FCC udělila Intelu roční výjimku ze zákazu některých pokročilých robotických zařízení ze zahraničí, aby zabránila narušení domácí výroby polovodičů pro své zákazníky.
The Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it has granted a waiver to Intel (INTC.O) from its ban on some foreign-made advanced robotics.
The FCC said it would grant a one-year waiver of its rules in order to prevent "potential disruptions in the availability of domestic semiconductor manufacturing services for Intel’s customers."
Intel in a petition last week said the robotic devices are critical to its US semiconductor manufacturing. Without the waiver, Intel would not have been allowed to make software, firmware, and hardware changes for its "Automated Guided Vehicles" that it said could be classified by the agency as robots.
Intel told the FCC there is a lack of proven domestic alternatives that meet operational requirements and replacing the automated guided vehicles would take Intel years and could disrupt its manufacturing operations.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The vehicles are used to transport materials within Intel's semiconductor facilities and have been in operation for over two decades, the company said.
In July, the FCC barred imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters, seeking to protect the US AI buildout from national security threats and reshore key industries slated for explosive growth.
The FCC barred imports of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, in addition to connected power inverters. The FCC has since granted some approvals to allow for continued specific robotic device imports.
Some analysts forecast broad adoption of humanoid robots, topped with AI-enabled "brains," in consumer and industrial arenas, while explosive data-center construction in the US will depend on reliable sources of inverters.
Intel shares have shed nearly 15% in a month even as the company posted its strongest revenue growth in fifteen years, and three catalysts could determine whether that pullback becomes a buying opportunity or a warning sign.
The 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) is $117.05 over the next 12 months. That means 26.38% upside from $92.62. Our model rates the stock a buy with 70% confidence, which we read as fairly high conviction.
Metric
Value
Current Price
$92.62
Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.
$117.05
Upside/Downside
26.38%
Recommendation
BUY
Confidence Level
70%
The upside depends on three catalysts: the Intel 18A ramp, accelerating Data Center and AI demand, and a foundry business that can win outside customers. If all three deliver, the recent pullback would sit within a real turnaround.
Intel Gave Back 14% in a Month Despite Record Growth
Intel shares have fallen 8.31% over the past week and 14.43% over the past month. Still, the stock is up 151.84% year to date and stands about 34.7% below its 52-week high of $142.35.
On Monday, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), a longtime bear, upgraded Intel to neutral from underweight. Intel’s third-quarter report is expected after the close on October 29.
The last earnings report was strong. Q2 revenue came in at $16.13 billion (+25.4% YoY), ahead of estimates for $14.45 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 exceeded the $0.22 consensus. CEO Lip-Bu Tan called it the “strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years.”
Why Bulls See $129 Within Reach
Catalyst 1: 18A execution. Intel 18A output ran about 25% above target, and the cost of the main Panther Lake chip has dropped roughly 50% year to date.
Catalyst 2: AI data center demand. Data Center and AI revenue grew 59% year-over-year and generated $2.5 billion in operating profit. Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner expects the custom ASIC business to move from about a $2 billion run rate to $4 billion.
Catalyst 3: Foundry customers. The 14A PDK 0.9 was on track for October, and the EMIB-T packaging backlog keeps growing. The bull case puts the stock at $129.15. Wall Street’s consensus target is $117.37.
Foundry Losses Remain the Biggest Risk
Intel Foundry still lost $2.1 billion last quarter, and external foundry revenue was only $293 million. Capital spending for 2026 is set to top $20 billion, and management expects PC demand to go down by low double digits. Analyst ratings lean toward caution, with 32 Hold ratings.
Most of the GAAP loss of $2.16 per share came from a $12.53 billion non-cash charge linked to the CHIPS Act escrow, while operating cash flow reached $7 billion. The bear case puts the stock at $90.82.
Intel Trades at a Premium to AMD and NVIDIA
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) competes with Intel directly in server and PC CPUs. It trades at 40x forward earnings, and revenue grew 50.11% last quarter. AMD is growing faster at a lower multiple, which makes Intel’s premium look like a payment for a recovery that hasn’t finished yet.
Intel considers NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) as both a partner and an investor. Shares trade at 25x forward earnings while revenue grew 105.85%.
Company
Forward P/E
PEG Ratio
Intel
63x
0.501
AMD
40x
0.626
NVIDIA
25x
0.479
On PEG, Intel falls in line with its peers, so the 24/7 Wall St. price target looks reasonable, though it assumes Intel keeps growing earnings quickly.
Execution Momentum Tips the Scale Toward Upside
I’m staying with a $117.05 24/7 Wall St. price target and a buy rating at 70% confidence. What tips the scale for me is Intel’s run of 4 consecutive EPS beats.
I’d grow more constructive if the Q3 report confirms the 18A yield increases and lands a named external foundry customer. I’d turn cautious if foundry losses widen or data center growth stalls. Overall, the setup favors more upside.
Year
Price Target from 24/7 Wall St.
2026
$97.45
2027
$121.65
2028
$139.48
2029
$151.25
2030
$170.46
These projections assume Intel keeps executing its current strategy. A decision on high-volume production for 14A, or a pause in that node, could drive the results well above or below these figures.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel očekává za čtvrtletí zisk na akcii ve výši 0,39 USD, což představuje meziroční nárůst o 69,6 %, a tržby ve výši 16,44 miliardy USD, meziročně vyšší o 20,4 %.
Intel (INTC - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 29, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis world's largest chipmaker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.39 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +69.6%.
Revenues are expected to be $16.44 billion, up 20.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.42% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Intel?For Intel, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.22%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination indicates that Intel will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Intel would post earnings of $0.21 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.42, delivering a surprise of +100.00%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Intel appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Buy 1–3 month INTC put options (or put spreads) into next week’s earnings. The setup is “distribution/markdown” plus a near-term catalyst. If the market treats earnings as “good but not enough” (or guides conservatively), puts monetize the likely volatility and downside continuation toward $80 then $65.
Key Risk: Intel delivers a clear upside beat with aggressive guidance that triggers a sustained rally above $80.
INTC short to $80/$65
Sell Intel (INTC). The article flags a Wyckoff shift from distribution to markdown, with a bearish breakout risk toward the 50% Fib near $80, and if it breaks, a move toward the 61.8% Fib around $65. Even with improving revenue, the tape setup points to more downside before earnings can stabilize sentiment.
Key Risk: Intel’s earnings surprise is strong enough to flip the chart back to accumulation (stock reclaims $80 and holds).
Intel stock has pulled back into a bear market as investors dump high-flying artificial intelligence (AI) companies. The shares have slumped 34% from their all-time high, with the company’s market capitalization falling from $707 billion to $493 billion. According to the Wyckoff Method, the stock could drop further.
One way of understanding the recent Intel price action is known as the Wyckoff Theory. This theory suggests that assets go through four different stages: accumulation, markup, distribution, and markdown.
In Intel’s case, the chart below shows that the stock remained in the accumulation phase for years. In this period, it formed a shallow cup-and-handle pattern between December 2023 and January this year. A C&H pattern normally leads to more upside over time.
The stock then surged and moved to the markup phase. This price action coincided with the rescue by the US government and Nvidia, which has now become its biggest shareholder. It also coincided with the surge in companies in the artificial intelligence boom.
Recently, however, there are signs that the stock has moved to the distribution phase. This distribution is then followed by the markdown stage, which is characterized by panic selling among investors.
Therefore, the stock will likely have a bearish breakout, potentially to the 50% Fibonacci Retracement level of $80. A drop below that level will point to more downside towards the 61.8% retracement at $65.
INTC chart | Source: TradingView
INTC stock has dropped in the past few months as investors have remained concerned about the artificial intelligence bubble. Citadel’s Ken Griffin and Ray Dalio have all warned that the AI bubble may burst as soon as this year as interest rates remain at an elevated level.
The next important catalyst for the INTC stock will be next week’s earnings report, which is expected to show that its revenue growth continued. In its last report, Intel said that demand for its products was so strong that it was forced to sell lower-level ones. This growth will likely continue as the AI agent industry gains momentum.
The results showed that its revenue jumped by 25% in the second quarter to $16.1 billion, a strong comeback for a company that was on the verge of collapsing. Its client computing and physical AI group’s revenue jumped by 13% to $8.9 billion, while its data center and AI business made $6.3 billion, a 59% annual growth.
Analysts expect the upcoming results to show that Intel’s revenue jumped by 20% to $16.47 billion. The most optimistic analyst expects the real figure to be $17 billion, which is possible based on the recent earnings by companies like Micron and Samsung.
Its profits are also expected to continue rising. Analysts see the EPS rising to $0.40, up sharply from $0.23 in the same period last year. For the year, the EPS is expected to come in at $1.53, up sharply from the 42 cents it made last year.
The main risk that Intel faces is a broader slowdown in the AI industry, which some analysts believe is a possibility. It is also facing substantial competition risk from Nvidia, which launched its CPU recently.
Akcie Intelu se po 35% poklesu z červnového maxima obchodují za 84násobek upraveného zisku za posledních 12 měsíců, přestože tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí vzrostly o 25 % na 16,1 mld. USD.
Analysts with JPMorgan Chase upgraded Intel (INTC -0.70%) to neutral from underweight on Monday, Oct. 19, citing growing agentic artificial intelligence (AI) workloads and tight supplies of advanced chips. The chipmaker's stock gained around 2% that day, ending at $92.03.
Even after that bounce, shares are around 35% under their record close of $140.94 on June 22. And most of the drop has happened lately. The stock still closed above $127 as late as Sept. 24.
Sure, an upgrade to neutral isn't a call to buy, and I wouldn't buy or sell a stock based on an analyst's rating anyway. What matters more is how much investors now pay for what Intel earns. And by that measure, the stock has gotten far cheaper than its 35% drop suggests.
Image source: Intel.
Intel's earnings have nearly doubledWhen Intel set its record in June, its four most recently reported quarters came to non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of just $0.57. That figure included a loss of $0.10 a share in the second quarter of 2025.
At $140.94, then, investors were paying almost 250 times Intel's adjusted earnings for the previous four quarters.
Intel's second-quarter results, released in July, changed that. Revenue rose 25% year over year to $16.1 billion, accelerating sharply from 7% growth in the first quarter and a 4% fall in the fourth quarter of 2025. And adjusted earnings per share climbed to $0.42, up from $0.15 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $0.29 in the first quarter of 2026.
Combined, the past four reported quarters now total $1.09 a share in adjusted earnings -- nearly double the June number.
At around $92 as I write, Intel trades at about 84 times these earnings. It's still a steep price-to-earnings ratio. But it's around a third of where the ratio was at the record, even though the share price fell only about 35%. In other words, rising profits did more to cut the stock's price-to-earnings ratio than the falling share price did.
Intel's GAAP results look much worse. On that basis, the company lost $2.16 a share for the second quarter. But a non-cash charge of $2.45 a share more than accounted for the loss. The charge is linked to Intel stock held in escrow for the U.S. government under its CHIPS Act deal, so I'm leaning on the adjusted numbers here.
A step backThe next step is a smaller one, though. For the third quarter, management's guidance calls for $0.38 a share in adjusted earnings. This would be up 65% from $0.23 for the third quarter of 2025, but down from the second quarter's $0.42.
Revenue growth may slow, too. The midpoint of Intel's guidance range from $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion implies growth of around 19% year over year, after 25% for the second quarter.
If Intel earned $0.38 a share every quarter over a year, it'd make around $1.52. At around $92 a share, the stock would cost about 60 times that annual pace of earnings.
Demand for AI computing doesn't look like the issue.
"AI-driven compute continues to strengthen, and to support expected growth this year and next across products and foundry, we are meaningfully increasing our investments in equipment, clean room space, and substrates," CFO Dave Zinsner said in Intel's second-quarter earnings release.
Turning that demand into steadily rising earnings per share is what Intel still needs to prove. And the third-quarter guidance suggests the climb might not continue every quarter.
INTC Intel$91.05-$0.64 (-0.70%)
NASDAQ · As of 9:54 AM ET 10/21/26
Is the drop big enough?Based on expected earnings for 2027, Intel trades at around 44 times earnings. That price-to-earnings ratio arguably assumes Intel's profits can keep climbing well past the third quarter's pace. Intel posts third-quarter results on Thursday, Oct. 29, which might show whether the $0.38 forecast was cautious or the start of a flatter stretch.
Does the 35% drop make Intel stock a buy? I don't think so yet. The drop, plus a far stronger second quarter, has moved the price a lot closer to what Intel earns. But at around 84 times adjusted earnings in the past four quarters, the stock still prices in lots of growth that hasn't come yet.
I'd want to see adjusted earnings per share climb back above the second quarter's $0.42 before considering the stock at this price.
Focused Alpha ve třetím čtvrtletí snížila svůj podíl v Intelu o 78,8 % prodejem 9 950 akcií; na konci čtvrtletí držela 2 677 akcií v hodnotě 322 000 USD.
Focused Alpha LLC reduced its position in shares of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC – Free Report) by 78.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,677 shares of the chip maker’s stock after selling 9,950 shares during the period. Focused Alpha LLC’s holdings in Intel were worth $322,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. ABS Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Intel during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $694,101,000. Montgomery Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intel during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in shares of Intel during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Glynn Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Intel in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Intel by 3,185.7% during the second quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 230 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. 64.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Lip Bu Tan acquired 105,263 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $95.00 per share, for a total transaction of $9,999,985.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,314,669 shares in the company, valued at approximately $124,893,555. The trade was a 8.70% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Key Intel News Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week: Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan removed its bearish rating: JPMorgan upgraded Intel from Underweight to Neutral, saying confidence is building in management execution, manufacturing improvements and chip design. The change helped drive the prior session’s rebound after Intel’s steep decline. Intel Stock Notches Up as JPMorgan Changes Its Mind Positive Sentiment: Foundry and AI opportunities provide longer-term support: Intel’s agreement to manufacture Tesla chips using its planned 14A process, along with new products aimed at AI inference and agentic workloads, gives investors more concrete evidence that its costly foundry strategy could attract meaningful customers and demand. Did Foundry Win Just Shift Intel Investment Narrative? Neutral Sentiment: Analyst views remain divided: JPMorgan’s upgrade signals a more balanced risk/reward outlook, but its reported $85 target remains below recent trading levels. Investors are likely to focus on Intel’s upcoming quarterly results for evidence that the turnaround is translating into sustainable revenue and profitability. Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen cut its target: TD Cowen lowered Intel’s price target from $115 to $95 and maintained a Hold rating, reflecting continued execution risks and limited near-term upside in its view. Intel Price Target Cut Negative Sentiment: Semiconductor sentiment has deteriorated: Intel and other chip stocks fell as investors questioned whether the rapid pace of AI infrastructure spending can continue and whether data-center returns will justify elevated capital expenditures. This sector-wide selling is pressuring Intel despite its company-specific catalysts. Why AI Chip Stocks Are Falling Negative Sentiment: Competitive risks remain: Chinese memory maker CXMT’s progress toward server memory could intensify competition in areas connected to Intel’s data-center ecosystem, while Intel still faces questions about market share, manufacturing execution and the profitability of its foundry investments. Intel Versus Micron and CXMT Competition Intel Stock Down 0.4% Shares of NASDAQ INTC opened at $91.69 on Wednesday. Intel Corporation has a 12-month low of $32.89 and a 12-month high of $142.35. The company has a market capitalization of $462.48 billion, a PE ratio of 148.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.77 and a beta of 2.22. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $102.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.25.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $16.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. Intel had a positive return on equity of 2.62% and a negative net margin of 19.79%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 25.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.10) earnings per share. Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Intel Corporation will post 1.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Roth Capital lifted their target price on Intel from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Zacks Research downgraded Intel from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of Intel in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Pivotal Research assumed coverage on shares of Intel in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Intel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, twenty-six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Intel currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $107.98.
Read Our Latest Report on INTC
Intel Profile (Free Report)
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is a global semiconductor company that designs and manufactures computing and connectivity products. Its portfolio includes Intel Core processors for personal computers, Xeon processors for data centers and enterprise systems, and products for networking, edge computing, graphics, and artificial intelligence workloads.
Through Intel Foundry, the company also provides semiconductor manufacturing and technology-development services for external customers. Intel develops process technologies, advanced packaging, and other manufacturing capabilities intended to support its own products and third-party chip designs.
Founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, Intel helped establish the modern microprocessor industry and has historically supplied processors for PCs, servers, and other computing systems.
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JPMorgan just dropped its bearish call on Intel after a steep slide, and the chipmaker's stock is surging alongside its rivals. Whether the upgrade signals a genuine turning point or a brief reprieve depends on what Intel's factories and server…
A bearish Wall Street call on the chipmaker just came off the board, and chip stocks are rallying alongside it. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) stock is up 4% to $93.68 this morning. Those gains follow a steep slide in Intel stock from its June peak, so the bounce starts from a lower base.
Meanwhile, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) stock is up 4% to $547.23. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) stock is up 2% to $217.97, a softer rise than Intel stock or AMD shares. AMD competes with Intel in central processing units (CPUs) and with NVIDIA in artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) is up 3%, a sign of how broad the bounce runs. Large-cap tech is moving more slowly, with the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) up 1.32%.
JPMorgan Ends Its Bearish Stance on Intel
JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur upgraded Intel to Neutral from Underweight in a note. A Neutral rating sits in the middle of the road, closing out a bearish call and framing the gain in Intel stock as a reassessment after its pullback.
Execution in Intel’s core client and data center computing markets, and in next-generation manufacturing, has improved since Lip-Bu Tan became CEO, Sur stated. He expects agentic AI workloads, which lean heavily on central processors, and a tight supply chain for leading-edge chips to drive positive earnings estimate revisions for Intel.
The note carries a caution, though. Sur expects a few more quarters of market-share losses for Intel, especially in server processors. His conclusion is that the risk and reward in Intel stock look more balanced after the steep pullback.
Integrated Chipmaking Sets Intel Apart
Intel designs and manufactures its own processors and is building a contract foundry business. NVIDIA and AMD design chips and rely on outside foundries to manufacture them. That split ties Intel’s results to factory execution as well as chip design, which gives Sur’s comments on next-generation manufacturing extra weight.
Two product groups anchor Intel’s chip business. The Client Computing and Physical AI Group sells processors for PCs, laptops, edge AI and robotics, while the Data Center and AI group supplies Xeon server processors for cloud and enterprise workloads. On the manufacturing side, Intel Foundry offers process technologies including Intel 3 and Intel 18A, along with advanced packaging, for internal and outside customers.
Sur’s agentic AI argument lands squarely on Intel’s server business. Xeon chips compete with AMD’s EPYC processors for data center workloads, while NVIDIA builds accelerated computing platforms such as Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin for a separate layer of AI infrastructure. A tight leading-edge supply chain could favor a chipmaker that owns its factories, although Intel still has to convert that capacity into server share (the power, cooling, and networking suppliers riding the same expansion sit outside the chipmakers, and we rounded up seven of them in a free report: here).
Intel stock is outpacing AMD shares and the iShares Semiconductor ETF by only a slim margin, so part of that move tracks a broader chip rallying. NVIDIA shares trail the group, and semiconductors are leading large-cap tech.
Intel’s Third-Quarter Report Becomes the Next Test
Third-quarter 2026 results from Intel are scheduled for release after the market closes on October 29, a date the company hasn’t confirmed. The next test for Intel is whether that report supports the positive earnings estimate revisions Sur expects.
Upside for Intel stock could come from a stronger data center outlook and steadier progress on next-generation manufacturing. Continued server share losses, which Sur expects to persist for a while, mark the clearest risk to the rebound.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel (INTC - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Over the past month, shares of this world's largest chipmaker have returned -17.3%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.5% change. During this period, the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry, which Intel falls in, has lost 0.7%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Intel is expected to post earnings of $0.39 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +69.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.6%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.5 points to a change of +257.1% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.97 indicates a change of +31.4% from what Intel is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.5%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Intel.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
In the case of Intel, the consensus sales estimate of $16.43 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +20.3%. The $62.49 billion and $71.58 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +18.2% and +14.5%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryIntel reported revenues of $16.13 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +25.4%. EPS of $0.42 for the same period compares with -$0.1 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.41 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +11.89%. The EPS surprise was +100%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Intel is graded F on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Intel. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
Tržby divize datových center a AI společnosti Intel ve druhém čtvrtletí meziročně vzrostly o 59 % na 6,3 miliardy USD, podpořeny poptávkou po serverových procesorech pro AI.
Intel (INTC -5.79%) has been one of the market's big winners this year. The stock trades up about 170% year-to-date as of Oct. 14, 2026, compared to about 13% for the S&P 500. It could keep outperforming in 2027 for one reason: Intel's surging data center business.
Intel's data center and AI segment sells the server processors that power cloud computing and AI services. Its revenue grew 59% year over year to about $6.3 billion in the second quarter. That helped drive the company's strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years.
Image source: Getty Images.
Demand for AI inference applications, including agents, could drive more demand for central processing units (CPUs), which is Intel's expertise. Inference workloads are boosting orders for server CPUs, and Intel expects industry-wide server processor unit shipments to grow by strong double digits through 2027, with momentum carrying into 2028.
INTC Intel$89.85-$5.52 (-5.79%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/16/26
Intel is also bringing better products to market. It launched its first server chip, Xeon 6+, built on its new 18A manufacturing process, and 18A production is running ahead of the company's internal targets.
The stock looks expensive, trading at about 47 times next year's earnings estimates. But Intel's earnings are recovering from depressed levels and are expected to grow at an annualized rate of 69% over the next several years. Relative to expected growth, the stock trades at a PEG ratio of 0.8, which looks attractive.
Investors will get an update when Intel reports third-quarter results on Oct. 29. If the data center business continues to grow at this pace, the stock could outperform in 2027.
John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Analytik Ben Reitzes ze společnosti Melius Research očekává, že akcie Intelu během dvou let dosáhnou 200 USD, což by představovalo zhruba 109,7% růst, pokud zákazníci přijmou výrobní proces 14A.
Intel just lost a third of its value while rivals AMD and NVIDIA kept climbing, yet one prominent analyst sees a path that leaves the consensus in the dust. The bull case rests on a single unproven bet.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) currently trades at $95.37. The average analyst price target is $118.05, meaning about 23.8% upside.
Intel designs x86 processors for PCs and servers. It also runs a foundry business that makes chips for outside customers. Wall Street has been tracking a turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Second-quarter revenue reached $16.13 billion, up 25.4% year over year, which Tan called “our strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years.”
One analyst projects much more than the consensus does. Ben Reitzes of Melius Research has laid out a path to $200 within a two-year horizon. That is about 109.7% above today’s price, so the stock would have to double.
A Blowout Quarter, a $20 Billion Share Sale and a 33% Slide Intel shares sit 33% below their 52-week high of $142.35, and a decline that size counts as a violent selloff. The first leg came right after the second-quarter report. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.42 against a $0.2175 consensus, yet the stock fell as much as 22.35% in the days that followed as investors took profits after a huge run.
The second leg was specific to Intel. The company announced a $15 billion common stock offering and later upsized it to $20 billion to pay for factory buildouts. Shares have since slid below the $95 offering price. Then a broad chip selloff hit. Intel lost 10.94% over the past week, while the S&P 500 slid just 0.28%.
Analysts Keep Raising Estimates While Holding Their Ratings Most analysts are remaining conservative. Of 49 analysts, 15 rate Intel a Buy or Strong Buy, 32 say Hold and two say Sell. Recent moves have mostly been reiterations. Mizuho raised its target to $114 and kept a Neutral rating, and TD Cowen kept its Hold rating and $115 target. Estimates are still climbing. The fiscal 2027 EPS consensus has risen to $2.0827 from $1.5384 90 days ago.
Reitzes goes much further. Melius has a 12-month target of $165, which meaning about 73% upside. The $200 case depends on foundry customers using the 14A process and advanced packaging, CHIPS Act support covering capital spending, and margins rising as fabs fill up. There is evidence behind it. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has signed on as a 14A customer. Intel 18A output ran about 25% above target, and 14A is set for high-volume production in 2028.
The gap is still wide. External foundry revenue was only $293 million, and Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion in the quarter.
Intel Fell While Its Biggest Rivals Kept Climbing Intel’s slide stands out. Its closest rivals are up over the same 90 days.
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) gained 6.25%, even after a 22.23% decline similar to Intel’s. At $562.23 against a $636.21 target, AMD has about 13.2% upside, which is smaller than Intel’s. Of its 55 analysts, 44 rate it a Buy or Strong Buy, 11 say Hold and none say Sell.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) rose 2.34%. At $217.23 against a $328.72 target, it has about 51.3% upside. Of its 62 analysts, 59 rate it a Buy or Strong Buy. NVIDIA is also an Intel shareholder after a $5.0B equity investment.
On consensus targets, NVIDIA has the most upside of the three. Only the Melius call puts Intel on top.
Up 158% This Year but Down 7.4% Over 90 Days At $95.37, Intel is about 23.8% below its $118.05 consensus target. The ratings break down this way:
Strong Buy: 1 Buy: 14 Hold: 32 Sell: 1 Strong Sell: 1 Over the past 90 days, Intel lost 7.4% while the S&P 500 gained 2.5%. Year to date, Intel is still up 158.46%, compared with 13.18% for the S&P 500. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 63. For the third quarter, management guided to non-GAAP EPS of $0.38. Price targets are only one data point, and none of them is guaranteed.
Intel’s Path to $200 Runs Through Its Foundry Customer List The case for Intel at this price holds if 14A wins major customers beyond Tesla, gross margins remaining near the 42.0% guided for the third quarter, and server demand keeps exceeding supply. Management has said server growth should be “well north of a double digit CAGR”.
It becomes a value trap if foundry losses keep piling up while capital spending tops $20 billion this year and rises significantly next year. CFO David Zinsner has already said Intel “may need to tap the capital markets” again, which would mean more dilution.
I lean cautiously positive. The 23.8% consensus upside looks reachable as earnings estimates rise. A double depends on external foundry wins that Intel has not yet shown.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Tržby Intelu ve 2. čtvrtletí meziročně vzrostly o 25 % na 16,1 mld. USD, přičemž tržby z datových center a umělé inteligence stouply o 59 % na 6,3 mld. USD.
Shares of Intel (INTC -4.73%) are up about 180% over the past year, as of Oct. 12, reflecting growing demand for its chips for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
The stock is more expensive than it was a year ago, but the prospect of sustainable revenue growth from AI leaves room for further gains over the next several years. "AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute, and as we continue to execute, Intel is well-positioned to capture sustainable growth across our CPU franchise, ASICs, advanced packaging, and vast wafer foundry network," CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated in the 2026 second-quarter earnings report.
Here are three reasons the stock is a buy heading into 2027.
Image source: Intel.
1. Strong execution is producing momentum in financial results Intel has topped its own financial expectations for seven straight quarters. Beating guidance repeatedly shows the company is executing well against its goals and managing its factories and costs, which can support a higher stock price over time as investors gain confidence. Here are the key highlights from the Q2 earnings report that point to building momentum in the business:
Revenue rose 25% year over year to $16.1 billion -- the company's strongest growth in more than 15 years. Non-GAAP gross margin (the share of revenue left after production costs) reached 41.8%, more than 12 points higher than a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.42 more than doubled the guidance of $0.20, and reversed a loss of $0.10 in the year-ago quarter. Higher revenue, better manufacturing yields (more working chips per wafer), and stronger average selling prices drove the strong results, with data-center and AI sales growing 59% to $6.3 billion. AI-related businesses made up roughly 70% of Intel's total revenue in the quarter.
CFO David Zinsner said the near-term goal was to get gross margins "comfortably into the 40s" every quarter -- implying the potential for more gains over its Q2 gross margin. Overall, the prospect of expanding margins is a positive for the stock heading into 2027.
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2. AI is driving more demand for Intel's processors than it can supply AI will need a massive number of central processing units (CPUs), as well as specialized accelerators and graphics processing units (GPUs). CPUs have proven more effective at handling orchestration, data movement, and storage around AI training and inference. The growing use of AI agents (software that performs tasks autonomously) will put more strain on existing compute capacity and is a long-term tailwind for Intel.
Intel faces growing competition in the CPU market from Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia. But all these companies should continue to post robust growth, since demand for CPUs continues to outrun supply.
AI agents require a four to six times increase in CPU requirements, which is leading to higher core counts and more stable pricing. Beyond servers, Intel sees further opportunities in edge computing and physical AI systems such as industrial equipment and robotics.
These opportunities support analysts' expectations that Intel's revenue will increase by 21% in 2027, reaching $78 billion.
3. Manufacturing progress is opening additional growth opportunities Intel's foundry efforts (making chips for other companies) and advanced packaging technology, which connects multiple chips into more powerful processing systems, are showing progress. The 18A process is in high-volume production. Better yields and execution in ramping new technologies mean Intel can produce more chips at lower cost, which improves margins and can attract outside customers for Intel's foundry.
Management sees its advanced packaging business potentially reaching billions of dollars in revenue with attractive margins. Revenue is expected to ramp more meaningfully in the second half of 2027 and can also open the door to larger foundry deals.
Intel's foundry posted a Q2 operating loss of $2.1 billion, although the loss narrowed by $348 million over Q1. The foundry's persistent losses have been an overhang on the stock in recent years, but management is working to bring this business to breakeven by the end of 2027 or into 2028. Narrowing losses at Intel Foundry could support a higher stock price in 2027.
Intel's shares are not cheap, trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 67 on 2026 earnings estimates. Even so, accelerating growth, expanding margins, and long-term opportunities in physical AI could still support excellent returns for investors in 2027 and beyond. The forward multiple drops to 49 on 2027 estimates, with analysts expecting 69% annualized earnings growth in the next several years.
Shares of Intel (INTC -4.48%) were trading sharply lower on Wednesday, falling as much as 4.6% in early trading and were still down 4.3% as of 1:58 p.m. ET.
While the overall downturn among chip stocks was a contributing factor, the specific catalyst that sent the semiconductor stock lower was a report of an explosion at Intel's plant in Israel.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Early reports suggest that three people were seriously injured earlier today in a blast at Intel's manufacturing facility in Kiryat Gat, Israel. In a subsequent press conference, local police and fire officials said they suspected an exploding gas cylinder could have been the catalyst, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
The explosion ignited a fire that has since been extinguished. Firefighters were working to determine the exact circumstances of the blast and were investigating the possibility of a hazardous chemical leak in the wake of the explosion and the resulting blaze.
Local officials said there was no evidence of a terrorist attack and noted that, while the fire was out, security personnel and emergency responders continued to work in the area. The injured parties were evacuated to a nearby hospital and are receiving treatment.
The location is one of Intel's leading facilities in the country, manufacturing "chips that power most of the world's personal computers for over 20 years," according to the company.
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As of this writing, it's simply too early to tell if there will be any long-term implications for Intel or its shareholders. Investors should continue to monitor the situation as details emerge and resist the temptation to act before all the facts are available.
Danny Vena, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Akcie Intelu v roce 2026 vzrostly o 175 %, přesto by investice 10 000 USD z roku 2016 s reinvestovanými dividendami dosáhla jen 33 700 USD, oproti 42 900 USD u ETF VOO.
Shares of Intel (INTC +1.44%) trade near $101 as of this writing, up about 175% in 2026. The company's stock is also worth over five times the $18 or so it closed at in April 2025 -- its lowest close in the last decade.
But zoom out to 10 years, and the picture isn't nearly as pretty. A $10,000 investment in Intel in mid-October 2016, with all dividends reinvested, is worth around $33,700 now. The same $10,000 in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.01%), an index fund that tracks the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.02%), turned into about $42,900.
So even after nearly tripling this year, Intel stock still trails just owning the market. And I think the reasons help show how much of the turnaround investors are already paying for.
Image source: Intel. Image source: Intel.
Nine years of next to nothingIntel closed just above $37 on Oct. 12, 2016, and it finished 2025 at $36.90. In short, the share price went nowhere for over nine years, and dividends were the only return shareholders had to show for it.
The stock wasn't always behind. At the end of 2019, the $10,000 stake was worth around $17,500, ahead of the index fund's $16,100 or so. But by the end of 2022, it had dropped to about $8,500, while the same amount in the fund had doubled to about $20,100. At the stock's bottom in April 2025, the Intel stake was down to around $6,000. And when 2025 ended, it was worth about $12,300, versus about $37,300 for the fund.
So around 90% of Intel's 10-year gain has come in under 10 months.
The business went backward over that span, too. Intel's revenue rose from $59.4 billion in 2016 to a record $79.0 billion in 2021 -- and then slid to $52.9 billion in 2025, less than the company pulled in nine years before.
The dividend is goneDuring most of the decade, a rising dividend at least lifted shareholders' returns. Intel's quarterly payout topped out at $0.365 per share in 2022. But the company cut it to $0.125 in February 2023 and suspended it entirely starting with the fourth quarter of 2024.
Those reinvested dividends still make up around $6,400 of today's $33,700. Without them, the $10,000 would be worth about $27,300.
The index fund, of course, still pays one, yielding around 1%. Intel pays nothing, and I doubt that changes soon.
The stock is priced for far higher profitsYes, the business is improving fast. Intel's second-quarter revenue climbed 25% year over year to $16.1 billion, accelerating from 7% growth in the first quarter. And non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share came in at $0.42, versus a loss of $0.10 a year earlier. That one quarter matched the $0.42 Intel earned in all of 2025, which followed an adjusted loss of $0.13 a share in 2024.
But the Intel of 2016 earned much more. Adjusted earnings per share were $2.72 that year. Even four quarters like the second quarter would come to just $1.68, and management's July outlook for the third quarter (which Intel reports on Oct. 29) was $0.38.
What jumps out at me is how much more investors now pay for those earnings. At around $37 in mid-October 2016, shares traded at about 14 times that year's adjusted earnings. Today, buyers are paying about 48 times the earnings expected for 2027.
This year's run, then, arguably has less to do with what Intel earns today than with what investors expect it to earn a few years out. If those profits show up late or come in lower, the stock might lose a big part of its gains.
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For the 10-year stake to draw even with the index fund, shares would have to climb about 27%, to roughly $129. They've been there before. Intel set a record close of $140.94 on June 22, when the stake was briefly ahead of the fund, and the stock is down 28% since.
Overall, I think Intel's turnaround is showing up in its numbers. But the stock price seems to assume years of further progress, and Intel shareholders have already seen how long the wait can be when the business stumbles.
With shares priced at around 48 times 2027's expected earnings and paying no dividend, I'd rather own the index fund here.
Key Takeaways INTC is introducing Xeon-based rack designs with over 46,000 cores per rack to support agentic AI.Intel's Crescent Island GPU delivers up to 480GB of memory and 1.3 petaflops of FP8 computing performance.INTC is combining CPUs, GPUs and open software to make AI easier to deploy.
Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure portfolio with new GPU technology, advanced Xeon processor systems and open software innovations to meet the growing demand for agentic AI. Its latest offerings aim to improve computing performance, power efficiency and scalability for enterprise AI workloads.
Intel introduced the latest Xeon-based rack designs to support the computing demands of agentic AI applications. Select Xeon 6+ configurations can deliver more than 46,000 cores per rack, enabling efficient data processing, workload management and task execution. Developed with ecosystem partners, these systems use open infrastructure standards to simplify deployment and help customers scale AI operations.
The company provided new details about its Intel GPU D-series, code-named Crescent Island. Built on Intel’s Xe3P architecture, the accelerator offers up to 480GB of LPDDR5X memory, 1.5TB/s of memory bandwidth and 1.3 petaflops of FP8 computing performance within a 350-watt power envelope. Designed for large language models and memory-intensive inference workloads, it supports models with up to 300 billion parameters on a single card and more than one trillion parameters in an eight-GPU system.
Intel is also advancing software integration across CPUs and GPUs to simplify AI application development and deployment. Its software ecosystem supports established AI frameworks, inference runtimes and emerging open models, while the AI for Enterprise Agent Toolkit provides orchestration capabilities for production AI applications.
Additionally, Intel is collaborating with industry partners to develop standardized accelerator designs that improve compatibility and simplify integration across systems. By combining Xeon processors, specialized GPUs and open software, the company is building a flexible and cost-effective foundation for deploying AI applications at scale.
How Are Competitors Performing in the AI Space?Intel faces competition from Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) . Qualcomm is strengthening its AI business with data center processors and AI accelerators. The company is collaborating with Amazon to develop custom chips for AI data centers. Qualcomm is developing energy-efficient technologies to enable faster AI processing while reducing power consumption.
AMD introduced its Helios rack-scale platform to support agentic AI workloads by combining EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs. The company is working with industry partners to provide flexible, scalable AI infrastructure for data centers. AMD is expanding its Instinct GPU portfolio to handle demanding AI training and inference workloads while improving computing performance and energy efficiency.
INTC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Intel have skyrocketed 184.4% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 32.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Going by the price/book ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 4.96 times book value, lower than the industry average of 23.36.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
INTC’s earnings estimates for 2026 have increased 2% to $1.50 per share, while those for 2027 have increased 2.1% to $1.97 over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Intel currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Akcie Intelu od zářijového maxima klesly o 20,4 % na 101,35 USD; v obchodování po uzavření se prodávaly za 100,18 USD, těsně nad sledovanou úrovní podpory 100 USD.
Intel has shed a fifth of its value since September while burning through billions in its foundry division, and the round-number level traders have been watching now sits within arm's reach of the after-hours price.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) closed at $101.35 on Monday after a 3.20% session decline. It reached an intraday low of $100.71 and slipped to $100.18 after hours, just above the round number chart watchers have been tracking.
The stock now sits 20.4% below its September 24 close of $127.39, which was its highest since early August. It is also 28% below its record close of $140.94, set on June 22.
Those are large drops for a company worth $532.55 billion. Even so, Intel is still up 178.66% over the past year, so this drawdown sits inside a large rally.
The stock has fallen in six of the last seven sessions. The selling likely reflects a market repricing a story that ran ahead of the evidence before earnings.
Four Headlines Knocked Intel Off Its September Peak
On October 4, Elon Musk confirmed talks about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) joining his Terafab chip project, which Intel had joined in April. Musk said: “Just discussions, but something may come of it.”
Intel said it “would continue to participate in Terafab,” but the stock fell more than 4% the next session. Intel’s foundry dream depends on being the chosen alternative manufacturer, and a second alternative inside the same project reduces that role.
A sell-side estimate then showed Intel’s share of CPU models slipping 3.9 points in the third quarter to 68.1%. Because supply already caps how many chips Intel can ship, that loss matters more for the story than for revenue.
On October 8, chip stocks generally sold off after a report put OpenAI’s annualized revenue at about $50 billion, below earlier estimates. Intel lost 5.34% that day in a sector-wide move, part of a 12.3% decline over the five sessions ending October 9.
A Capital Warning Lands on the Hungriest Balance Sheet
On Monday, Intel’s chief executive and Broadcom’s (NASDAQ:AVGO) chief executive spoke at an event in Singapore. They warned that a lack of capital could become the AI industry’s biggest bottleneck.
That warning hits Intel directly. It raised its 2026 capital spending outlook to “more than $20 billion” and expects 2027 spending to be “significantly above the 2026 levels.”
Intel Foundry still lost $2.1 billion in the second quarter. Management has said Intel “may need to tap the capital markets” if it is very successful, and a tighter funding cycle raises the cost of that plan.
The operating business held up through the slide. Second-quarter revenue rose 25.42% to $16.13 billion, and Data Center and AI revenue grew 59%.
Chart Watchers Have Drawn Their Line Between $100 and $103
Technical analysts point to a support zone from $100 to $103. It includes the 50-day moving average of $103.30 with a Fibonacci retracement level of $100.54. A support zone is a price range where buyers have previously stepped in strongly enough to stop a decline.
Below that, the next support zone is $87 to $88, with the 200-day moving average near $83 as deeper support. This view comes from chart analysts and is separate from sell-side fundamental research. It describes past trading behavior.
Wall Street’s Hold-Heavy Consensus Wants Proof
Coverage stands at 20 Buy, 27 Hold and 2 Sell ratings. Analysts’ mean price target of $109.06 implies about 7.6% upside.
That is thin next to a 178.66% one-year gain. With holds in the majority, analysts are waiting for evidence before calling the stock cheap.
The average target has trailed the stock’s moves. At its September peak, Intel traded well above today’s average target.
Intel reports third-quarter results after the close on Thursday, October 29. It guided to revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion and adjusted EPS of about $0.38, and a chart level may give way once those numbers come out.
Valuation Gap Leaves Intel Trailing NVIDIA on Analyst Upside
Intel looks fully valued at current levels. The upside to the average target is small, and the stock trades at 63x forward earnings while its foundry lost $2.1 billion in the second quarter.
There’s substance to the optimism, because server demand is exceeding supply and Intel has beaten its own forecasts for seven consecutive quarters. But the past year’s gain already prices in much of that progress.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) carries a stronger valuation profile. At $226.32 against an average target of $328.72, it carries about 45.2% implied upside at 25x forward earnings, with 49 Buy ratings.
Analyst targets remain estimates for both stocks, and the key distinction is that NVIDIA’s earnings already support its valuation, while Intel’s earnings still have to catch up.
My view fails if Intel tops $16.8 billion in revenue on October 29 and closes back above $103.30. A close below $100 before then would point toward the $87 area instead.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Účast Intelu v projektu Terafab společností Tesla a SpaceX, který má vyrábět AI čipy, byla v dubnu potvrzena; finanční přínos pro jeho slévárenskou divizi zatím zůstává nejistý.
Elon Musk has his eyes set on something that even the world's largest technology companies have struggled to accomplish: Manufacture advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips at an unprecedented scale. Surprisingly, Intel (INTC -3.20%) could emerge as one of the biggest beneficiaries of this vision.
Musk's Terafab project brings together Tesla (TSLA -1.22%) and Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +0.52%) in an effort to reduce outside dependence on semiconductor manufacturing. For a company trying to turn around its foundry leadership, investors may be underestimating how this could transform Intel in the AI infrastructure era.
Image source: Getty Images.
What is Terafab? Terafab is a proposed semiconductor manufacturing facility in Grimes County, Texas. So far, Tesla and SpaceX have committed initial investments of $16.8 billion for the first phase of the project. Terfab's goal is to stitch together chip design, advanced logic and memory manufacturing, and semiconductor packaging within a vertically integrated operation.
Musk's long-term goal is to produce enough annual chip production to support 1 terawatt of computing power. Terafab aims to produce two categories of processors. The first will power Tesla's autonomous vehicles, Optimus humanoid robots, and other AI applications operating here on Earth. The second is meant to support SpaceX's plans for space-based data centers.
Intel could be the hidden winner of Terafab In April, Intel's participation in Terafab was confirmed, positioning its manufacturing expertise and advanced semiconductor technologies alongside Musk's grand plans. The company has been developing its 18A and 14A manufacturing processes, which are central to its effort to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's leading foundry capabilities.
Intel's foundry business stands to benefit enormously from securing a high-profile customer with substantial long-term chip requirements. More importantly, there is already some encouraging evidence of improving execution.
During the second quarter, Intel Foundry generated $5.8 billion in revenue, although most of that came from manufacturing chips for Intel's own products. External foundry revenue was only $293 million, and the division reported an operating loss of approximately $2.1 billion as a whole.
This is why Terafab matters so much. If Intel can prove that its technology meets Musk's requirements, it could strengthen credibility with other AI chip designers. Given the nascent nature of the project, Intel's potential manufacturing volumes and financial impact remain highly uncertain. Nevertheless, the company possesses something valuable: an opportunity to demonstrate that its foundry technology belongs in the same conversation alongside other industry leaders.
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Is Intel stock a buy? Terafab represents something different for various companies. For Tesla and SpaceX, it could reduce dependence on outside chip suppliers and support AI-driven growth across autonomous driving and robotics. For Nvidia, it introduces another potential source of competition as more companies develop custom silicon.
For Intel, the implications could be transformational. Intel does not need to displace Nvidia as the leading AI accelerator designer. Rather, the company is positioned to profit by helping other companies manufacture their chips. This is an attractive position to be in during an era when AI infrastructure spending continues to accelerate.
Still, in the long run, Intel will have to improve manufacturing yields, control capital expenditures (capex), attract additional external customers, and eventually turn its foundry operations profitable. Working on Terafab alone won't accomplish these objectives collectively.
For now, I see Intel stock as a speculative buy for investors comfortable with execution risk, understanding Terafab's eventual financial contribution remains uncertain. The bigger thesis is that Intel could become an attractive alternative to Taiwan Semi as demand for advanced AI chip manufacturing grows.
Intel shares have already surged more than 200% this year, but Wall Street still calls the stock a hold. Here is what bulls and skeptics are each missing about where INTC goes from here.
Under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) has rebuilt itself around three assets: the x86 CPU franchise, advanced packaging and a U.S. wafer foundry network. That strategy paid off in the second quarter, when revenue rose 25.4% to $16.13 billion.
Tan called it “our strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years.” Shares are up 204.55% year-to-date to $112.38, after an 84% gain in 2025. Here’s what I think it would take for Intel to reach $150 per share over the next year.
Analysts Are Cautious, but Their Estimates Keep Climbing Wall Street’s average price target is $116.37, just 3.6% above today’s price. 32 analysts rate the stock a hold, while 14 rate it a buy.
The estimates look more bullish: analysts project $1.5203 in EPS for 2026 and $2.0621 for 2027, which works out to 36% growth. Just three months ago, the 2027 estimate stood at $1.5322.
Management says Intel has beaten its financial expectations for seven consecutive quarters, including Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 against a $0.2175 estimate. A run like that suggests results will likely beat forecasts.
Here’s What It Takes for Intel to Reach $150 At $112.38, Intel trades at about 54x estimated 2027 earnings. At $150, that would rise to roughly 73x. That’s a rich multiple.
Still, Intel’s PEG ratio of 0.501 points to growth that justifies a premium, and the highest 2027 estimate is $3.44. If Intel keeps beating, the effective multiple at $150 shrinks fast.
Several catalysts could push Intel to $150:
Server demand exceeding supply: Data Center and AI revenue rose 59% to $6.26 billion at a 40% operating margin. CFO David Zinsner said, “Our outlook for server CPU demand has improved again since our last earnings report.” 18A execution: 18A output ran about 25% above target. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), which invested $5B in Intel stock, chose Xeon 6 as the host CPU for its DGX Rubin NVL8 systems. Custom silicon: The ASIC business is nearing a $2 billion run rate, and management is aiming for $4 billion in a market it sizes at over $100 billion. Foundry progress: Foundry losses shrank by $348 million from the prior quarter, and Intel 14A PDK 0.9 was scheduled for October. A major external customer win would change the story. Intel’s History Shows a 33% Gain Is Within Reach Getting to $150 requires a 33% gain. Intel has beaten that in six calendar years since 2000: 107% in 2003, 34% in 2007, 44% in 2009, 44% in 2014, 95% in 2023 and 84% in 2025.
Shares hit $142.35 within the past 52 weeks, so $150 is only a little above levels the stock has already reached. Its beta of 2.23 means big moves can happen in either direction.
$150 Is a Stretch, but Here’s Why It’s Possible (we reverse-engineered what the biggest tech winners looked like early in a free playbook you can get here: The Next Nvidia Playbook)
Reaching $150 means a 33% gain, well beyond Wall Street’s target. The bull case rests on rising estimates, a long beat run, server demand that tops supply and 18A yields tracking ahead of expectations.
Hurdles remain: Intel Foundry still loses about $2.1B a quarter, and shortages of wafers, substrates and memory could limit near-term growth.
Keep an eye on the third-quarter earnings report for updates on supply and 14A customers. Such gains won’t happen every year, but we’ve outlined the plan for how Intel could see outsized returns in 2027.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel rozšířil výzkumné partnerství s Applied Materials v oblasti technologií výroby čipů a pokročilého pouzdření pro umělou inteligenci. Spolupráce zatím neuvádí výrobní uzel, zákazníka ani časový harmonogram očekávaných tržeb.
The collaboration links transistor, interconnect and packaging research without identifying a commercial node or customer. Summary
Joint research may accelerate Intel’s factories before it generates foundry revenue.
Intel INTC, the processor manufacturer and semiconductor foundry operator, expanded its research partnership with Applied Materials, while shares traded down about 1% at $106.03 on Friday, Oct. 9. The companies are targeting chipmaking and advanced packaging technologies for AI computing. Intel gets a broader development toolkit. Investors still need evidence that better technology will translate into better business.
The collaboration covers transistor designs, chip wiring, new materials and Intel's Foveros three-dimensional packaging. According to Applied Materials' announcement, research will take place at its EPIC Center and Intel facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon. Applied expects the center to become operational this year. But the release names no production node, development budget, customer commitment or revenue timetable. That leaves a sizable gap between promising research and a commercial payoff.
AI chips need more than faster processors. Memory access, connections and packaging all matter, giving this partnership a clear technical purpose. The harder test is execution: competitive manufacturing yields and paying external foundry customers. The valuation picture raises the stakes, with shares sitting 228.27% above the displayed GF Value estimate of $32.30. That premium leaves little room for delays. Intel needs to turn laboratory progress into manufacturing results that customers will buy.
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Intel má tržní kapitalizaci 562,65 mld. USD, tedy více než společnosti Coca-Cola a PepsiCo dohromady, přesto za posledních 12 měsíců vykázal ztrátu 11,29 mld. USD.
A chipmaker that lost billions last year now commands a valuation that dwarfs two of the world's most profitable consumer giants, and the math holding that together is razor thin.
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Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) lost money over the past year, yet the market values it above Coca-Cola and PepsiCo combined. Intel closed October 8 with a market capitalization of $562.65 billion. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) were worth $552.80 billion together.
Intel’s lead is only about 1.8%. That lead disappears if Intel closes below about $105.21. Intel ended at $107.08, so one down day could erase it.
Beverage Giants Earn the Profits Intel Is Still Chasing Over the trailing twelve months, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo brought in $148.37 billion of revenue and $25.22 billion of profit. Intel had $57.03 billion in revenue and a $11.29 billion loss.
Coca-Cola’s dividend yield is about 2.42%, and PepsiCo’s is about 4.61%. Intel pays no dividend.
Coca-Cola raised guidance after Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew 16% worldwide. PepsiCo cut its core EPS growth outlook to 2.5% to 3.5% after core operating profit in North American foods fell 12%.
Lens Intel Coca-Cola PepsiCo Growth Engine Data center CPUs Zero Sugar, World Cup marketing International snacks Key Risk Foundry losses Squeezed consumers North American volume Terafab Tests Whether Intel’s Foundry Can Win Outside Volume This spring, Intel joined Elon Musk’s Terafab chipmaking venture. Under the agreement, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) will use Intel’s advanced manufacturing process, and Intel’s chief executive and Musk both reaffirmed that role this week.
A buyer that large confirms Intel’s manufacturing process. Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion last quarter and brought in only $293 million from outside customers.
A 63x Forward Multiple Assumes Smooth Execution Intel trades at about 63x forward earnings. A forward multiple divides today’s price by the earnings analysts expect over the next year, so it assumes those estimates come true on schedule.
Coca-Cola trades at 25x forward earnings and PepsiCo at 15x, which is typical for steady consumer businesses. Intel’s average analyst target of $118.05 is above the current price.
Intel hit its 52-week low of $32.89 last November and closed 2025 at $36.90. It reached $142.35 on June 30 and is up about 190% this year. On October 8, Intel fell 5.34% while Coca-Cola rose 2.27% and PepsiCo climbed 3.73%.
What Intel Must Prove to Justify Its Lead Intel’s valuation leaves little room for error. Data center revenue rose 59% to $6.26 billion, but the share price assumes Terafab becomes committed foundry volume. Picking out the next huge chip winner early is a pattern we reverse-engineered in a free playbook on the traits past tech runners shared before their big moves.
Coca-Cola’s fundamentals look steadier. Unit case volume grew 5%, and operating margin expanded to 34.9%. Guidance rose, and earnings growth and income came without reliance on an unfinalized contract. The Intel case would improve if outside foundry customers sign public volume agreements.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Akcie Intelu letos vzrostly o více než 200 %, ale rok 2027 bude zkouškou schopnosti společnosti získávat zákazníky pro svou divizi výroby čipů. Konsenzus pro příští rok očekává růst tržeb o pouhých 15 %.
Intel (INTC -5.34%) has had a strong 2026, rising over 200% this year. That has made it one of the S&P 500's top 10 performers, but with 2027 around the corner, is it still a good investment now?
Image source: The Motley Fool.
2027 will be a "show me" year for Intel Intel is on shaky ground. The stock rallied from its late 2025 lows after the U.S. government and Nvidia (NVDA -2.94%) bought stakes in the company. Both want to see Intel succeed, as it is important to have a wider array of options in the chip foundry and central processing unit (CPU) marketplaces. While Intel's CPU products are still solid and are seeing widespread adoption in data centers, the biggest questions about its future surround its chip foundry segment.
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Most companies that design computer processors don't do their own manufacturing in-house. They contract with a chip foundry that takes their orders and produces the chips to their specs.
Intel is one of the few that did both the design and manufacturing, but over the years, its production lines had fallen behind the leading foundries in performance and technology. It got close to the point of closing down that segment of the business before outside investors stepped in. This gave Intel the funds necessary to work toward catching up to the cutting-edge with new, smaller process nodes.
Now, it's able to produce its 18A series -- 1.8-nanometer chips that are among the most powerful in the world. And the strong yields it can deliver with that feature-dense process node have gotten Intel back into the foundry game.
These developments caused a monster rally for the stock this year, and as a result, it now trades at an expensive forward price-to-earnings valuation.
INTC PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. PE = price-to-earnings.
A price tag that lofty indicates that investors are expecting a lot of growth over an extended period, and that's where 2027's projections come in.
I think 2027 will be a "show me" year for Intel. It has the technology; now it has to demonstrate what that does for the business. Can it attract new clients? Can it become a secondary supplier of chip manufacturing to already successful big tech companies? If it can, Intel will be able to grow into its current valuation and be a reasonable stock. If it can't, then it may give up some of the gains it has made this year.
Right now, Wall Street isn't bullish on its near-term prospects; the consensus outlook is only for 15% revenue growth next year. If that view proves accurate, I wouldn't be surprised to see Intel's stock lose some value and end up in the $85 to $89 per share range. But if Intel can sign some big clients and start to produce chips for them, a further rally could be possible, although it won't be a large one because of the massive amount of growth already priced into the stock.
Projecting Intel to stay flat in the neighborhood of $110 per share seems like the most logical conclusion to me, which is why I don't think it's a great stock to continue owning from here.
Akcie Intelu ve čtvrtek klesly asi o 3 % poté, co cena ropy Brent překročila 104 USD za barel a výnos desetiletých amerických státních dluhopisů dosáhl 5,29 %.
Intel, AMD Stocks Tumbles as Chip Stocks Retreat. Terafab Questions Add to the Pressure Summary
Intel shares fell faster than major chip rivals as rising oil prices and Treasury yields pressured semiconductor stocks
Chip stocks slipped in morning trading Thursday as higher Treasury yields and a jump in oil prices weighed on technology shares. Intel (INTC) fell about 3%, while Nvidia (NVDA) declined around 1% and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) lost roughly 2%.
Brent crude climbed above $104 a barrel, while the 10-year Treasury yield reached 5.29%, close to a 24-year high. Rising yields can pressure growth stocks by making future earnings less valuable, while higher energy costs can revive inflation concerns.
Oil prices surged Thursday after a tanker was hit by projectiles near Qatar, adding to concerns over disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. The move came as hopes for a U.S.-Iran agreement weakened, with President Donald Trump having rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the key shipping route.
Separately, Intel has a company-specific issue in focus. Elon Musk said his companies would build and operate the planned Terafab AI chip complex in Texas, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company may lease part of the site. Intel is expected to remain involved in the venture.
The project matters to Intel because its strategy includes expanding its contract manufacturing business. Any change to Terafab's structure could affect investor expectations for that effort as semiconductor shares face broader market pressure.
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Intel (INTC +0.55%) will post its third-quarter results after the bell on Thursday, Oct. 29. If the past year is any guide, revenue could be the least surprising number in the release.
Intel's revenue has topped its own forecast in seven straight quarters. And the latest one wasn't close: Second-quarter revenue of $16.1 billion was $1.8 billion over the midpoint of management's guidance. Investors have noticed. Shares trade near $114 as of this writing, about triple where they began 2026.
But a business can sell more chips than it planned and still struggle to profit from them. I think the number that matters most this month is Intel's gross margin (the percentage of sales Intel keeps after paying to build its products). And its climb has slowed sharply.
Image source: Intel.
Revenue has been the easy partFor the third quarter, management forecast revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion. The $16.3 billion midpoint works out to about 19% growth year over year, a drop from the second quarter's 25% rate. Yet that's strong for a business whose revenue was flat in 2025.
Hitting the range could depend more on Intel's factories than on its customers. In its second-quarter filing, Intel said demand for both its PC and server chips exceeded the supply it had available, and it expects industrywide shortages of substrates, memory, and other parts to run into next year. That means revenue will probably track how many chips Intel's plants can make.
Gross margin is different. It reflects yields at those plants, the early costs of ramping Intel 18A (its latest manufacturing process), what Intel pays for memory and other inputs, and the prices it can charge.
Is the margin still climbing?Intel's non-GAAP (adjusted) gross margin was 37.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025. It jumped to 41% in the first quarter of 2026, then inched up again in the second quarter, to 41.8%. For the third quarter, management forecast around 42% (41% on a GAAP basis). Each rise has been smaller than the last -- a gain of 3.1 percentage points, then 0.8 points, then a guided 0.2 points. Plus, 42% would be only around 2 points over the 40% Intel reported for the third quarter of 2025.
Intel's margin beats have been shrinking, too. The first quarter's 41% topped Intel's 34.5% guidance by around 6.5 points, helped partly by sales of previously reserved inventory.
The second quarter's 41.8% beat the 39% guidance by around 2.8 points, helped by higher factory yields.
"We were very pleased with Q1 gross margins and we will continue to push for gross margin expansion. It is my top priority," CFO David Zinsner said in April, in his comments on Intel's first-quarter results.
In those same comments, though, Zinsner said Intel 18A was still early in its ramp and that climbing input costs, especially memory, were "growing headwinds in the second half."
The valuation needs more than 42%At the guided revenue midpoint, one percentage point of gross margin is worth around $160 million of gross profit a quarter. That's about 6% of the $2.8 billion in adjusted operating income Intel earned in the second quarter.
And the share price leaves little room for a margin that stalls. At around $114, Intel has a price-to-earnings ratio of about 55 using expected 2027 earnings. Measured against its adjusted earnings over the last four quarters, the ratio is above 100. Investors are already paying for profits that haven't arrived yet.
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To be fair, the margin might keep rising. Intel said in July it had lowered the cost of its main Panther Lake chip made on 18A by around 50% so far in 2026, with another 20% drop expected by year-end.
But spending is climbing, too. Intel lifted its 2026 capital spending outlook to over $20 billion and expects 2027 spending to be much higher. New factories and equipment carry depreciation costs that might hurt gross margin when they come online.
Another revenue beat on Oct. 29 might be welcome, but it likely won't tell investors much they don't already know. A gross margin comfortably above 42%, plus a fourth-quarter forecast that keeps it rising, would arguably show the turnaround reaching profits.
A margin that just meets the 42% forecast, though, might not cut it for a stock priced for a comeback. At a price-to-earnings ratio around 55, I think Intel needs that number climbing faster than its own forecast suggests.
Elon Musk potvrdil, že Terafab budou jeho firmy stavět a samostatně provozovat; Intel zůstává partnerem projektu. TSMC si může případně pronajmout pouze část areálu.
Intel INTC shares showed signs of an early recovery in premarket trading Wednesday, rising 0.3% before the opening bell after falling 2% Monday and 3% Friday.
The move followed Elon Musk's clarification that his business empire plans to build and operate the Terafab chipmaking project independently.
The statement eases pressure on Intel amid speculation that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) could take an operational role in the venture.
Intel also confirmed that the partnership with Musk remains intact.
Based in Texas, Terafab is Musk’s effort to enter the semiconductor manufacturing business to supply chips for his companies Tesla Inc. and SpaceXAI.
Musk had recently said he was in discussions with TSMC, prompting speculation that the Taiwanese chipmaker could become involved in running the planned facilities.
Musk, who recently turned trillionaire again, clarified Wednesday that discussions with TSMC were limited to the possibility of the company leasing part of the planned Terafab site.
No, we will build and run the fab. Let there be ZERO doubt about that. Maybe TSMC subleases part of the Terafab if they want, but nothing more than that.
“Maybe TSMC subleases part of the Terafab if they want, but nothing more than that,” Musk said in a response to a video posted on his social network, X.
US chipmaker Intel Corp. is helping Musk’s companies develop the technology that will go inside the Terafab facility.
The project is expected to supply advanced semiconductors for Musk’s business empire, including Tesla’s carmaking and robotics operations and the consolidated SpaceXAI, which includes spacefaring technology and the xAI group developing Grok.
Musk stressed Wednesday that his companies would “build and run the fab.”
His clarification followed earlier comments confirming that TSMC was in discussions about participating in Terafab.
Musk had responded on Saturday to a report from the Asian technology Substack Culpium that TSMC was exploring ways to help operate the planned factories.
Elon Musk
@elonmusk
Just discussions, but something may come of it
“In discussions, but something may come of it,” Musk posted on X on Saturday in response to the report.
Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan's reassurance on Wednesday also helped as he told Bloomberg that the chipmaker would remain involved in Terafab.
The possibility of TSMC taking a larger role had raised questions over whether Intel would remain the sole or primary manufacturing partner for a project that has become an important part of the investment case for the company’s stock.
Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer said one possibility would be “TSMC owning and running a fab that serves only Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, while SpaceX invests or commits to volume,” according to a note to clients published Monday.
Musk later indicated that any chips produced by TSMC would likely supplement rather than replace chips supplied by Intel.
The prospect of another major chipmaker becoming involved in Terafab had complicated expectations around Intel’s role in the project.
D.A. Davidson managing director Gil Luria said enthusiasm around Terafab has been a major catalyst behind the “dramatic ascent” of Intel’s stock this year.
The stock has surged about 200% so far this year.
“If it turns out Intel does not participate, or is only one fab technology provider, investors may reconsider the credit they gave Intel,” Luria told MarketWatch.
Luria also said the possibility of working with another manufacturer could be viewed “as a lack of confidence in trusting the future of his important endeavor to Intel alone.”
Musk’s latest comments and reassurance from Intel indicate that TSMC could potentially have a limited presence at the Terafab site.
Shares of Intel Corporation (INTC +0.98%) rallied 34.3% in September, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Though Intel stock is up significantly for the year, it entered September well below its all-time high set in June. After exceeding $140 per share that month, Intel's stock fell to the mid-$80 range by the end of August.
Due for a rally, Intel stock was propelled higher by several news items. These mainly centered on the growing importance of server CPUs for agentic AI applications. A potential collaboration with memory giant SK Hynix (SKHY -1.40%) also contributed.
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Intel to hike prices as Meta Muse boosts CPUs Early in September, DigiTimes reported that Intel will raise PC CPU prices by 10% this month. Intel has been transitioning its capacity toward server CPUs this year, and away from PC chips. With agentic AI taking off, demand for server CPUs has skyrocketed because it is much more CPU-intensive than initial chatbot-style generative AI. With Intel reducing its supply of PC chips, it appears Intel still feels it can raise prices due to the shortage. That's a good sign that demand for Intel chips remains strong.
The focus on CPUs only grew with the introduction of Meta Platforms' (META -2.01%) Muse personal AI agent on Sept. 8. Muse was very well-received when it was unveiled, and investors became excited about its growth prospects. Each Muse agent has its own dedicated virtual machine, security parameters, and browser, so each agent requires its own CPU.
While it appears that Muse primarily uses Advanced Micro Devices CPUs for now, Muse should still boost overall demand for server CPUs, which are in short supply. Furthermore, Muse likely won't be the only AI agent on the market, and it served as a proof point for CPU-intensive AI tasks.
Further cementing this demand story, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan was interviewed shortly after Muse's introduction last month, and told the interviewer that Intel could only support about half of what its customers were requesting for server CPUs.
In addition to the outsize demand for its bread-and-butter CPU products, Reuters reported toward the end of the month that Intel was collaborating with Korean memory giant SK Hynix, potentially at Intel's new Ohio campus. SK Hynix is the leader in HBM, a crucial technology for AI.
While the talks were deemed "exploratory," the report augmented rumors that first circulated in August that Intel had been chosen to produce "base dies" for SK Hynix's high bandwidth memory (HBM).
Intel had already hired former SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee back in June to head Intel Foundry's advanced packaging and system integration division. Thus, the September report seemed to confirm that something more concrete is happening between the two companies .
Image source: Getty Images.
Get ready for earnings Intel remains a controversial stock. While the company still has its skeptics, it has also blown away its revenue and earnings estimates each of the last couple of quarters.
Will the turnaround continue? Investors will find out when the company reports third-quarter earnings on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have positions in Intel, Meta Platforms, and SK Hynix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Intel has already left the S&P 500 in the dust, and Jim Cramer is doubling down on its CPU business just as analysts debate whether the market has gotten ahead of the facts.
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Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) trades at $112.50. Jim Cramer’s view that its CPU business is coming back now has hard numbers behind it, after a 204.88% year-to-date run.
Intel designs the x86 processors inside most PCs and many data center servers. It also runs its own chip factories (a foundry network). Cramer has argued that Wall Street is rotating toward companies that supply AI tools, and he named Intel as one that benefits from the spending cycle (Cramer comments). Intel’s own results support that view. AI-driven businesses grew greater than 70% and made up approximately 70% of revenue last quarter.
Server CPU Shortage Hands Intel Its Best Growth in 15 Years Q2 revenue rose 25.4% to $16.13 billion, beating the $14.45 billion estimate. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42 against a $0.22 consensus. Data Center and AI revenue climbed 59% to $6.26 billion. Management said “strong demand for our products continues to outpace our growing supply.”
Optimists argue that AI agents need general-purpose CPUs. Intel put the CPU-to-GPU ratio at “almost in parity”. The factories are performing too: 18A output ran approximately 25% above target. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) invested $5.0 billion and SoftBank invested $2.0 billion. The PEG ratio stands at 0.501.
Foundry Losses and a 63x Multiple Raise the Stakes Bears point to a GAAP loss of $2.16 per share, driven by a $12.53 billion CHIPS Act escrow charge. Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion while bringing in just $293 million from outside customers. The stock commands a forward earnings multiple of 63.
Spending is also rising fast. Capex will top $20 billion this year and climb significantly in 2027. Intel expects the PC market to fall low double digits percent in 2026. With a beta of 2.23, any stumble would hit the stock hard.
Why Most Analysts Are Waiting on 14A Customers The market may have already priced in the return. Q3 EPS guidance of $0.38 trails Q2. No external 18A or 14A customers have been named yet. Risk production on 14A is set for the second half of 2027. If named foundry customers sign on, the optimistic story strengthens. If Foundry losses grow, the pessimistic story strengthens.
Intel Has Left the S&P 500 Far Behind Intel currently trades at $112.50. The consensus target stands at $116.37, suggesting 3.44% of upside. Targets are estimates. Of 49 analysts:
Strong Buy: 1 Buy: 14 Hold: 32 Sell: 1 Strong Sell: 1 Over the past year, Intel climbed 207.46% as the S&P 500 rose 16.01%. Last week, Intel slipped 2.96% as the index added 1.95%. CNBC’s Josh Brown said Intel “never gave you a reason to doubt.”
Supply Growth Is the Key Test for Cramer’s CPU Call At $112.50, the optimistic thesis rests on supply growth.
Intel expects supply to rise toward the end of Q3 and into Q4, especially for servers. The main limit on growth is capacity, and customer demand remains strong. Each new wafer that goes to data center CPUs has about a 40% operating margin. Intel also expects its ASIC business to grow from a $2 billion run rate to $4 billion, which adds a second engine.
The next earnings report needs to show margins near the 42.0% guide. After that, a named 14A customer would be the biggest driver. The argument falls apart if Intel delays 14A, if Foundry losses grow again, or if memory shortages cut into server shipments.
The beta of 2.23 points to sharp drops along the way. Even so, Intel is selling every server CPU it can make, and that is strong support for Cramer’s CPU return call.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 25,4 % na 16,13 mld. USD, přičemž tržby divize datových center a umělé inteligence vzrostly o 59 %. Společnost překonala očekávání trhu.
After years of losses and stumbles, Intel has strung together seven consecutive quarters of beating its own expectations, and the gap between its bull and bear cases now spans nearly $40 per share. Which side of that divide you land…
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The 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) is $127.72 over the next 12 months. From a reference price of $120, that means 6.43% upside. The stock earns a buy rating with moderate-to-high confidence.
Metric Value Current Price $120 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $127.72 Upside/Downside 6.43% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 70% Most of the turnaround is already priced in, but the trend backs a constructive view. Lip-Bu Tan’s Intel has beaten its own financial expectations for seven consecutive quarters. Demand for server CPUs is running ahead of supply, and the 18A manufacturing node is producing more than planned.
Seven Straight Beats Fuel a 230% Rally Intel shares are up 230.87% year to date and 37.23% over the past month. They sit 18% below the 52-week high of $142.35. September’s rally reflected growing optimism about tight server CPU supply supporting Intel’s AI infrastructure role.
Second-quarter revenue rose 25.4% to $16.13 billion, beating the $14.45 billion consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 beat the $0.2175 estimate, and Data Center and AI revenue climbed 59%. Even so, the stock fell 7.89% on earnings day. For the third quarter, Intel guided to revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion.
Why Bulls See $136 and Beyond Intel’s 18A output ran about 25% above target. The Foundry operating loss narrowed by $348 million from the prior quarter. ASIC revenue is approaching a $2 billion run rate, with management aiming for $4 billion.
High-volume 14A production is planned for 2028. Recent insider activity shows net buying, and 14 analysts rate the stock Buy or Strong Buy. In the bull scenario, Intel reaches $136.38.
Foundry Losses and Rising Capex Could Test Patience Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion last quarter with external foundry revenue of only $293 million. Capex will top $20 billion this year. Of the analysts covering the stock, 32 rate it hold.
Our bear scenario is $98.28. The GAAP loss was driven by a non-cash $12.53 billion mark-to-market charge on CHIPS Act escrow, while operating cash flow reached $7 billion.
Intel Trades on Recovery While AMD and NVIDIA Trade on Earnings Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is Intel’s most direct CPU rival, with revenue growth of 50.11% last quarter and a trailing multiple of 232x.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) trades at a lower 46x multiple with a 71.1% gross margin. Intel’s 34.77% gross margin gives the most room to expand.
Company Trailing P/E Gross Margin Latest Qtr Revenue Growth Intel Negative 34.77% 25.4% AMD 232x 49.5% 50.11% NVIDIA 46x 71.1% 105.85% Comeback Momentum Earns a BUY Rating The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $127.72 comes with a buy rating at 70% confidence. A supply shortage in server CPUs tips the scale for me.
A shortage is a far easier problem to fix than weak demand. My view gets stronger if new capacity lands in the fourth quarter as planned and external foundry customers sign on. I would turn cautious if Foundry losses stop narrowing while capex keeps rising.
Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 $127.72 2027 $134.95 2028 $142.59 2029 $150.66 2030 $159.18 These figures assume Intel delivers on its current plan. The 14A node ramp and external foundry customer wins are the biggest swing factors.
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Intel (INTC -2.63%) stock has more than tripled in 2026. As I write, shares trade near $119, up about 223% so far this year.
Longtime shareholders might remember another thing about the chipmaker: It used to pay them a dividend. Intel had paid one since 1992. It cut the quarterly payout to $0.125 a share early in 2023, then suspended it as of the fourth quarter of 2024 to prioritize liquidity for its investment plans.
Now that the stock has tripled, is the dividend coming back?
Intel, though, linked the dividend's return to its cash flow, not its stock price. And I don't think its cash flow is anywhere near where it has to be yet.
Image source: Intel.
Intel set the bar at cash flowWhen it announced the suspension in August 2024, Intel also said what would bring the payout back.
"The company reiterates its long-term commitment to a competitive dividend as cash flows improve to sustainably higher levels," Intel said in its second-quarter 2024 earnings release.
This means free cash flow, or the cash left after Intel spends on its plants and equipment. Intel's own version, which it calls non-GAAP (adjusted) free cash flow, also includes government incentives and money from its factory partners.
By this measure, Intel hasn't cleared the bar. In 2025, its operations produced $9.7 billion of cash, but it made $17.7 billion of gross capital investments. Adjusted free cash flow that year was negative $1.6 billion. The number did go positive in the fourth quarter of 2025, at $2.2 billion. But the first quarter of 2026 came in at negative $2.0 billion, and the second quarter at negative $8.4 billion.
Granted, most of this second-quarter shortfall was from buying back the 49% stake in Intel's Ireland factory venture that it had sold to Apollo. That $14.2 billion deal closed in April. And the underlying business is making more cash. Second-quarter operating cash flow more than tripled year over year to $7.0 billion, and it was up sharply from the first quarter's $1.1 billion.
More spending aheadBut the second quarter also had unusually low spending. Intel's gross capital spending was just $2.7 billion, around half the first quarter's $5.0 billion. This rate likely won't hold.
In July, Intel lifted its 2026 capital spending outlook to more than $20 billion. With around $7.6 billion spent through June, the company would have to spend more than $12 billion in the final six months to reach it.
"[W]e are forecasting 2027 capital expenditures to be significantly above the 2026 levels with the vast majority spent across our US network," CFO Dave Zinsner said in comments released with the second-quarter results.
Intel also raised its investment in Intel 14A, its next manufacturing process, and has committed to ramping it in high volume in 2028.
Meanwhile, the balance sheet weakened in the first half. Total debt grew to $50.5 billion as of late June, from $46.6 billion when 2025 ended. Cash and short-term investments shrank to $29.7 billion from $37.4 billion.
Then, in August, Intel sold around $23 billion in new stock at $95 a share. It said the money might go to capital spending and working capital, and that the offering helps it keep "a strong balance sheet and its commitment to an investment-grade rating."
A company that just asked investors for $23 billion looks unlikely to start handing cash back to them soon. After all, paying a dividend now might mean raising money from new shareholders to pay current ones. It's worth noting that Intel hasn't bought back its own shares since the first quarter of 2021, either.
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Would a dividend even matter?Even if Intel restored its old $0.125 quarterly payout, it'd yield only around 0.4% at today's price -- much too low for anyone looking for a dividend stock. At the share price of around $21 just after the suspension was announced, that same $0.50 a year would've yielded about 2.3%.
And restoring it wouldn't be cheap. With around 5.3 billion shares outstanding after the August offering, $0.50 a share would cost Intel around $2.6 billion every year, money now going into its plants.
Will Intel bring back its dividend anytime soon? I don't expect it to. Intel made "sustainably higher" cash flow the test, and adjusted free cash flow has been negative for both quarters of 2026, with spending set to climb through 2027.
I'd guess that a restored dividend, if it comes, likely won't arrive until after the 14A ramp in 2028, when capital spending flattens out and the new plants start earning a return. Intel hasn't given a timeline of its own.
Intel ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšil tržby o 25 % na více než 16 miliard USD a hrubá marže vzrostla na 40,4 %. Klíčová je divize foundry, jejíž tržby byly téměř 6 miliard USD a vývoj 14A se blíží dokončení.
Intel's (INTC -0.56%) comeback has been quite a sight to behold. As of this writing, shares of the chipmaker have exploded by more than 220% in 2026 in part due to surging demand for the company's CPUs, but also due to increased optimism about the outlook for its foundry business. And even with that incredible run-up behind it, patient investors may still want to consider buying Intel's stock.
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Intel's turnaround is gaining momentum Intel's second quarter was one of its best in several years. Revenue jumped by 25% year over year to more than $16 billion. Intel's gross margin also improved tremendously, rising to 40.4% from 27.5%.
The bigger story here is Intel's foundry division and the turnaround happening within it. Intel Foundry's revenue was nearly $6 billion in the quarter, and its output paced 25% above the target. While the segment posted a $2.1 billion loss, the gap is narrowing. Foundry revenue from external customers was just $293 million, which means that if its turnaround is to gain steam, Intel really needs to win more business from outside clients.
The company's GAAP loss was $2.16 per share, but it's important to note that this was largely due to an escrow arrangement related to funds it was awarded through the CHIPS Act. On the books, that showed up in the form of a non-cash charge of $12.53 billion. So the quarter's loss was not reflective of operational issues.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
14A is make or break Much of Intel Foundry's future success hangs on the successful launch of Intel 14A. This is a next-generation semiconductor fabrication process node that will produce chips with even greater transistor density than 2-nanometer chips. The development of its 14A foundry is nearing completion, with risk production planned for 2027 and a high-volume mass-production target of 2028. Management's hope is that its 14A manufacturing services will position it to pose a serious challenge to Taiwan Semiconductor's dominance in cutting-edge chip manufacturing.
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In a bullish sign, Intel CFO David Zinsner implied on the Q2 earnings call that the development is going very well and that conversations with potential customers have shifted from evaluating 14A to inquiring about how much capacity they can secure.
It's been reported that a slew of megacaps, including most of the "Magnificent Seven," are among Intel's prospective foundry clients. However, Intel will need to secure one of these large-scale customers sooner rather than later.
In June, Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya gave Intel stock an unusual double-upgrade from underperform to buy, citing an optimistic outlook for its foundry business and strong demand. Intel did have to engage in a $23 billion secondary stock sale in August to help fund its foundry build-out.
Intel is firing on all cylinders Intel is due to report its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 22. The company's guidance suggests revenue could be as high as $16.8 billion. One concern is that Intel's valuation is sky-high right now. The company for years maintained a forward P/E ratio in the low teens. Now that metric stands at more than 60.
Furthermore, the consensus price target among analysts is just above $116 per share, and the stock is trading above that as of this writing. There isn't much room for error with Intel's stock.
However, given the company's main revenue sources and an ever-improving foundry operation, I'm quite bullish on Intel's future -- as long as its 14A process node proves as promising as advertised. For interested investors, it may be prudent to build a position in Intel slowly rather than all at once, given the milestones the company still needs to hit over the next couple of years.
Intel získal od vlády USA, Nvidie a SoftBank novou podporu, která posílila jeho bilanci. Klíčové ale zůstává, zda přitáhne zákazníka pro 14A výrobu čipů.
Intel (INTC -0.56%) has spent the past year or so collecting an unusual group of financial backers. The U.S. government took a 10% equity stake. Nvidia (NVDA +1.34%) put in $5 billion. SoftBank (SFTBY -0.87%) added $2 billion on top of that.
Most turnaround stories involve a company convincing skeptical investors to buy in. Intel convinced the government, one of its biggest AI rivals, and a Japanese conglomerate to underwrite its future before ordinary shareholders decided whether the comeback was real.
That's the piece of the Intel story that gets buried under quarterly revenue numbers, and it matters more than most headlines suggest for anyone trying to picture Intel five years from now.
Image source: Getty Images.
Intel's shareholder list looks nothing like a typical chipmaker's When the U.S. government converted roughly $8.9 billion in CHIPS Act and Defense Department grants into 433 million Intel shares, it became the company's largest single shareholder, according to CNBC. The government said it won't seek a board seat and will generally vote alongside Intel's existing board. Still, it's an unusual arrangement: Washington now has a direct financial stake in whether Intel's factories succeed, on top of its existing interest in not depending on Taiwan for advanced chips.
Nvidia's $5 billion came with something more concrete: a plan for the two companies to jointly design custom processors, pairing Intel's CPU know-how with Nvidia's graphics and AI chip technology. SoftBank's $2 billion came with no such product commitment, more a bet that Intel's revival is worth backing early.
None of this is charity. Each of these big three investors has its own reason to want Intel standing five years from now, whether that's national security, a manufacturing hedge, or a return on capital. But it does mean Intel's near-term survival looks less in doubt than it did two years ago. Just look at the stock, which has traded up over 200% in the last year. There are some hefty investors who believe the company is only going up from here.
The comeback still hinges on customers Intel doesn't have yet Strip away the investor headlines, and Intel's fate comes down to its contract manufacturing business, called Intel Foundry, which makes chips for other companies the way Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing does. Last year, Intel warned that it may exit the chip manufacturing business if it cannot attract external customers to its factories, as CEO Lip-Bu Tan worked to boost its foundry business amid layoffs, per Reuters. That being said, Foundry revenue grew 31% last quarter, and Tan has said the company's newest manufacturing process, called 18A, is now producing chips in higher volumes with improving yields. Essentially, this means there are more usable chips per batch, which is the metric that decides whether a factory actually makes money.
The bigger test is the process after that, called 14A. Speaking at a Deutsche Bank investor conference in late August, Intel Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner said customer conversations had shifted from evaluating the technology to discussing how much production capacity those customers could get, and that he'd reached "conviction" about landing external 14A customers. That's a notably more confident tone than earlier in the year, but it's still just talk: Intel hasn't named a committed outside customer for 14A, and the company has said it won't build capacity for one until it signs on.
Intel's own timeline calls for customers to start making firm 14A supplier decisions in the back half of 2026, which is right now, and, according to MarketBeat, the roughly $23 billion Intel raised this summer, aimed partly at 14A infrastructure and equipment orders, suggests management is betting that happens. But even a named customer might not move the stock much at this point, since shares already trade near 60 times next year's expected earnings, a multiple that arguably prices in foundry wins Intel hasn't announced yet.
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Five-year outlook: Intel is a cautionary bet I'd treat Intel as a binary, cautionary bet and as two separate questions resolving on different timelines. The balance sheet risk looks smaller now, given the new capital. Whether Intel will become a real alternative to TSMC for cutting-edge chips remains unresolved, and a firm 14A customer announcement is the clearest signal to watch for over the next year. Anyone considering Intel today should size the position for that uncertainty rather than assume the hardest part is already behind it.
Marvell Technology ve fiskálním roce 2026 zvýšila tržby o 42,1 % na téměř 8,2 miliardy USD a 74 % z nich pocházelo z datových center. Firma zároveň čeká zrychlení růstu tržeb ve zbytku fiskálního roku 2027.
Intel (INTC -0.56%) and Marvell Technology (MRVL +1.57%) both sell chips for data centers, and both companies say demand tied to artificial intelligence (AI) is lifting that business. Beyond that, they have little in common.
Intel designs and manufactures processors for PCs and servers, and it is trying to turn its factories into a foundry business that makes chips for other companies. Marvell is a smaller company that outsources manufacturing and sells chips for data center and networking equipment. For anyone investing in AI stocks, the choice comes down to a capital-heavy turnaround or a faster-growing specialist that leans on a short list of customers.
The case for IntelIntel designs and manufactures x86 processors for PCs and data centers. It is also trying to expand Intel Foundry into a manufacturer for outside chip designers, though the company's 2025 annual report says nearly all of that business still supports Intel's own products. In August 2025, the U.S. government agreed to invest $8.9 billion in Intel common stock, funded by CHIPS Act grants that had been awarded but not yet paid and by its Secure Enclave program award.
In the fiscal year ended Dec. 27, 2025, revenue was nearly $52.9 billion, down roughly 0.5% from the prior year. Intel's net loss attributable to shareholders was about $267 million, compared with a loss of about $18.8 billion in fiscal 2024.
Operating expenses fell to roughly $20.6 billion from $29.0 billion as restructuring charges shrank and research and development spending fell, yet Intel still posted an operating loss of about $2.2 billion for the year. Below the operating line, the 2025 result included a gain of about $5.6 billion from the sale of a 51% stake in Altera.
As of its Dec. 27, 2025, balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 0.4x, measured as total debt against total stockholders' equity. The current ratio, which compares short-term assets to short-term liabilities, was close to 2.0x.
Free cash flow was about negative $4.9 billion, measured as operating cash flow of $9.7 billion minus $14.6 billion of additions to property, plant, and equipment. Intel's own adjusted free cash flow measure, which counts government incentives and partner contributions against capital spending, was negative $1.6 billion.
Stock-based compensation accounted for roughly 25.1% of operating cash flow, and because it is a non-cash expense added back to the cash flow statement, it lifts reported cash generation.
The case for Marvell TechnologyMarvell Technology designs chips for data infrastructure and networking, a segment of the semiconductor market closely tied to data center spending. Its products include custom chips and interconnects for cloud and AI systems, and it outsources manufacturing. On March 31, 2026, Marvell and Nvidia (NVDA +1.34%) announced a strategic partnership, and Nvidia invested $2 billion in Marvell convertible preferred stock. Marvell also sold its automotive Ethernet business to Infineon Technologies (IFNNF +2.00%) for $2.5 billion in cash in August 2025.
In fiscal 2026, which ended Jan. 31, 2026, revenue reached nearly $8.2 billion, up about 42.1% year over year. Data center products accounted for 74% of that total. Net income was close to $2.7 billion, a net margin of roughly 32.6%, but that figure includes a pre-tax gain of about $1.8 billion on the sale to Infineon.
Operating income, which excludes the gain, was about $1.3 billion, or roughly 16% of revenue. Marvell reported net losses in each of the prior two fiscal years.
On its Jan. 31, 2026, balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 0.3x on a total debt basis. The current ratio was close to 2.0x, meaning current assets were about twice current liabilities.
Free cash flow was about $1.4 billion, measured the same way as Intel's, which is operating cash flow minus purchases of property and equipment. Stock-based compensation equaled roughly 33.8% of operating cash flow, a larger share than at Intel.
Risk profile comparisonIntel cites intense competition, rapid technological change, and an evolving market for AI products as risks. It also faces litigation over the government investment.
A stockholder filed a derivative lawsuit in March 2026, asking a court to invalidate the agreement and seeking damages on Intel's behalf, according to Intel's quarterly report for the period ended June 27, 2026, and the defendants moved to dismiss in May 2026.
Intel makes its products predominantly in its own factories but also uses outside foundries, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM +2.96%), for some products or parts of them. China accounted for about 24% of 2025 revenue, which leaves sales exposed to trade tensions and export controls.
Marvell depends on a short list of buyers. Its 10 largest customers, including distributors, accounted for 82% of fiscal 2026 net revenue.
In August 2026, it issued Google, a unit of Alphabet (GOOGL +1.55%) (GOOG +1.62%), a warrant to purchase up to about 59 million Marvell shares at $206.58 each, with vesting tied mostly to revenue milestones for custom chips, which could dilute existing shareholders.
Marvell completed the acquisitions of Celestial AI and XConn Technologies in February 2026 and lists integration as one of its risks, along with tariffs and trade restrictions involving China.
Valuation comparisonBoth stocks trade at steep forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios based on earnings estimates, and Marvell is the more expensive of the two on price-to-sales (P/S), a measure that uses sales over the past 12 months.
MetricIntelMarvell TechnologyForward P/E63.3x60.9xP/S ratio10.8x23.7xValuation metrics include sourcing from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Marvell Technology looks like the better buy to me, though both stocks more than tripled in 2026 through September, so either one is best held as a small part of a diversified portfolio for five years or more.
Intel's turnaround is showing up in its results. In the quarter that ended in June, revenue rose 25% from a year earlier, and the company swung to an operating profit. Its large net loss that quarter resulted from a non-cash charge related to shares held in escrow for the government.
The foundry segment is still losing money, however, and funding it has meant issuing a lot of new stock. Intel sold about $23 billion of new shares in August 2026, roughly a year after the U.S. government took its stake.
Marvell avoids that burden by leaving manufacturing to others. Its latest quarter, which ended Aug. 1, set a revenue record, with data center products accounting for nearly 80% of sales.
Management said it expects revenue growth to accelerate through the rest of fiscal 2027, which ends in January 2027. Concentration is the trade-off, and the warrant issued to Alphabet's Google shows that large customers can command a share of the upside.
With both stocks trading at rich earnings multiples, I'd rather own the faster grower that doesn't have to build its own factories. Intel deserves credit for its progress, and if outside customers fill its foundry, patient shareholders could still be rewarded.
In late September 2016, Intel (INTC -0.56%) was worth about $177 billion. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +2.95%) was worth around $6.2 billion. Put another way, the chip giant's market value was about 28 times as big as its smaller rival's.
Ten years later, the order has flipped. AMD's market value is now around $1 trillion, while Intel's is about $622 billion, putting AMD about 60% ahead. AMD even announced a deal on Sept. 28 to buy artificial intelligence (AI) firm World Labs for about $8.2 billion in stock -- more than AMD's total market value a decade ago.
And that happened in a year when Intel shares have more than tripled as I write this. I think how AMD got here says plenty about what Intel's turnaround still needs to prove.
Image source: AMD.
AMD took the data centerIn 2016, the two companies weren't in the same league. Intel reported revenue of $59.4 billion and operating income of $12.9 billion that year. AMD's revenue was $4.27 billion, and it had an operating loss of $372 million.
What's more, Intel's data center group alone pulled in $17.2 billion, around four times AMD's total sales.
AMD's comeback in servers took years. Mercury Research estimated AMD's share of x86 server processor units at just 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2018. A year ago, AMD had around 27% of that market. The firm's latest numbers show it at 33.2% in the first quarter of 2026 and 34.5% in the second. So the gains keep coming, seven years after that low. And AMD's share of desktop processors rose from 15.8% to 34.9% in the same stretch.
Showing how far the balance has shifted, AMD's data center segment more than doubled its revenue year over year in the second quarter of 2026, to $6.7 billion. That beat the $6.3 billion for Intel's data center and AI segment, even though Intel's segment grew a strong 59%. Granted, AMD's number includes the graphics processing units it sells for AI, too.
And AMD is now earning more on less. Its second-quarter revenue climbed 50% year over year to $11.5 billion, and its operating income came in at $2.0 billion. Intel's operating income was $1.8 billion on $16.1 billion in revenue. Both swung from operating losses a year before.
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The manufacturing gapBetter chip designs arguably explain some of AMD's climb. But who made the chips might have mattered just as much.
AMD doesn't run its own factories. It released its second generation of EPYC server processors in August 2019, and it built them on what it called "leading-edge 7nm process technology." And in May, AMD said its latest server chips, code-named Venice, were ramping production on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's 2nm process.
Intel, though, makes chips at its own factories, so falling behind on manufacturing hurt its products directly. In July 2021, then-CEO Pat Gelsinger said Intel was speeding up its roadmap to get it on "a clear path to process performance leadership by 2025." Companies don't normally set that goal if they already hold the lead.
Can Intel's foundry win it back?That history is why the foundry sits at the heart of Intel's turnaround. Its operating loss shrank to $2.1 billion in the second quarter of 2026, from $2.4 billion in the first quarter and $3.2 billion a year before. Revenue grew 31% year over year to $5.8 billion.
But nearly all of that revenue is from Intel itself. Outside customers brought in $293 million of it in the second quarter, around 5% of the total.
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Intel has committed to finishing its next process, 14A. Its second-quarter 10-Q also says the size and speed of its manufacturing build-out will "ultimately be dictated by the amount of committed demand for Intel 14A" -- including from outside customers.
Winning that demand probably takes convincing chip designers like AMD that Intel can make their most advanced products as well as Taiwan Semiconductor can. It's the ground Intel lost, and I'd say the turnaround isn't done until Intel wins some of it back.
True, Intel's business is improving. Its operating income swung to a profit in the second quarter, and the foundry's losses are shrinking. But at around 57 times its expected 2027 earnings, Intel stock is pricier than AMD, the company that overtook it, at about 40 times its expected 2027 earnings.
I think Intel's share price already assumes a lot of that ground has been won back. For now, outside customers still make up around 5% of the foundry's revenue.
Intel posunul program High-NA z kvalifikace do výroby na vybraných vrstvách některých procesorů Panther Lake. To mu dává konkrétní argument pro budoucí foundry zákazníky.
Intel, the processor manufacturer and contract-foundry contender
INTC -0.56% 70
, advanced its High-NA chipmaking program, while shares traded at $121.76, up nearly 1.5%, around 12:53 p.m. ET on October 2. Its September update with ASML showed the technology moving beyond qualification into production on selected layers of some Panther Lake processors. That gives Intel something concrete to show prospective foundry customers. Turning that progress into orders is the next hurdle.
ASML's September 8 announcement reported more than one million wafers processed across testing, research and production, with throughput, availability and overlay meeting Intel's expectations. That total is not one million commercial wafers. Intel's stitching technology also lets customers work with current six-inch masks while the industry develops larger formats. Together, those advances can ease adoption, but the announcement provides no figures for manufacturing costs or external customer volumes.
The valuation picture leaves little room for disappointment: shares sit 277.89% above the $32.22 GF Value estimate. Technical progress can strengthen Intel's sales pitch, but it does not establish foundry profitability. Investors still need evidence of competitive yields, disciplined spending and paying customers at scale. Intel has cleared a manufacturing hurdle. The stock price demands a business payoff.
Intel za poslední rok vzrostl o 222,3 % díky AI produktům a lepšímu výrobnímu výkonu. Firma ale dál čelí tlaku na marže kvůli vyšším nákladům a slabší poptávce v Číně.
Key Takeaways INTC surged 222.3% in the past year, supported by AI products and improved manufacturing execution.Intel is ramping 18A-based Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake products while increasing wafer output.INTC faces margin pressure from higher costs, pricing competition, export curbs and soft China demand. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) has gained a stellar 222.3% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 28%, outperforming peers like NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) , but lagging Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) . While NVIDIA stock is up 20.9%, Advanced Micro has gained 260.4% over this period.
One-Year INTC Stock Price Performance
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What is Fueling INTC’s Growth Engine?Intel is emphasizing the diligent execution of operational goals to establish itself as a leading foundry. The company has unveiled Intel Core Ultra featuring the neural processing unit, which enables power-efficient AI acceleration with 2.5x better power efficiency than the previous generation. With superior graphics processing unit (GPU) and CPU capabilities, it is capable of speeding up AI solutions. The company also introduced the new vPro platform with the Intel Core Ultra processor that delivers enhanced power efficiency. With dedicated AI acceleration capability spread across the central processing unit, GPU and the new neural processing unit, it will unlock an endless new wave of AI experiences across all apps.
The proliferation of generative AI applications is driving significant investments in data center infrastructure. Although GPUs remain at the center of AI computing, CPUs continue to play an important role in supporting AI workloads. This is creating incremental opportunities for Intel’s Xeon portfolio. The momentum is encouraging as AI-related infrastructure spending is likely to remain healthy, providing Intel with an opportunity to capitalize on rising compute requirements.
Intel's innovative AI solutions are set to benefit the broader semiconductor ecosystem by driving down costs, improving performance and fostering an open, scalable AI environment. The company is ramping Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake products based on its advanced 18A process technology. Increasing adoption of these products, coupled with an eventual enterprise PC refresh cycle, should support the client business over the long run. The company is also expanding its presence in edge computing and physical AI applications, including robotics. These emerging markets could broaden Intel’s addressable opportunity beyond traditional PCs.
Improved Manufacturing Execution Lends SupportImproving manufacturing execution is another positive for Intel. Demand for its products remains strong, with supply constraints limiting the company’s ability to fully satisfy customer requirements. The company is increasing wafer output across Intel 7, Intel 3 and Intel 18A to address the demand. Improving yields and cycle times are helping boost production while lowering manufacturing costs.
The progress of Intel 18A is particularly encouraging. Output from the process exceeded the company’s internal target during the second quarter of 2026 and increased sharply on a sequential basis. Intel’s ability to consistently execute on advanced process nodes remains crucial to its turnaround. Better manufacturing execution should strengthen the competitiveness of its product portfolio while supporting gross-margin expansion over time.
Estimate RevisionEarnings estimates for Intel for 2026 have moved up 123.9% in the past year to $1.50, and the same for 2027 has increased 50.8% to $1.96. The positive estimate revision depicts bullish sentiment for the stock.
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Margin Woes Hurt INTCDespite the uptrend, Intel has been facing challenges due to the disruptive rise of over-the-top service providers in this dynamic industry. This has affected its margins. Price-sensitive competition for customer retention in the core business is expected to intensify in the coming days. An accelerated ramp-up of AI PCs has significantly hurt Intel’s short-term margins, as it shifted production to its high-volume facility in Ireland, where wafer costs are typically higher. Higher charges from non-core businesses, unused capacity and an unfavorable product mix adversely impacted margins. Competitive pricing pressure from rivals has further dented its profitability.
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Bitter U.S.-China Trade Relations Dent Top-Line GrowthChina accounted for more than 24% of Intel's total revenues in 2025, making it the company's second-largest market after the United States. However, China’s purported move to replace U.S.-made chips with domestic alternatives significantly affected INTC’s revenue prospects. The directive to phase out foreign chips from key telecom networks by 2027 underscores Beijing's accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on Western technology amid escalating U.S.-China trade and tariff tensions.
As Washington tightens restrictions on high-tech exports to China, Beijing has intensified its push for self-sufficiency in critical industries. This shift poses a dual challenge for Intel, as it faces potential market restrictions and increased competition from domestic chipmakers. In addition, weaker spending across consumer and enterprise markets, especially in China, resulted in elevated customer inventory levels.
End NoteIntel's innovative AI solutions hold immense promise for the broader semiconductor ecosystem. By addressing the challenges of scalability, performance and interoperability, it is paving the way for widespread AI adoption across enterprises worldwide. Management is focusing on simplifying parts of its portfolio to unlock efficiencies and create value. Significant capital infusion to revive its lost glory is likely to spur growth. All these efforts appear to resonate well, as exhibited by an uptrend in the stock price performance and rising earnings estimates.
However, margin woes amid strict export restrictions, unfavorable product mix and elevated customer inventory levels weigh on its bottom line. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Intel appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and investors could be better off if they exercise caution and stay invested for long-term gains. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Intel letos přidal 212,55 %, ale jeho foundry divize v posledním čtvrtletí vykázala ztrátu 2,1 miliardy USD. Z 48 analytiků ji 32 hodnotí jako Hold, 13 jako Buy a 1 jako Strong Buy.
Wall Street has overwhelmingly parked Intel in hold territory, but the stock just posted a 212% gain this year while simultaneously losing billions in its foundry division. Something in those conflicting signals deserves a closer look before you decide what…
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Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) trades at $115.33. That is down 6.24% from a $123 open as AI fears mount across chip stocks. The price target from 24/7 Wall St. for Intel is $129.14 over the next 12 months, which means about 12% upside. The model gives the stock a hold rating with fairly high confidence.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $115.33 Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. $129.14 Upside/Downside 12.0% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 70% Most of Wall Street agrees with that rating. Of 48 analysts, 32 rate Intel a Hold, 13 rate it a Buy and 1 rates it a Strong Buy. The consensus target of $116.37 sits almost exactly where the stock trades now.
Our model finds somewhat more room because sector momentum and upward estimate revisions carry more weight than the stock’s volatility does.
A 212% Rally Runs Into Monday’s AI Jitters Intel has gained 6.2% over the past week, 30.7% over the past month and 212.55% year to date. It still sits about 19% below its 52-week high of $142.35 and far above its low of $32.89.
In the second quarter, revenue of $16.13 billion rose 25.4% and exceeded the $14.45 billion estimate. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 beat expectations of $0.2175. September also brought a reported SK Hynix discussion about making memory chips in Intel’s U.S. fabs.
Why Bulls See $137 and Beyond Data Center and AI revenue rose 59%. Output on the Intel 18A process node ran about 25% above target. The ASIC business is at roughly a $2 billion run rate, and management expects it to reach $4 billion. Xeon 6 won the host CPU slot in NVIDIA’s DGX Rubin systems.
Consensus 2027 EPS stands at $2.0621, and the high estimate is $3.44. The bull case of $137.37 means about 19% upside. Firm-level analyst targets were unavailable.
What Could Push Intel Back Under $100 Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion last quarter, and external customers added only $293 million in revenue. Intel says it could pause 14A without enough outside demand. Management expects PC use to fall by a low double digits percent in 2026.
At 63x forward earnings, the valuation leaves little room for mistakes. Our bear case is $99.28, about 14% downside. One counterpoint: the GAAP loss of -$2.16 per share came from a $12.53 billion non-cash escrow charge, and operating cash flow rose 241.8%.
How Intel Compares to AMD and NVIDIA AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) competes directly with Intel in x86 server and PC chips. It trades at 40x forward earnings on 50.1% revenue growth, so it is cheaper and growing faster.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is both an Intel investor and the benchmark for AI computing. It trades at 25x with 105.9% growth.
Company Forward P/E Quarterly Revenue Growth (YoY) Intel 63 25.4% AMD 40 50.1% NVIDIA 25 105.9% Intel already carries a turnaround premium over both peers. That makes our target reasonable, but it leaves little margin if earnings slip.
The other way to play the AI expansion is to skip the chipmakers entirely and look at the power, cooling, and networking suppliers behind the data centers, which we covered in a free report on seven AI infrastructure names.
Intel Price Prediction 2026-2030 The 24/7 Wall St. price target of $129.14 supports a hold with 70% confidence. Foundry economics tip the scale.
I’d get more constructive if Intel announces outside 14A customers and foundry losses keep shrinking. I’d stay patient if server supply limits and PC weakness drag the next earnings report below the $0.38 EPS guidance.
Year Price Target from 24/7 Wall St. 2026 $119.91 2027 $126.87 2028 $140.89 2029 $144.95 2030 $149.80 The projections rest on Intel continuing to execute its current strategy. The 14A ramp planned for 2028 could move them sharply in either direction.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel ztratila téměř 10 % za dvě obchodní seance, když vyšší výnosy dluhopisů a drahá ropa vyvolaly výběr zisků. Firma přitom neoznámila žádné varování k výsledkům a tržby vzrostly o 25 % na 16,1 miliardy USD.
Buy NASDAQ: INTC. The selloff is macro-driven (10Y yield >5.2%, oil >$105) with no earnings warning; operating momentum is still there (revenue +25% YoY, EPS beat, server CPU demand ahead of supply, pricing power improving). The stock is now trading near consensus targets (~$116), so incremental upside needs less “hope” and more execution proof—exactly what the next server supply catch-up can deliver.
Key Risk: Intel misses the next quarter’s revenue/margin targets because foundry and product growth don’t scale fast enough to justify the higher valuation.
Semis yield hedge via SOXX sell
Sell iShares Semiconductor ETF NASDAQ: SOXX. The article flags that higher yields hit “re-rated” tech hardest; INTC’s comeback already priced in a lot of future success. If rates stay elevated, the whole group’s multiple compression can overwhelm company-specific good news, making INTC’s relative support weaker than bulls expect.
Key Risk: Rates fall quickly or the AI chip cycle broadens beyond servers, lifting semiconductor multiples despite yield pressure.
Intel stock NASDAQ:INTC is testing the conviction behind Wall Street’s biggest semiconductor comeback trades after erasing nearly 10% across two trading sessions.
The stock closed Monday around $116.03 after falling 5.67%, following a 3.5% decline on Friday.
The retreat came as higher Treasury yields, expensive oil and renewed pressure on technology shares triggered profit-taking after Intel’s 2026 run.
Yet the operating factors has not collapsed. Server processors remain in heavy demand, pricing power has improved and some analysts still see upside from Intel’s foundry ambitions.
There was no fresh earnings warning behind Monday’s selloff.
Intel’s latest quarter showed revenue of $16.1 billion, up 25% from a year earlier, while adjusted earnings of $0.42 a share beat expectations.
Chief executive Lip-Bu Tan has also said AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute, with server CPU demand running ahead of supply.
The macro backdrop instead became less forgiving. The US 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 5.2% as oil remained above $105 a barrel, putting pressure on richly valued technology stocks.
Higher yields matter particularly for shares that have undergone dramatic re-ratings because investors discount future earnings more heavily.
That distinction is important. Intel is not falling because its comeback has failed, but investors have dramatically raised the price they were willing to pay for that comeback.
The stock had risen more than 200% this year before the latest pullback, making valuation difficult to ignore.
TD Cowen captured that concern days before the selloff.
The brokerage reiterated a Hold rating and $115 price target on September 24. Its analysts said “things are moving in the right direction” but argued investors need visibility towards more than $100 billion of Products revenue and over $20 billion of Foundry revenue. Intel generated roughly $57 billion of trailing revenue at the time.
That target now sits almost exactly where the shares trade.
Market data shows the average Wall Street target around $116, highlighting how far the stock’s rally had already moved towards consensus expectations.
The implication is that sentiment alone may no longer be enough. Intel may now need materially better revenue, margins and foundry execution to restart the rally.
That does not make the turnaround thesis wrong, but it raises the hurdle for every new catalyst.
Melius Research analyst Ben Reitzes remains considerably more optimistic.
Reitzes maintained a Buy rating and $165 target this month and noted that Intel could ultimately exceed $200 within two years.
His thesis effectively separates Intel into two businesses, with the Products franchise and foundry operation potentially commanding substantial standalone value.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Srini Pajjuri offers a useful complication.
He recently described PC and smartphone demand as “weak but stable”, with desktop demand particularly soft, while estimating Intel’s x86 server CPU volumes could rise around 15% to 20% as supply catches up with AI-related demand.
That makes Intel increasingly a two-speed company. Traditional PC demand remains uninspiring, while AI infrastructure is supporting unusually strong server demand and pricing.
The next phase of the rally will therefore be harder than the first, as improving sentiment helped investors revalue Intel dramatically.
Intel za posledních 12 měsíců více než ztrojnásobil svou hodnotu a obchoduje nad průměrnou cílovou cenou analytiků kolem 166 USD. Analytik přesto vidí tahouny obratu v provozním zisku segmentů a pokročilém balení čipů.
SummaryIntel Corporation is rated Buy, with segmental operating profit and advanced packaging driving the turnaround, despite headline gross margin and GAAP EPS masking progress.Data Center and AI segment operating income nearly quadrupled in Q2, and the Rule of 45 framework highlights strong momentum in core business units.Advanced packaging (EMIB-T) could deliver multi-billion-dollar revenues by 2028, with high-margin potential and early customer traction from Google and possibly Amazon.Risks include CPU pricing pressure from 2027 onward and rising capital spending, warranting staged entry and close monitoring of pricing and packaging customer wins.JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Intel Corporation (INTC) has more than tripled over the past 12 months and now trades above the average analyst price target of about $166, and yet Wall Street is still sitting on its hands, with only
52 Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of INTC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
SK hynix jedná s Intelem o možné výrobě paměťových čipů v plánovaném komplexu v Ohiu, což by posílilo její americkou výrobu a snížilo závislost na Asii. Firma zároveň oznámila rekordní výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí 2026, když tržby meziročně vzrostly o 257 % a provozní zisk o 557 %.
Key Takeaways SKHY is exploring a potential Intel partnership for memory-chip production at Intel's planned Ohio complex.US production could reduce Asia reliance, improve supply-chain resilience and bring SKHY closer to customers.Record Q2 2026 results and rising HBM demand support SK hynix's broader AI-memory expansion strategy. SK hynix Inc. (SKHY - Free Report) is likely to gain a growth lever if its discussions with Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) translate into a manufacturing partnership in the United States. Although no agreement has yet been finalized, the potential collaboration could strengthen SK hynix’s U.S. production footprint, improve supply-chain resilience and put the memory giant closer to major AI and cloud customers.
Media reports indicate that SK hynix and Intel are discussing options for producing memory chips at Intel’s planned Ohio manufacturing complex. One possibility involves SK hynix leasing part of the facility, while another could involve a joint venture involving major cloud companies. SK hynix has emphasized that discussions remain exploratory and that no specific arrangement has been decided.
U.S. Manufacturing Could Strengthen SK Hynix's AI PushA partnership with Intel could accelerate SK hynix’s localization strategy at a time when AI infrastructure spending is driving exponential demand for memory. Establishing front-end memory production in Ohio would help complement SK hynix’s growing U.S. manufacturing ecosystem rather than start it from scratch.
The company recently broke ground on its more than $4 billion Indiana facility, which is expected to begin producing next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products in the second half of 2029. Wafers manufactured in South Korea are slated to undergo advanced packaging and testing at the Indiana site.
Access to Intel’s Ohio infrastructure could potentially broaden that strategy by adding U.S.-based memory-chip manufacturing capabilities. Such an arrangement could reduce SK hynix’s reliance on production concentrated in Asia, minimize geographic risk and create a more integrated domestic supply chain for U.S. customers.
The possibility of cloud companies participating in a broader venture could also prove beneficial for SKHY. Hyperscalers are investing heavily in AI infrastructure and require increasingly large quantities of advanced DRAM and HBM. Bringing these customers closer to the manufacturing ecosystem could provide SK hynix with better visibility into long-term demand while supporting tighter product collaboration.
Strong Memory Demand Supports ExpansionThe potential Intel collaboration comes against a favorable operating backdrop. SK hynix delivered record second-quarter 2026 results as AI infrastructure investments fueled demand for high-value memory products. Revenues surged 257% year over year, while operating profit jumped 557%. The company has also established long-term agreements with around 10 key customers as it seeks to secure greater visibility into structural AI-memory demand.
SK hynix is simultaneously ramping HBM4, which offers improved performance and power efficiency for next-generation AI systems. Rising memory bandwidth requirements as AI models grow larger and more sophisticated should keep HBM and advanced DRAM at the center of data-center investment.
Against this backdrop, additional U.S. manufacturing capacity could let SK hynix scale with customers while supporting its strategy to evolve from a traditional memory supplier into a more integrated AI-memory solutions provider.
Price PerformanceSKHY has gained 25.8% over the past three months against the industry’s decline of 12.6%, outperforming peers like FormFactor, Inc. (FORM - Free Report) and ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (ASX - Free Report) . FORM has lost 10%, while ASX is up 5.2% over this period.
Three-Month SKHY Stock Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteOverall, a potential Intel partnership could further strengthen SK hynix’s U.S. manufacturing strategy and support its long-term AI-memory growth ambitions. However, with discussions still at an exploratory stage, investors should watch for greater clarity on the structure, economics and timeline of any collaboration before assigning meaningful upside to the opportunity.
SKHY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Intel uvedl, že dokáže pokrýt jen 50 % poptávky po serverových procesorech, což může podpořit ceny i marže v celém trhu. AMD mezitím dál získává podíl, když jeho serverový byznys s procesory ve 2. čtvrtletí rostl o 107 % meziročně.
Intel (INTC -3.45%) is firmly in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip race, driven by improving demand for server central processing units (CPUs), which has been fueled by growth in agentic AI and inference workloads.
Inference and agentic AI are multi-step tasks, unlike chatbots that gained popularity in the first wave of AI deployment. Instead of simply answering a prompt, AI agents break down a query into multiple steps to perform tasks autonomously. This brings CPUs into focus, as they can manage multi-step tasks, call applications into action, and monitor the security of autonomous tasks performed by the agent.
As a result, Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +0.22%) expects the total addressable market (TAM) for server CPUs to increase at a compound annual growth rate of more than 50% through 2030. AMD expects this market to generate $220 billion in revenue in 2030. So, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's remarks about the state of the server CPU market clearly suggest that better times lie ahead for these chipmakers.
Image source: Intel
Intel is finding it difficult to meet server CPU demandTan recently remarked at a conference that it can meet only 50% of customer demand for CPUs. This is good news for Intel and AMD, as both companies are dominant players in the x86 server CPU space. The shortage of CPUs should ideally lead to higher prices, lifting the margins and earnings of Intel and AMD.
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
70/100
Today's Change
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Current Price
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Tom's Hardware reports that Intel is poised to implement a 10% price hike in March 2027. It is worth noting that the company has already implemented a couple of price hikes this year. Even AMD is expected to follow suit, according to the report. So, the impressive turnaround in Intel's fortunes is likely to continue.
The company's revenue in Q2 increased 25% year over year to $16.1 billion, fueled by a 59% jump in the data center and AI (DCAI) segment. What's more, Intel posted non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.42 from a loss of $0.10 in the year-ago quarter. As server CPU demand increases and supply constraints push up prices, the company should ideally be able to sustain its healthy growth momentum.
AMD could be a bigger beneficiary of the booming demand for server CPUs. That's because it has consistently taken market share from Intel in the x86 server CPU market. Mercury Research reports that AMD's server CPU market share increased to 34.5% in Q2 this year, up from 27.3% in the year-ago period.
Intel, therefore, lost significant ground to AMD, primarily due to the latter's technological advantage in server CPUs. UBS analysts note that the superior core count of AMD's server CPUs and their multithreading capability make them ideal for handling agentic AI workloads. This explains why AMD is clocking significantly faster growth in the data center segment, with revenue increasing by 107% year over year in Q2.
What's more, AMD is looking to capitalize on Intel's supply chain problems by ramping up production capacity in Taiwan in association with foundry giant TSMC. Ceo Lisa Su expects to increase CPU capacity rapidly in every quarter this year. Moreover, AMD is looking to add more capacity in 2027.
Intel, on the other hand, noted on its Q2 earnings call that it is struggling to meet demand despite increasing production yields and enhancing output. AMD, meanwhile, believes that it can grow its server revenue by over 80% in the second half of 2026 compared to last year, followed by an increase of over 70% in 2027.
In simple terms, AMD believes it can grow faster than the server CPU market, indicating it is confident in taking more share away from Intel. Even consensus estimates project that AMD's server CPU gains will translate into stronger growth.
Analysts expect an 82% spike in AMD's earnings this year, followed by a 105% increase in 2027. Intel's earnings growth, meanwhile, is expected to slow down from 262% this year to 35% in 2027. With AMD trading at 36 times forward earnings compared to Intel's forward earnings multiple of 56, investors looking to buy a semiconductor stock to capitalize on the booming AI server CPU demand would do well to buy AMD over Intel, especially considering Chipzilla's diminishing market share.
Intel spustil denní CHATS signál, který naposledy předcházel růstu o více než 150 % za 25 obchodních dní. Akcie zároveň prorazily nad klíčovou rezistenci poblíž 110 USD.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has triggered a technical signal that previously preceded a rally of more than 150% in just 25 trading days.
According to insights shared by TrendSpider in an X post on September 25, Intel’s CHATS indicator has flipped green on the daily timeframe.
The last time the signal appeared, INTC surged more than 150% over the following 25 trading sessions. The latest signal comes as the stock traded around $123 in the last session after breaking above a key resistance zone near $110.
The breakout follows a $10 million insider purchase by Intel’s CEO near the lows and has been accompanied by rising trading volume, strengthening the bullish technical setup.
The signal comes as Intel continues to benefit from strong artificial intelligence demand and improving operational performance, helping fuel one of the market’s strongest rallies in 2026.
Meanwhile, Intel’s technical momentum has also been supported by a sharp improvement in fundamentals.
For instance, in its second quarter of 2026, reported on July 23, Intel posted revenue of $16.1 billion, up 25.4% year-over-year and roughly $1.8 billion above prior guidance. The company also reported non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.42, more than double management’s earlier guidance of about $0.20.
Growth was driven largely by Intel’s Data Center and AI segment, where AI-related businesses expanded by more than 70% year-over-year and accounted for approximately 70% of total revenue.
Demand for AI infrastructure and AI PCs also strengthened, while management noted that customer demand continues to outpace supply.
Intel Q3 strong guidance For the third quarter, the technology company guided for revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion, with non-GAAP earnings per share of about $0.38. The company also raised its 2026 capital expenditure outlook to more than $20 billion as it expands manufacturing capacity.
Meanwhile, Intel’s foundry business continues to make progress. Losses are narrowing, yields on its 18A process are improving, and management remains focused on achieving profitability in the coming years.
Overall, following the rally, Intel now trades at elevated valuation multiples that reflect significant expectations for continued AI-driven growth.
However, supporters argue that continued growth in AI infrastructure, expanding demand for Intel processors, improving foundry economics, and stronger execution could provide further support for the stock.
Featured image via Shutterstock
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Intel has surged past its average analyst price target after one of its biggest monthly runs in years, and now bulls and bears are locked in a standoff over whether the turnaround still has teeth or the easy money is…
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At $123.86, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) looks fully priced. The chipmaker has ripped 37.52% higher in the past month and now trades above the average Wall Street price target, which forces a hard question about whether the turnaround story still has room to run.
Intel is the largest U.S.-based logic chip manufacturer, spanning client PCs, data center CPUs, and a contract foundry competing with TSMC and Samsung. CEO Lip-Bu Tan is pushing the 18A process into volume, securing a NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) $5 billion NVIDIA equity stake and U.S. government backing, while posting genuine data center growth. Meta (NASDAQ:META) drove a broad CPU rally as Meta’s Muse AI agent triggered a broad CPU rally, lifting Intel double digits in a single session this week.
Why Bulls Believe the Comeback Is Real Q2 fiscal 2026 gave bulls hard numbers. Revenue reached $16.13 billion, up 25.42% year over year, described as the strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years. Data Center and AI revenue jumped 59%, non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 nearly doubled the $0.2175 consensus, and operating cash flow hit $7 billion.
Forward estimates are climbing fast. The 2027 fiscal-year EPS consensus has risen from $1.5236 ninety days ago to $2.0621, with 30 upward EPS revisions against zero downward revisions in the trailing 30 days. Xeon 6 is ramping as one of the fastest products in Intel history, and NVIDIA selected Xeon 6 for DGX Rubin NVL8 systems, supporting a credible path to a $2-plus EPS run rate.
Why Bears See a Crowded Long Valuation has moved faster than fundamentals. Intel carries a Forward P/E of 57, a price-to-sales ratio of 11, and an EV/EBITDA of 162. Trailing EPS is -$2.09. Intel Foundry posted a $2.1 billion Q2 operating loss on just $293 million of external foundry revenue.
CFO David Zinsner warned that supply “will not catch up” in the fourth quarter. Management expects PC consumption down low double digits for all of 2026 and capex rising to more than $20 billion in 2026, with 2027 significantly higher. CEO Lip-Bu Tan sold shares into the rally, per recent Form 4 filings.
Why Patience May Be the Sharper Trade The story is directionally right, but the price reflects much of it already. Intel is executing on 18A, but external foundry revenue remains minimal and 14A customer commitments are unnamed. Watch Q3 results against guidance of $15.8B to $16.8B in revenue and $0.38 non-GAAP EPS, foundry loss trajectory, and any named 14A customer.
Where the Numbers Land Right Now Intel trades at $123.86 against a mean analyst target of $116.37, implying roughly 6% downside. Coverage spans 48 analysts: 1 Strong Buy, 13 Buy, 32 Hold, 1 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell. The Hold-heavy distribution reflects the same tension the price does.
Intel is up 37.52% in the past month and 235.66% year to date, versus the S&P 500’s 1.01% monthly gain and 13.42% year to date. Shares sit closer to the 52-week high of $142.35 than to the 50-day moving average of $97.09, with a Beta of 2.231.
Why the Setup Argues for Patience at This Price At $123.86, Intel looks fully valued. Here is why.
The fundamental story justifies a re-rating, but the stock has front-run the operational proof. Bulls need external foundry commitments, sustained DCAI share gains, and shrinking foundry losses to defend a Forward P/E in the fifties. Bears need a Q4 disappointment or margin squeeze to break momentum. Both camps still lack decisive evidence.
Bullish catalysts to watch: a named Intel 14A external customer with wafer commitments, foundry operating loss below $1.5 billion per quarter, or a pullback toward $97. Bearish catalysts to watch: a Q3 miss versus the $16.3 billion midpoint, stalling Panther Lake yields, or capex forcing equity issuance.
The cost of patience is missing the next leg higher if 14A customer news hits. The cost of buying here is paying peak-optimism prices for a business still generating negative trailing EPS and a foundry losing $2 billion a quarter. Buying a stock at fresh highs is a legitimate move if the entry, sizing, and stops are disciplined (we put ten rules for doing it safely in a free breakout buyer’s guide here). When the analyst mean target sits below the current price after a 37% one-month move, the clear read is that the easy money has been made and the next data points will decide the trade.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Intel letos vzrostl o 234,23 % a jeho tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí dosáhly 16,13 miliardy USD. Přesto model 24/7 Wall St. vidí cenu 96,79 USD, tedy asi 10,9 % pod aktuální úrovní, a doporučuje držet.
Intel has staged one of the most dramatic stock reversals in recent memory, but our proprietary model says the rally has outrun reality. Here is what needs to happen for the thesis to actually work.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Few large-cap turnarounds carry as much weight for the U.S. semiconductor industry as Intel’s. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) has rallied on a custom NVLink product partnership with NVIDIA, a fresh SoftBank stake, and a U.S. government equity position, layered onto execution progress under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Our proprietary model says the rally has run ahead of fundamentals.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel is $96.79, which implies roughly 10.9% downside from a current price of $123.33. The recommendation is hold, with a confidence level of 90%.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $123.33 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $96.79 Upside/Downside -10.87% Recommendation HOLD Confidence Level 90% Why We Could Be Wrong Our 24/7 Wall St. price target sits below where Intel trades today. INTC is one of the most divisive names in the market, and real value could come from an accelerated Intel 14A external customer signing or a step-function ramp in the nearly $2 billion run-rate ASIC business. A detailed bull case follows outlining why Intel could outperform the model.
A 300% Rally Meets an AI Compute Story Intel has been one of the year’s most dramatic reversals. Shares are up 19.81% in the past week, 32.9% in the past month, and 234.23% year-to-date, with the one-year gain now at 303.43%.
Monday’s move was fueled by a chip rally triggered by Meta’s Muse AI agent. Fundamentals are cooperating too: Q2 revenue of $16.13 billion grew 25.4% year over year, beating consensus by 11.64%, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 came in 93.10% ahead of the $0.2175 estimate. Data Center and AI revenue grew 59%.
Why Bulls See a Breakout to $140+ The bull case leans on Tan’s assertion that Q2 was “the seventh consecutive quarter of exceeding our financial expectations” and that 18A output ran 25% above target. Bulls point to a bull-case scenario price of $114.73 over one year and $137.13 over five, plus a five-year path high of $140.74.
The purpose-built silicon franchise is targeting a $4 billion run rate, and Tan flagged an ASIC opportunity “over 100 billion”. A single blue-chip 14A foundry win could reprice the equity.
What Could Go Wrong The bear case is straightforward: Intel Foundry posted a $2.1 billion operating loss in Q2, GAAP results absorbed a $12.53 billion non-cash CHIPS Act escrow charge, and management guided PC consumption down low double digits percent for all of 2026.
The bear-case scenario price is $75.51. Bulls counter that the escrow charge is non-cash and foundry loss narrowed by $348 million quarter over quarter. Of 48 analysts tracked, 32 rate INTC Hold.
How Intel Compares to AMD, NVIDIA, and TSMC Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) trades at a P/E of 211 with a $997.85 billion market cap. Data Center revenue grew 107% year over year. AMD’s 56% non-GAAP gross margin towers over Intel’s, making the 24/7 Wall St. price target look reasonable.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is Intel’s AI compute benchmark and new $5 billion equity partner. NVIDIA carries a P/E of 45 on 60% operating margins. Intel’s economics are nowhere near.
Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) sets the foundry bar. Q2 gross margin was 67.7% and August revenue grew 53.3% year over year. Intel Foundry is still losing billions per quarter, reinforcing the model’s discount.
Intel Price Prediction 2026 to 2030 My 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel is $96.79, the recommendation is hold, and confidence is 90%.
The tipping factor is foundry economics: the strategic story is real, but the P&L is not there yet. I’d be a buyer if Intel announces a marquee 14A external customer with volume commitments. I’d stay on the sidelines if the next earnings report shows foundry losses widening.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $104 2027 $97 2028 $89 2029 $96 2030 $97 Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Persistent AI agents create orchestration work, but Meta has disclosed no Intel deployment. Summary
Agentic AI expands Intel’s opportunity without creating a customer order.
Intel INTC, the data-center and personal-computing chipmaker, carried Monday's Muse-driven CPU enthusiasm into Tuesday, with shares gaining approximately 0.5% to $122.46. The valuation picture is much louder than the daily move: Intel now trades 281.26% above its $32.12 GF Value estimate, signaling that investors are pricing in a far more aggressive recovery and AI opportunity than the historical valuation framework suggests.
Meta's Muse agent shows why CPUs could still matter in an AI market dominated by accelerator headlines. The agent operates through its own virtual computer and can keep working on longer tasks even after a user exits the application, creating demand for general-purpose compute around the model itself. Intel is trying to capture that layer as its business rebounds, with second-quarter revenue rising 25% to $16.1 billion and the company rolling out its Xeon 6+ server processor built on Intel 18A.
But Muse is evidence of a potentially expanding workload, not evidence of an Intel design win. That distinction matters at a stock price already sitting dramatically above GF Value. The real payoff comes only if autonomous agents drive incremental server deployments and Intel wins enough of that spending at attractive margins. Xeon availability, power efficiency, hyperscaler adoption and Intel 18A execution are therefore the numbers investors should watch before assuming the AI-agent boom automatically turns into Intel profits.
Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.
Akcie Intelu za poslední rok vzrostly o 255,25 % na 108,60 USD, ale Wall Street stále drží konsenzus Hold. Trh řeší, zda už je v ceně započítán celý obrat firmy.
Intel's stock has surged over 250% in a year, NVIDIA just took a $5 billion stake, and the CEO is calling it the strongest revenue growth in fifteen years. So why does Wall Street's consensus still say hold?
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) has gone from a low-twenties stock that missed the AI wave to a name trading at $108.60, a 255.25% one-year run.
The operational fix under CEO Lip-Bu Tan is genuine, and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) validated it by taking a $5 billion equity stake in Q3 2025. The debate has shifted from whether Intel can be fixed to whether the share price has already spent the fix.
Q2 revenue reached $16.13 billion, up 25.4% year over year, beating consensus by 11.64%. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42 versus a $0.22 estimate.
Data Center and AI revenue hit $6.26 billion, up 59%, with Xeon 6 selected as host CPU for NVIDIA’s DGX Rubin NVL8 systems.
Tan called the quarter Intel’s “strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years”, and Intel 18A entered high-volume manufacturing.
Where Intel Stands Against AMD and NVIDIA Against Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD), Intel is finally landing punches in server CPUs, with management saying “strong demand for our products continue to outpace our growing supply.”
Against NVIDIA, the relationship has flipped from rivalry to partnership on the CPU side, but NVIDIA’s AI-compute franchise remains the reason Intel Foundry still lost $2.1 billion last quarter.
External Foundry revenue was only $293 million, a rounding error next to the manufacturing bill Intel is carrying.
Valuation Is Now Doing the Heavy Lifting Market cap sits at roughly $574 billion on a forward P/E of 57x, with trailing EPS still negative at -$2.09.
Wall Street’s mean target of $116.37 sits barely above spot, and the consensus is a Hold with 32 holds against 14 buys.
The 2027 EPS range runs from $1.15 to $3.44, a dispersion that suggests the market is guessing how fast Foundry losses fade.
Bull and Bear Case for INTC Stock Bulls point to Melius, which values the parts at near $200 and floats a possible foundry separation around 2030. If 14A lands customers and Foundry losses narrow, that math survives.
Bears note that Intel still posted a $11.03 billion GAAP net loss last quarter, that Foundry burns $2.1 billion to $2.5 billion per quarter, and that a 57x forward multiple leaves no room for a stumble on 18A yields or Panther Lake ramp costs.
The deciding variable is external Foundry commitments on 14A. Without them, Intel is priced as a finished turnaround while still being fixed.
Even though the earnings multiple is high, if you’re very bullish on the AI buildout, going for INTC stock is not a bad idea today. If you look multiple years into the future, Intel still has growth potential left if AI causes chip demand to continue growing explosively. That said, this remains a more optimistic scenario than what most analysts are pricing in. Revenue growth is expected to fall to 19% annually in 2027. Nvidia should comfortably grow much more than that despite being massively larger. And it’s also cheaper.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Akcie Intelu a AMD v pondělí vyskočily o 8 % díky lepší náladě na trhu po poklesu cen ropy a výnosů amerických státních dluhopisů. AMD zároveň dosáhla 52týdenního maxima.
Intel and AMD shares jumped on Monday as falling crude prices and lower Treasury yields improved broader market sentiment, giving another lift to AI-related stocks after last week's sharp selloff.
Both Intel INTC and AMD stocks were up by 8% on Monday. AMD stock hit its 52-week high of $609.5, and its valuation came closer to the $1 trillion mark.
The moves extended a strong rebound for both chipmakers after investors had initially worried that a slowdown in artificial intelligence development could eventually weaken demand for the processors, accelerators and memory products supporting the industry.
US crude fell about 3% to $96.56 a barrel on Monday, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined more than 3% to $100.72.
The decline in energy prices helped ease concerns about inflation and interest rates.
The 10-year US Treasury yield also slipped below the closely watched 5% level, reducing some of the pressure that higher borrowing costs can place on growth-oriented technology stocks.
Higher oil prices can feed into inflation expectations, while elevated bond yields can make future corporate earnings less attractive and increase financing costs.
That combination has weighed particularly heavily on high-growth technology shares in recent market sessions.
Chip stocks are recovering from last week's selloff after investors were taken over by concerns that companies could eventually reduce spending on advanced AI systems as calls grew to pace AI development.
Intel has gained more than 19% over the past five trading sessions, while AMD has advanced more than 20%.
Recent developments have also continued to point to substantial spending on AI infrastructure.
OpenAI expects to burn through $278 billion in cash between 2026 and 2030 as it increases spending on computing power and infrastructure, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing a company presentation seen by the newspaper.
The company expects revenue to increase tenfold over the same period, rising from $36 billion this year to $350 billion in 2030, according to the report.
OpenAI also expects to generate cumulative revenue of $840 billion through the end of the decade.
The spending projections suggest that demand for computing infrastructure could remain substantial even as investors debate whether the current AI boom can sustain its pace.
Anthropic is also considering the rollout of a new AI model to counter OpenAI's momentum following the launch of GPT-6 Astra, Reuters reported, citing three sources.
The potential release comes as Anthropic prepares for an expected IPO and after CEO Dario Amodei called for a slowdown in the development of increasingly powerful AI systems.
The longer-term outlook for semiconductor demand has also remained constructive despite recent volatility.
Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya said last week that the semiconductor industry's long-term expansion remains strong.
He forecasts the industry's total addressable market will reach $3.2 trillion by 2030, compared with an estimated $1.7 trillion this year.
Arya said he sees "no signs of slowing" in customer orders, long-term agreements, supply commitments and chip pricing despite the recent turbulence in semiconductor stocks.
Intel was among the stocks Arya identified as potentially benefiting as semiconductor momentum strengthens.
Intel received another bullish assessment from Wall Street last week, with Melius Research issuing a Buy rating and setting a $165 price target, implying about 51% upside from Friday's close.
Melius analyst Ben Reitzes also outlined a path toward $200 for the stock over the next two years, based largely on the potential of Intel Foundry Services and its advanced 14A semiconductor manufacturing node.
The thesis assumes high-volume production can accelerate by 2028, supported by commitments from major customers and industry players including Apple and Tesla.
A stronger foundry business could provide Intel with an additional source of growth as demand for advanced computing increases.
The company's traditional product businesses could also benefit from higher average selling prices for AI-enabled PCs and rising demand for AI workloads.
Together, those factors could provide multiple avenues for Intel to increase its earnings and valuation if execution improves.
Tigress Financial also raised its Intel price target to $145 from $118 last week while maintaining a Buy rating.
The firm described Intel as being in an "accelerating AI-driven turnaround".
Tigress pointed to stronger Xeon demand, improving execution on Intel's 18A process, operating leverage and the company's Terafab partnership as potential drivers of better manufacturing economics.
Intel has also received support from a potential manufacturing deal.
Reuters reported last week that SK Hynix is discussing an arrangement that could bring memory-chip production to Intel's long-delayed Ohio manufacturing site.
Such a deal could provide a boost to Intel's manufacturing business as the company seeks to rebuild its position in the global semiconductor supply chain.
AMD's recent gains have also been supported by improving investor confidence in its product pipeline.
Piper Sandler reiterated an Overweight rating and a $600 price target on AMD following the chipmaker's third-quarter pre-quiet period call last Tuesday.
Analyst David O'Connor said the overall message from AMD's investor relations team was reassuring, with CPU and GPU product ramps progressing as planned.
O'Connor also indicated that demand continues to exceed available supply.
Current supply capacity appears sufficient to support AMD's existing guidance, while leaving room for the company to potentially outperform expectations.
The discussion covered several important components of AMD's growth strategy, including its Helios server ramp-up, Venice CPUs, Optics scale-up architecture, and high-bandwidth memory supply.
Piper Sandler also reviewed AMD's margins, client computing and gaming businesses, with the programs described as remaining on track and supply positioned to support the company's guidance.
Intel říká, že poptávka po jeho procesorech převyšuje kapacitu továren a firma pokrývá jen asi 50 % objednávek. Tržby ve 2. čtvrtletí vzrostly na 16,1 miliardy USD.
Intel (INTC -0.18%) CEO Lip-Bu Tan made an unusual admission at Splunk's .conf26 conference in Denver this week. Demand for the chipmaker's processors has outrun its factories so badly, he said, that Intel is meeting only about 50% of what its customers are asking for. CEOs have called him asking for more chips, Tan said, and he has had to apologize because Intel's capacity can't keep up.
The driver, according to Tan, is an explosion in demand for central processing units (CPUs) to run artificial intelligence (AI) inference -- the work AI models and agents do after they're trained. That work leans on CPUs, he argued, not just the graphics chips that dominate AI headlines.
Shares of Intel trade around $109 as of this writing, up about 6% this week and more than triple their price of a year ago.
A company that can't supply half of what its customers want may sound like one in trouble. But for a manufacturer whose gross margin sat below 30% a year ago, I'd argue it's closer to the opposite.
Does all of this make the stock a buy, though?
Image source: Intel.
Demand is outrunning Intel's factoriesThe shortage Tan described is showing up in Intel's reported results. As recently as the third quarter of 2025, Intel's revenue growth was just 3%. Growth picked up to 7% in the first quarter of 2026, then accelerated to 25% in the second quarter, when revenue reached $16.1 billion. Capturing where the demand is coming from, Intel's data center and AI segment grew 59% in the second quarter and reached $6.3 billion in revenue, after growing 22% in the first quarter. The client computing and physical AI segment, home to the company's PC chips, grew 13%.
And management's guidance suggests the momentum should continue. Intel forecast third-quarter revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion, implying growth of about 19% at the midpoint. Worth noting: that guidance came in July, before Tan described demand the company can't fully meet.
The margin recoveryChipmaking is a fixed-cost business. After all, a factory costs billions of dollars whether it runs full or half-empty, so gross margin depends heavily on how much product flows through it.
A year ago, Intel's non-GAAP (adjusted) gross margin sat at 29.7%. By the first quarter of 2026, it had climbed to 41%, and in the second quarter it hit 41.8%. Management expects 42% in the third quarter.
In other words, the recovery is holding, and it's still inching higher. Profits followed, too, with Intel posting $0.42 in adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter, against an adjusted loss a year earlier.
Management is spending to catch up with demand. "[W]e are meaningfully increasing our investments in equipment, clean room space, and substrates," chief financial officer Dave Zinsner said alongside the second-quarter results.
New manufacturing capacity is on the way, too. Intel's 18A process (the one behind its new Panther Lake laptop chips) is in high-volume production.
And Tan said this week that its successor, 14A, begins production in the first quarter of 2027.
But what about the price?Of course, a shortage still has costs. Demand Intel can't meet is revenue it doesn't collect, and customers who can't get chips may not wait for 14A.
A production start isn't the same as volume, either. New processes ramp over quarters, so the supply gap Tan described could persist well into 2027.
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The bigger issue for investors, though, is the stock's price. After this year's run, Intel's price-to-earnings ratio is about 53 based on next year's expected earnings. That price arguably assumes years of strong execution, even as Intel's own guidance implies growth cooling to about 19% this quarter from 25% last quarter.
Sure, when new capacity comes online, unmet demand could convert into revenue quickly. But the stock is already priced for that outcome, not a bonus on top.
Ultimately, Tan is describing a good problem. Fuller factories helped rebuild Intel's gross margin in a single year, and demand still exceeds what the company can make.
Still, is Intel stock a buy? I don't think so -- not at this price. A good problem isn't the same as a cheap stock, and at more than 50 times next year's forecast earnings, shares already give Intel credit for capacity the company doesn't yet have.
SK hynix NASDAQ: SKHY is in early talks with Intel NYSE: INTC about manufacturing memory chips in the United States for the first time. The options on the table include leasing part of Intel's long-delayed Ohio "Ohio One" complex or forming a joint venture that would also pull in major cloud providers hungry for memory supply.
Intel Today
$108.80 +7.75 (+7.67%)
As of 09/17/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
$28.73▼
$142.35$108.49
Shares of both companies jumped on the news, particularly INTC, which was up 9% on Sept. 17, the day after the news was reported.
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There’s a reason for that. In a best-case scenario, this is a straightforward win for Intel. A marquee foreign chipmaker validates Intel's U.S. manufacturing bet. A higher stock price would reflect that confidence.
But the details lean towards caution. Primarily because nothing has been signed.
SK hynix itself said only that it is "reviewing various measures" and that no arrangements have been finalized. Reuters, which broke the news, could not confirm what type of memory would be produced in Ohio.
That’s significant because advanced DRAM, or high-bandwidth memory (HBM), output could draw scrutiny from Seoul over sensitive technology transfer. This is what investors have to consider. The market is pricing in a partnership before it exists.
Intel Needs This to Be More Than a HeadlineThe real value for Intel isn't landing a new foundry partner. It's finding an anchor tenant for a facility that's been bleeding capital with no return.
Intel slowed construction on the Ohio site in 2025, and the company has acknowledged its advanced process nodes need far more external volume than Intel's own product lines can provide. A lease or joint venture with SK hynix would share the enormous cost of bringing the plant online.
The Full-Circle Angle Is Real, But Not the Investment CaseIntel sold its NAND memory business to SK hynix for roughly $9 billion in 2020. This deal, which could allow the same buyer to help revive Intel's Ohio ambitions, brings that full circle. It's the kind of story that says nothing, though, about whether Intel's foundry economics actually improve. A good story is not the same as financial closure, and conflating the two is exactly the perception trap that should give investors a reason to wait for more confirmation.
Geopolitics Is Doing More Work Than TechnologyThe timing of this announcement coincides with the United States applying tariff pressure on South Korean and Taiwanese chipmakers that don't establish operations in the United States. To that end, SK hynix is expanding a separate HBM packaging plant in Indiana. Ohio would add front-end wafer fabrication, a capability SK hynix currently lacks on U.S. soil.
That combination of tariff exposure and AI-driven memory scarcity, along with many analysts flagging memory bandwidth as one of the tightest physical constraints in the AI buildout heading into 2027, gives SK hynix real strategic reasons to move. However, it doesn't guarantee Intel is the vehicle they choose, or on what terms.
News From Altera Adds a New WrinkleThere is another angle to this story that’s more concrete and maybe more bullish. Altera, the company that Intel spun off in 2025, confidentially filed IPO paperwork with the SEC on Sept. 15.
This puts it on a fast track for a return to public markets just one year after Intel sold a 51% stake to Silver Lake at an $8.75 billion valuation, keeping a 49% stake to preserve upside. Intel originally paid roughly $16.7 billion for Altera in 2015, so this isn't a clean win, but a completed listing would still convert an illiquid minority stake into real, tradable value at a moment when Intel needs it.
Where the Bull Case May Be OverreachingThe Altera news is a genuine, executable piece of Intel's liquidity story. But that doesn’t change the reality that the SK hynix talks aren't finalized. Calling exploratory conversations, an "actionable contrarian recovery trade" gets ahead of the facts.
Intel still has relatively few external foundry customers, manufacturing memory domestically costs more than producing it in Asia, and any final Ohio structure needs financial terms neither side has disclosed. Framing exploratory talks as a federally backstopped foundry renaissance is a narrative, not a catalyst confirmed by fundamentals. Altera's IPO filing is a data point; the Ohio talks are still a headline.
What Would Actually Change the Picture?Investors monitoring this story should look past the headline and watch for three concrete signals:
Does SK hynix commit to a lease versus a joint venture?
What memory type gets confirmed for Ohio?
Will South Korean regulators raise objections to technology transfer?
Any one of those could reshape the economics investors are currently pricing in.
For investors, this is a genuinely important story for Intel's U.S. manufacturing ambitions. It’s tough to discount the potential upside in other areas (i.e., outside validation, a poetic reunion with a former asset buyer, and AI-era memory scarcity meeting idle domestic capacity).
All of that is compelling enough to explain the stock reaction on its own. But "exploratory talks" is still the operative phrase.
Until a structure, a memory type, and a financial commitment are confirmed, the gap between what investors are feeling and what's been agreed to remains the real story.
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Akcie SK Hynix vzrostly o 4,47 % a akcie Samsung Electronics o 2,97 %, protože šéf Intelu Lip-Bu Tan varoval, že nedostatek pamětí je stále velmi vážný a může se zhoršit.
SK Hynix jumped nearly 5% and Samsung Electronics rose about 3% on Friday as memory stocks rebounded, helped by easing bond yields and a warning that the industry’s supply squeeze may be far from over.
SK Hynix rose 4.47% while Samsung gained 2.97%, after Micron climbed 5.5%, Nvidia added 2.54%, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 3.14% overnight.
Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan warned that memory prices have risen five to sevenfold and shortages could worsen as customers struggle to secure enough chips.
Tan said memory production capacity remains “very limited” and warned that projects are being delayed because companies cannot secure enough supply.
“As you know, they have gone up 5, 6, or 7 times,” Tan said.
That matters for Samsung and SK Hynix, which sit at the centre of DRAM and high-bandwidth memory supply.
It also reinforces the bullish case outlined by KB Securities.
Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities, told Maeil Business Newspaper that customers are receiving only about 60% of the memory they want from Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron.
Kim said roughly 70% of total production capacity is covered by binding long-term supply contracts, while orders remain strong despite concerns that slower AI development could weaken infrastructure spending.
The shortage argument is coming from both suppliers and major customers.
SK Hynix’s move reflects its heavier exposure to HBM, where AI-related demand remains intense.
The company also has a catalyst after reports that it is exploring a US manufacturing arrangement with Intel.
Discussions remain preliminary, with options reportedly including leasing part of Intel’s Ohio facility or forming a joint venture.
The macro backdrop has become less hostile.
The US 10-year Treasury yield eased to 4.94% on Friday after touching its highest level since 2007, while Brent crude slipped about 1%.
Lower yields reduce valuation pressure that hit semiconductor shares after the Federal Reserve’s rate increase.
Han Ji-young of Kiwoom Securities told ChosunBiz that “with the FOMC as a turning point, macro uncertainty is passing its peak.”
She said seven consecutive sessions of foreign selling were difficult to interpret as evidence of deteriorating fundamentals.
The rebound does not settle where the memory cycle goes next.
BNK Investment & Securities analyst Lee Min-hee warned this week that “memory prices are unlikely to rise further and demand elasticity is weakening,” according to Seoul Economic Daily.
BNK cut Samsung’s target to 270,000 won from 300,000 won and downgraded the shares to Hold, arguing that aggressive capacity expansion could weaken the supply-demand balance.
That view now sits directly against the shortage evidence.
Intel says scarcity is severe enough to delay projects. KB says customers are receiving only around 60% of requested supply.
BNK believes pricing power is approaching its limit as producers add capacity and buyers become more price-sensitive.
The next test will be whether DRAM, NAND and HBM prices keep rising into 2027 as new capacity comes online.
Intel oznámil lepší výsledky AI inference v MLPerf v6.1: Xeon 6980P dosáhl 2,4násobně vyššího throughputu u Llama 3.1 8B Server a o 56 % vyššího Offline throughputu. U Arc Pro B70 vzrostl Server výkon o 36 % a Offline výkon o 27 %.
Key Takeaways Intel Xeon 6980P delivers 2.4x higher Llama 3.1 8B Server throughput versus MLPerf v6.0.INTC expands Xeon 6 participation to five processor models, lifting CPU inference results to 35.Arc Pro B70 GPU systems post higher Server and Offline performance across demanding AI workloads. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) has advanced artificial intelligence (AI) inference capabilities with its latest MLPerf Inference v6.1 results, showing performance gains across Intel Xeon 6 processors and Intel Arc Pro B-series GPUs. The results highlight the company’s continued efforts to optimize AI frameworks, kernels and serving software for more efficient inference.
Intel Xeon 6980P processors delivered 2.4x higher Llama 3.1 8B Server throughput and 56% higher Offline throughput than MLPerf v6.0 using the same hardware setup, reflecting the benefits of software optimization. Its platforms recorded an increase in customer and partner results from 29 to 39, with Oracle, Red Hat, Quanta Cloud Technology and Supermicro making their first submissions.
The company expanded Xeon 6 participation from two to five processor models, increasing CPU inference results from 24 to 35. Its Arc Pro B70 GPUs supported workloads including Llama 2 70B, gpt-oss-120B and Whisper. A four-GPU system offers 128GB of Video Random Access Memory, with Server performance rising 36% and Offline performance increasing 27% compared with MLPerf v6.0.
Intel also co-developed results for the new end-to-end retrieval-augmented generation benchmark. A system combining a Xeon 6787P processor with four Arc Pro B70 GPUs divided the workload between the CPU and GPUs. The Xeon handles embedding, reranking, vector search and the small language model, while the GPUs manage large language model generation.
As demand for AI inference continues to grow, Intel is combining optimized hardware and software to deliver scalable, efficient and cost-effective solutions for increasingly complex AI workloads.
How Are Competitors Performing in the AI Space?Intel faces competition from Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM - Free Report) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) . Qualcomm is expanding into AI data-center infrastructure through its Dragonfly platform, designed to improve the efficiency of large-scale inference workloads. The company introduced Hexagon NPU technology to deliver faster and more responsive on-device AI experiences. Qualcomm is developing Dragonwing processors that bring AI, vision and connectivity to a broader range of smart and industrial devices.
AMD is strengthening its AI infrastructure with the Helios platform, which integrates Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs and networking technologies for large-scale AI workloads. The platform is designed for large-scale AI inference, training and other demanding workloads. AMD continues to enhance its ROCm software to help developers build and run AI applications more efficiently.
INTC’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Intel have skyrocketed 230.6% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 27.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Going by the price/book ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 4.94 times book value, lower than the industry average of 22.26.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
INTC’s earnings estimates for 2026 have increased 44.2% to $1.50 per share, while those for 2027 have increased 30.7% to $1.96 over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Intel currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Intel a SK Hynix jednají o výrobě paměťových čipů SK Hynix v USA, poprvé v historii. Akcie společnosti Intel v premarketu vzrostly o 5 %, akcie SK Hynix o 3 %.
SK Hynix is in talks with Intel to manufacture its memory chips in the U.S. for the first time, Reuters reported Wednesday, sending shares of both companies higher in premarket trading.
Intel rose 5% while SK Hynix's Nasdaq-listed shares were 3% higher.
Intel and SK Hynix shares year-to-date.
Under one scenario, SK Hynix would lease part of Intel's chipmaking facility in Ohio, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Intel and SK Hynix could also form a joint venture with Intel and major cloud firms, Reuters said.
SK Hynix could also look at other ways to structure the deal, the news agency reported. The talks are exploratory, and no decisions have been made, one of the sources told Reuters.
Intel and SK Hynix did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the report.
If a deal is struck, it would be a big win for Intel, which has been looking to gain marquee customers for its manufacturing, or foundry business, which is a key pillar of CEO Lip-Bu Tan's strategy. The arrangement could also advance the U.S. government's efforts to bring more semiconductor manufacturing to America's shores.
SK Hynix is one of the world's leading suppliers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component of Nvidia's chips. It also produces other types of memory chips that are crucial for AI applications.
A deal between Intel and SK Hynix to manufacture advanced memory like HBM could face opposition from the South Korean government because the technologies are considered sensitive, Reuters reported, citing three sources.
SK Hynix, which listed its American depository receipts on the Nasdaq in July, has been a big beneficiary of the AI boom. The rush to build data centers has created a shortage of memory chips, sharply driving up prices and enabling SK Hynix and its rival Samsung to rake in huge profits.
SK Hynix's South Korea-listed stock is up 400% over the last year.
AMD ve 2. čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby divize datových center na 6,72 miliardy USD, meziročně o 107 %, a získává podíl na serverovém trhu. Intel sice rostl nejrychleji za 15 let, ale Foundry dál vykazuje ztrátu 2,1 miliardy USD.
AMD and Intel both posted blockbuster Q2 2026 data center numbers, but one company is quietly locking up the customers, the sockets, and the AI rack deals while the other burns billions fixing its factories.
AMD (NASDAQ: AMD | AMD Price Prediction) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) both just posted Q2 2026 results, and the contrast is hard to miss. AMD’s Data Center segment more than doubled on EPYC and Instinct demand. Intel grew faster than it has in fifteen years, yet still swallowed a massive GAAP loss and a $2.1 billion Foundry hole. Same customers, same workloads, very different scoreboards.
EPYC Is Draining Intel’s Cash Engine AMD’s Data Center segment brought in $6.72 billion, up 107% year over year, with cloud and enterprise server sales each growing more than 70%. Lisa Su called it the fifth consecutive quarter of record server CPU revenue, and management said AMD gained x86 server revenue share year over year. That is the punchline. EPYC is winning sockets.
Intel’s DCAI unit still put up $6.26 billion, up 59% YoY, its strongest server growth on record. Lip-Bu Tan admitted the constraint bluntly: “Some area we are still behind, but we are catching up very fast.” CFO David Zinsner said “Server CPU demand continues to far outpace available supply,” which sounds great until you remember AMD is the one absorbing the overflow.
Q2 2026 Data Center AMD Intel DCAI Revenue $6.72B $6.26B YoY Growth +107% +59% Flagship CPU EPYC Venice (Zen 6, 2nm) Xeon 6+ on Intel 18A One Ships AI Racks, One Fixes Its Fabs AMD is pushing rackscale. Helios pairs Venice CPUs with MI450 GPUs, and customer commitments already include Anthropic (up to 2 gigawatts of MI450 in Helios), plus multi-generation deals with OpenAI and Meta. Su claims Helios delivers up to 30% more tokens per dollar than the competition. That is a marketing number, but the customer list is real.
Intel’s story is a manufacturing turnaround. Intel 18A output rose more than 50% quarter-over-quarter, and the company entered risk production on 18AP. Foundry still lost $2.1 billion in the quarter. A $12.53 billion non-cash charge tied to the CHIPS Act escrow drove a GAAP loss of $2.16 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.42 beat the $0.22 estimate, so the operating story is genuinely better, but the balance sheet is doing gymnastics.
What I Am Watching Into 2027 AMD guided Q3 to roughly $13 billion, up 41% YoY, and expects the Data Center segment to more than double again in 2027. Intel guided Q3 revenue to $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion with non-GAAP EPS of $0.38. The variable I care about is whether Intel’s Diamond Rapids and Coral Rapids actually close the gap before Venice cements EPYC as the default cloud socket.
Why I Still Lean AMD, With One Caveat Personally, I lean AMD. Product leadership, customer pull, and margin expansion (non-GAAP operating margin hit 27%, up from 12%) all point the same direction. The caveat: AMD is up 130.39% year to date and Intel is up 163.39%, so a lot of the turnaround is priced in on both. AMD offers the cleaner earnings story, while Intel Foundry represents the higher-variance turnaround thesis with more binary risk. If you are hunting for the next monster run in AI silicon, we reverse-engineered what the biggest tech winners looked like early in a free playbook here.
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