Paul Otellini

Everyone knows that Apple under Steve Jobs performed wonderfully. But if you ask employees, the Mac maker is doing even better with Tim Cook at the helm. Surprised? You should be.

No wonder President Obama is visiting an Intel plant as he stumps for U.S. innovation and high-tech jobs. After all, Intel is a clear industry leader. Indeed, some analysts argue that for investors seeking entry in the global growth of technology, Intel is the one-stop answer.

Intel's stock is up just 2% this year compared to the Nasdaq's 17% rise, and investors fret that the explosive growth of smartphones and tablets will crimp the market for the PC chips that produce the bulk of Intel's revenue. But the tech giant has a plan.

Intel announced Friday that it is increasing its quarterly dividend by 15% to 18 cents per share, and the world's largest microchip maker said it's on track to have its "best year ever."

Building a new chipmaking plant and upgrading four others will result in thousands of construction and high-tech jobs, the world's leading supplier of microprocessors said today. It's a strong statement from a company that has been critical of Washington's business policies.

Businesses large and small have complained for years about the cost of doing business. And it's not unusual for them to use the cost of hiring moderate-income workers to illustrate their points. Here's what they fail to mention.

There's been a lot of fuss at the Las Vegas electronics show over tablets and 3-D TVs, but Intel's new platform for mobile devices is a big deal. Long the leader in computer chips, Intel sees a market for its chips in mobile devices with the blurring of boundaries between computers and smartphones.

Recently, a number of prominent business people and investors have suggested that the economy is still in poor shape, with no quick improvement on the horizon. It should make ears stand up, then, when the earnings release from a cyclical company proclaims their strongest first half performance in...