New York, February 7, 2026, 21:02 EST — The market is done for the day.
- Chip stocks snapped back after a steep drop, pushing GFS up for the week.
- Now, focus turns to GlobalFoundries’ Feb. 11 results for clues on demand and outlook.
- Sentiment is shifting as Big Tech unveils new AI data-center spending plans, along with an updated industry sales forecast.
GlobalFoundries (GFS) climbed 4.7% to finish Friday at $42.91. U.S. markets are closed over the weekend, leaving the stock’s next move hanging until Monday—right ahead of the company’s earnings, which land midweek.
Investors are wrestling with last week’s turbulence, but the broader outlook for chips remains upbeat. The Semiconductor Industry Association projects global chip sales hitting $791.7 billion in 2025, and then soaring to $1 trillion the following year. “My orders are completely full,” SIA president and CEO John Neuffer said in an interview with Reuters. 1
Friday saw a sharp rally, with chip stocks rebounding hard as investors leaned into the AI demand story—despite fresh scars from a tech sector pullback. Amazon announced plans to boost capital spending by more than 50% this year, and the PHLX semiconductor index surged 5.7%. Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom: all higher. “There’s real demand for AI products,” Baird’s Ross Mayfield said. 2
Broader market strength played a role as well. The Dow finished above 50,000 for the first time—an all-time high that points to a rally spreading out past just a few mega-cap tech giants. “The Dow is kind of the people’s index,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive at Horizon Investment Services. 3
GlobalFoundries will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with a conference call set for 8:30 a.m. ET. The company disclosed the schedule in a statement issued in January. 4
Pricing and shipment volume are both under the microscope for analysts ahead of the report. According to Zacks Equity Research, the Street’s consensus sits at earnings of 47 cents per share on roughly $1.8 billion in revenue. The group specifically points to “wafer shipment volume”— essentially, how much product the company managed to move — as a critical metric to watch. 5
Still, GlobalFoundries’ heavy tilt toward smartphones—over 40% of its revenue—can whip sentiment around fast. Back in November, the Malta, New York chipmaker put out a quarterly target of adjusted earnings at 47 cents a share, give or take 5 cents, with revenue landing near $1.80 billion, plus or minus $25 million. 6
Management wants investors zeroed in on what it’s labeling “essential” chips, plus steady demand from data centers and AI. CEO Tim Breen credited CFO Sam Franklin’s leadership, saying it positions the company to “capitalize on significant opportunities ahead” as demand for AI-related semiconductors gains speed. 7
Even so, action around AI plays has gotten skittish, with chip names swinging as much on risk sentiment as on headlines. “The market looks like it was getting a bit overdone to the downside,” said Dakota Wealth’s Robert Pavlik, who saw technical buying driving Friday’s bounce. 8
GlobalFoundries heads into Wednesday’s report and call with traders watching for any move in 2026 demand signals. Comments on pricing, factory utilization, and capex plans will be in focus, along with whether orders for smartphones and autos are picking up or merely holding steady.
