Did we -- and I mean everybody -- misread the PC market?
It looks that way today in the light of Intel's
This is all good news for Intel investors, made even better by a $10 billion addition to the already-generous share-buyback program. And hey, don't forget that Intel recently reupped its dividend -- the second payout boost in 2011. None of this is terribly surprising, though. It's just how this shareholder-friendly company rolls.
No, the real shock is the source of this stellar performance. Yep, Intel leaned on regular old PC systems more than on servers or tablets. "We were very pleased with the momentum in our notebook PC business and consumer demand for our industry-leading second-generation Intel Core processor family," said CEO Paul Otellini.
But isn't the PC market dead or at least dying? Apple
Then again, Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices
There's always a catch, though. You see, the magic isn't happening in America. The consumer growth is happening elsewhere. "China was up 12%, India 21%, Turkey 14%, and Indonesia 23%," Otellini explained. "China is now the No. 1 PC consumption market in the world, while Brazil has become No. 3."
So the American PC patient is still in critical condition, but opportunities abound outside our borders. We weren't all that wrong after all.
What will Intel do next do delight, surprise, or frustrate shareholders? Add Intel to your Foolish watchlist, and you'll be sure to catch the news while it's still piping hot.