NEW YORK, January 24, 2026, 20:50 EST — Market closed.
Shares of GlobalFoundries Inc dropped 4.8% on Friday, closing at $42.85, down $2.16 from Thursday’s $45.01. The stock fluctuated between $42.60 and $45.02 during the session, with roughly 4.3 million shares traded.
U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, leaving investors to digest the recent drop as they prepare for the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on January 27-28. The midweek event will put rate-sensitive tech stocks under the microscope. 1
GlobalFoundries is slated to release earnings on Feb. 11 before the market opens, providing a fresh catalyst following a volatile move in its shares late this week. 2
The stock remains within its 52-week range of $29.77 to $47.69, with Friday’s drop pushing it further away from the upper end. GlobalFoundries operates a foundry business, manufacturing chips on contract for clients, and its demand usually mirrors sectors like phones, autos, and industrial equipment. 3
Chip stocks drew attention after Intel flagged a weak outlook for the first quarter and admitted it was struggling to keep up with AI data-center demand despite “running its factories at full capacity.” Intel’s setback fueled the semiconductor sector’s ongoing tug-of-war between hopes for growth and concerns about interest rates. 4
Rates are shifting again. A Reuters poll this week showed the majority of economists anticipate the Fed will hold its policy rate steady at 3.50%-3.75% through the first quarter. This comes after a period when markets had been pricing in earlier rate cuts. 5
GlobalFoundries announced this month that it has finalized an agreement to acquire Synopsys’ ARC Processor IP Solutions business. “IP” here refers to intellectual property—design components that help accelerate chip development. CEO Tim Breen said the deal “doubles down on our commitment to advancing our leadership in Physical AI.” Synopsys CEO Sassine Ghazi called GlobalFoundries “an excellent future steward.” 6
GlobalFoundries named Ganesh Moorthy, ex-CEO of Microchip Technology, to its board in January, a detail revealed later in a Form 6-K filing. Executive Chairman Thomas Caulfield said, “Ganesh’s deep understanding of semiconductor technology … will be a tremendous asset to GF.” Moorthy added the company is “uniquely positioned to bring intelligence to everyday devices.” 7
In its November earnings report, GlobalFoundries revealed that smartphones make up over 40% of its revenue. Automotive accounts for roughly 16%, while communications infrastructure and data centers contribute about 10.5%. The company projected fourth-quarter adjusted earnings around 47 cents per share, plus or minus 5 cents—adjusted meaning certain items are excluded—roughly matching Wall Street expectations, according to Reuters. 8
The run-up to Feb. 11 isn’t straightforward. A fresh dip in handset demand or holdups in closing the Synopsys deal—which depends on regulatory clearance—could shift focus back to margins and cash flow. Wedbush downgraded its rating to Neutral in late December, pointing to a chip downturn dragging on longer than expected. 9
Two key dates are on the radar: the Fed’s policy statement and press conference on Jan. 28, followed by GlobalFoundries’ earnings release and 8:30 a.m. ET call on Feb. 11. These will be crucial to gauge if Friday’s decline was just a blip or the beginning of a rough patch for the stock. 10
