Intel Talking in the Dark

How far has mighty Intel(INTC Quote) fallen?

Wall Street is so tepid about the giant chipmaker's immediate prospects that most analysts say the company would have to work hard to disappoint when it reports third-quarter results after Tuesday's closing bell.

"Anything other than a worst-case scenario should result in stock-price appreciation," says Merrill Lynch analyst Joseph Osha, whose firm does not have an investment banking relationship with Intel. ...