and other auxiliary systems. A final contract with all the details is to be signed by the end of 2025.

Intel $INTC (+1.18%) delays plant launch in the USA

After the plant in Magdeburg, the chip giant Intel is also postponing the start of a huge factory in the US state of Ohio. Production was originally due to start this year, but has now been delayed by up to three years. Intel plans to complete the first part of the plant by 2030, with production starting in the same year or 2031. The second part is scheduled to deliver the first chips in 2032.

Sources:

https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/energie/siemens-energy-will-mit-rolls-royce-atomkraftwerke-bauen-a-4d96f9c9-e753-4185-8bef-7278896e0b20

https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/tech/intel-verschiebt-start-von-grossem-werk-in-den-usa-a-094fd7d0-9514-4b9c-983c-e8e0210d87d8

Amazon $AMZN (-0.81%) with new Ocelot quantum chip

One week after Microsoft, Amazon has now also presented its own quantum chip. Shares in the quantum computing sector reacted to this with losses. Shares in D-Wave fell by 9.45% and Rigetti Computing lost 13.47% on the NASDAQ. Other quantum computing stocks were also down. Amazon presented the quantum computing chip "Ocelot", which uses a scalable architecture to improve error correction by up to 90 percent and thus accelerate the development of quantum applications. AWS Director Oskar Painter said that this move could advance the timeline for practical quantum computers by up to five years.

Intel $INTC (+1.18%) struggles with challenges and restructuring

Intel is facing major challenges and is struggling with a dramatic decline in its stock, which fell 60 percent in 2024. One analyst has identified the foundry business as a "problem child", which posted a loss of around 13 billion US dollars last year. Intel is planning a major reorganization of its venture capital arm and the sale of its camera business to focus on its core areas. In the fourth quarter of 2024, revenue fell to USD 14.3 billion, which was below expectations. In addition, a revenue forecast for the first quarter of 2025 of USD 11.7 to 12.7 billion is given, which further increases the uncertainty surrounding the company. Analysts recommend holding Intel shares, while the average price target is USD 22.69.

Sources: https://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/quantencomputing-aktien-von-d-wave-rigetti-quantum-computer-sinken-amazon-befeuert-den-markt-mit-erstem-eigenen-quantenchip-14276814

https://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/zukunftsaussichten-intel-aktie-tief-in-der-krise-analyst-identifiziert-problem-sparte-14277512