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How to Play Intel After the CEO Resignation

Usually when a stock makes major headlines, volume rises in a more dramatic way.
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On Thursday, Intel Corp. (INTC) announced the immediate resignation of its CEO, Brian Krzanich, due to what the company described in a statement as a "past consensual relationship with an Intel employee." Shares of Intel, which closed at a 17-year high on June 1, responded by falling to a one-month low.

Now that the stock is well off of its highs, is it time to step in and buy Intel? Or does this stock have further downside ahead?

Technically speaking, this selloff appears to be a buying opportunity. Intel remains in an uptrend, as evidenced by its bullish channel (black diagonal lines). The stock is at the low end of the channel, an indication that it's oversold. Note that Intel's 50-day moving average (green) and 200-day moving average (red) are still climbing, which confirms the bullish trend.

It's also interesting to note that while the stock sold off on above-average volume Thursday, it wasn't heavy selling by any means. Average daily volume for this stock is about 25.5 million shares; Thursday's figure of 44.2 million was less than twice the average. Usually, when a stock makes major headlines, volume rises in a more dramatic way.

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Source: TradeStation

My game plan for Intel is to enter a half-position near the bottom of the channel, at or near $52 (point A). If the stock breaks through the channel, I'll look to add the other half near the 200-day moving average (red), currently just above $47 (point B). If the 200-MA breaks, I'm closing the position.

Most analysts believe that Intel has some good CEO candidates in-house, and that replacing Krzanich won't be an issue. He's not an iconic figure, like company co-founder Gordon Moore. Moore, famous for "Moore's Law," served as chairman and CEO from 1979 through 1987.

Krzanich held the post of CEO for the past five years, but began working at Intel as an engineer in 1982. Therefore, this past relationship may have occurred well before he entered into the company's upper management.

The "consensual relationship" is the tricky part here. When one person in the relationship wields power over the entire company, does the other individual always have the freedom to say no?

That said, many CEOs have had similar relationships. I don't believe Krzanich will be the last executive to step down due to a relationship of this nature.

At the time of publication, Ponsi was long INTC.