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Secondary Market: Intel boosts margins by selling what it used to scrap

Intel’s Q1 non-GAAP gross margin came in at 41%, roughly 650 basis points above the company’s own guidance. Management attributed the beat to a combination of higher volumes, favorable mix, pricing, and better 18A yields. According to industry analyst Ben Bajarin, who posted on X following the earnings call, part of the lift came from yield salvage: selling marginal silicon, much of it edge-die that would normally be binned out or scrapped rather than shipped into a usable SKU. Intel is now capturing revenue from silicon that would previously have been written down or held in reserve.

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Client Note: Foundries Hike DRAM Prices as Automated Bots Sweep DDR5 Inventory

Mar 5, 2026

In this memo to clients, we note that the global memory market is showing an accelerated phase of tightening, driven by the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure as the primary catalyst. Right now, we are tracking two distinct yet deeply connected market developments: massive contract price hikes from major memory foundries, exceeding 100% in recent negotiations, and a surge in automated, large-scale hoarding of DDR5 inventory, which could significantly affect how components are tracked and resold. Collectively, these indicators point to a period of intensified supply chain distortion and heightened competition for memory components.

For the secondary hardware ecosystem, encompassing IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) operators, refurbishers, and component traders, this primary market squeeze could alter current business dynamics.

SIMS and Iron Mountain Are Repricing the ITAD and Positioning it as a Primary Growth Engine

Feb 19, 2026

In this episode, David Daoud of Compliance Standards LLC examines how Sims Limited and Iron Mountain are repositioning IT asset disposition from an operational afterthought to a primary growth engine inside publicly traded platforms. Both companies recently reported approximately 70% year-over-year growth in their ITAD divisions. More importantly, they elevated Asset Lifecycle Management and Sims Lifecycle Services in their earnings narratives, capital allocation priorities, and forward guidance.