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Texas Instruments Rebounds as Execution, Candor Impress Analysts

Texas Instruments Slips as Analysts Say Semi Recovery Needs Time

(Bloomberg) -- Texas Instruments Inc. edged higher in early trading Wednesday as Wall Street warmed up to the company’s suggestion that a rebound in semiconductor demand needs more time.

Analysts said that while the cautious commentary will probably disappoint investors who were hoping for a second-half recovery, Texas Instruments is still executing well despite tough market conditions. Several banks raised their price targets on the stock and Morgan Stanley said the company’s candor with investors bolstered its credibility.

Texas Instruments Rebounds as Execution, Candor Impress Analysts

Shares of Texas Instruments rose 0.5 percent at 9:44 a.m. in New York, erasing an earlier decline of as much as 1.3 percent. The stock has gained more than 30 percent off its December lows as the semiconductor sector rallied to record levels earlier this month. Chip stocks were mostly higher Wednesday with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 0.4 percent.

Here’s what Wall Street is saying:

Morgan Stanley, Joseph Moore

Texas Instruments’ comments suggest “business is subseasonal” with limited visibility for the second half of the year. Moore said this is in line with his prior view and comments from other companies like Infineon.

“We don’t think they are seeing anything different from anyone else around 2Q, but they are more matter-of-fact in their approach,” he said in a note to clients.

“TI is executing well in tough conditions and their candor should bolster credibility,” but valuation “leaves little room for upside.” At the same time, he said “it’s hard to see numbers coming down much more given how much revenues have already fallen.”

Rates equal-weight, price target raised to $106 from $100

Deutsche Bank, Ross Seymore

“TXN’s report, guide, and warning that typical down-cycles yield 4-5 quarters of negative y/y comps should serve as a reminder that ‘snapback’ expectations may prove to be premature in this down-cycle.”

“While we continue to expect TXN to execute well during this period of depressed demand, we believe the shares to be fully valued.”

Hold, price target raised to $110 from $100

Bernstein, Stacy Rasgon

“While we believe investors have been prepared for the possibility of further weakness (and the initial reaction to the print/guide appeared positive) the news that all of the upside in the quarter was driven by communication infrastructure took some of the air out of it, particularly given company commentary that amply demonstrated they are expecting it to correct at some point.”

A “flat” forecast may also be a sign the rest of the business isn’t strengthening, which would reduce optimism about a recovery, Rasgon said

Market perform, price target $115

What Bloomberg Intelligence says

“Texas Instruments’ lackluster 2Q guidance and commentary suggests chip-cycle doldrums likely remain in the near term. It’s using the opportunity to build inventories, adjust factory loadings and tweak its capital returns mix.”

--Anand Srinivasan, senior technology analyst
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To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Larkin in Chicago at clarkin4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Courtney Dentch at cdentch1@bloomberg.net, Steven Fromm

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