Intel's (INTC -8.02%) stock initially soared after it reported quarterly financial results.
*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of July 23, 2026. The video was published on July 25, 2026.
Parkev Tatevosian, CFA 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. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Three companies dominate the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) chips: Nvidia (NVDA -1.01%), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD -3.54%), and Intel (INTC -8.02%). But dominating the conversation and winning the race are two different things. So which one actually came out ahead in the first half of 2026? The answer depends on how you keep score.
Image source: Getty Images.
Nvidia won the business By the measure that matters most, market dominance, it was not close. Nvidia still controls somewhere between 80% and 90% of the AI data center graphics processing unit (GPU) market. Its data center segment alone generated roughly $194 billion over its most recent fiscal year, more than 11 times AMD's entire data center business, and its new Vera Rubin platform has ramped into full production with demand visibility stretching into the trillions of dollars. When it comes to actually selling the chips that train and run AI, Nvidia is not just winning, it is lapping the field.
The one place Nvidia did not win was the stock chart. Shares rose only modestly in the first half because expectations were already so high that even spectacular results struggled to push the stock higher.
Today's Change
(
-1.01
%) $
-2.10
Current Price
$
206.66
AMD won the momentum If Nvidia won the business, AMD won the hearts of investors. Its stock was a strong performer to competitors by a wide margin, climbing triple digits as Wall Street warmed to its AI story. The results backed it up: record data center revenue, up 57% from a year earlier, and a next-generation MI400 chip lineup with its Helios server racks arriving later this year. Most striking, AMD landed enormous multiyear commitments from OpenAI and Meta Platforms -- deals that give it real revenue visibility.
AMD still holds only a mid-single-digit slice of the AI GPU market, so it is nowhere near dethroning Nvidia. But it is the clear and fast-rising No. 2, and for shareholders, it delivered the best returns of the group.
Today's Change
(
-3.54
%) $
-19.11
Current Price
$
520.58
Intel did not really show up -- but its stock did Then there is Intel, which spent the first half fighting a different battle entirely. Its Gaudi AI accelerators never gained traction, with the company itself conceding they would not generate meaningful revenue, and its release schedule has been anything but steady.
On the AI accelerator front, Intel is essentially absent from the war, and its next-generation data center AI chip is not expected until well into 2027. Yet, remarkably, Intel has been the best-performing stock of the three this year, soaring around 340%. Here is the twist: That surge has almost nothing to do with AI chips.
It reflects investor excitement over its foundry turnaround and a wave of outside backing as Intel tries to become a contract manufacturer for others. Intel is being richly rewarded for a fight taking place well outside the AI silicon race.
Today's Change
(
-8.02
%) $
-8.04
Current Price
$
92.20
So which company actually won? Or which one lost? Here is how I score it. Nvidia won the race -- at least the race that counts because it still owns the AI chip market and prints staggering profits doing it. AMD won one of the battles for investor returns and momentum, cementing itself as the ascendant challenger with a credible product roadmap and marquee customers. Intel lost the AI chip race outright even as it plays a longer game elsewhere.
If "winning" means dominance and cash, the crown stays firmly on Nvidia. If it means which company rewarded shareholders and gained the most ground, AMD took the first half. Either way, the AI chip race has become a two-horse contest, with Intel watching from the sidelines.
For most investors, this reduces to a simple framework. Nvidia remains the king and the lower-risk way to own AI silicon, with dominance that is proving remarkably durable. AMD is the higher-upside challenger that just delivered the best returns of the trio and has genuine momentum, though it trades on big expectations of its own.
Intel requires a completely different thesis built on a foundry turnaround, not AI chips. My honest read is that the smart money in the first half rode AMD's momentum and Nvidia's dominance, and I would keep watching those two rather than waiting on Intel to catch up.
Intel (INTC -8.02%) is attempting one of the most ambitious semiconductor turnarounds in history. As AI reshapes technology, the company is betting that advanced manufacturing could become the next major competitive advantage. This video explores Intel's foundry strategy, Intel 18A technology, and whether the company can reclaim a critical role in the global chip industry.
Stock prices used were the market prices of July 9, 2026. The video was published on July 23, 2026.
Rick Orford 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. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Intel delivered a strong Q2, with AI-driven CPU growth reviving its core franchise and driving robust operating leverage. Despite operational improvements, Foundry remains heavily loss-making and reliant on internal demand, with minimal external revenue traction. Valuation is demanding: current price assumes Foundry break-even and sustained DCAI profit growth even after supply normalizes.
SemiAnalysis' Doug O'Laughlin says Intel's turnaround case rests on executing its foundry strategy after decades of missteps. He argues the company's domestic manufacturing footprint is a scarce strategic asset and warns against giving up its Ohio clean room as AI chip demand accelerates.
Intel (INTC -8.02%), a leading semiconductor manufacturer, closed down 7.89% at $92.32. Investors sold off Intel shares after initial optimism following yesterday’s earnings, as questions about foundry customers and artificial intelligence (AI) progress took focus. Trading volume reached 179.1 million shares, coming in about 36% above its three-month average of 131.4 million shares.
How the markets moved todayS&P 500 closed at 7,412, up 0.05%, while the Nasdaq Composite finished at 24,976, down 0.64%. Among semiconductor peers, Advanced Micro Devices closed at $521.95, down 3.29%, and Texas Instruments closed at $279.58, down 1.90%, reflecting broader chip weakness.
What this means for investorsIntel rose in after-hours trading yesterday as investors reacted to its strong quarterly results, with revenue up 25% year-over-year, topping analyst estimates. However, shares fell today as Wall Street refocused on demand at its foundry unit, high capital expenditure (capex), and the possibility it might tap markets for additional funds, which would dilute shareholder value.
To put Intel’s price drop in context, its results come at a time when AI jitters are running rampant, and the fall mirrors that of tech giants like Alphabet. Investors are increasingly uncomfortable with growing AI spending and want to see how the high outlays will generate revenue.
Those concerns are understandable, and with Intel’s shares up over 300% this year, investors want reassurance that it can maintain this momentum. Most importantly, watch to see if its foundry business can attract more outside customers and whether rising demand for its chips can match its spending plans.
Emma Newbery has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Intel, and Texas Instruments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Intel (INTC -7.89%) reported second-quarter results after the market closed on Thursday, and they were the strongest numbers of its turnaround so far. Revenue rose 25% year over year to $16.1 billion -- the chipmaker's fastest quarterly growth in more than 15 years, and far above management's own April forecast, which topped out at $14.8 billion.
The stock, which closed Thursday at $100.23 after slipping 2.3% in the regular session, jumped about 12% in after-hours trading Thursday. But at the time of this writing on Friday, that gain had been erased, and shares had fallen below Thursdays closing price.
Intel's revenue was roughly flat in 2025, and it grew just 7% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. From there to 25% is a sharp acceleration for a business many investors had all but written off.
So, why didn't the stock hold its gain?
Image source: Intel.
Where the growth came from Powering its business during the quarter was Intel's data center and AI (artificial intelligence) segment. Revenue there rose 59% year over year to $6.3 billion, accelerating from 22% growth in the first quarter as AI-related demand for the company's server processors climbed.
But the growth was broad-based, too. Client computing and physical AI revenue rose 13% to $8.9 billion. And Intel's foundry segment (the business that manufactures chips, still mostly Intel's own) grew 31% to $5.8 billion.
"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," said CEO Lip-Bu Tan in the company's second-quarter earnings release.
Profitability may be the more impressive part of the report. Intel's non-GAAP (adjusted) gross margin came in at 41.8%, up 12.1 percentage points from the year-ago period. Even more, its adjusted operating margin swung to 17.2% from negative 3.9% a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.42, against a $0.10 adjusted loss per share in the year-ago quarter. In dollars, that's $2.2 billion of adjusted net income from a business that ran an adjusted loss in the same period last year. The quarter also produced $7.0 billion in operating cash flow.
Of course, one number in the report needs decoding: Intel's reported net loss of $11.0 billion. That figure reflects a $12.5 billion non-cash, mark-to-market charge tied to shares Intel holds in escrow under its CHIPS Act agreement with the U.S. government. It's an accounting charge, not a cash cost from operations.
Today's Change
(
-7.89
%) $
-7.91
Current Price
$
92.32
The price now assumes more quarters like this And looking ahead, Intel's guidance suggests the momentum can hold. Management forecast third-quarter revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, put adjusted earnings per share at $0.38, and forecast a 42% gross margin at the midpoint, all on an adjusted basis. At the midpoint, that implies year-over-year growth of about 19% -- a step down from 25%, but a second straight quarter of growth the old Intel couldn't have printed.
And the company is spending to meet the demand it sees. Chief financial officer Dave Zinsner said Intel is "meaningfully increasing our investments in equipment, clean room space, and substrates." That spending should support growth, though the resulting depreciation could weigh on margins in the years ahead.
Then there's the stock. Within the past year, shares traded below $20. Today, even after the pullback, shares trade aroudn $96.
This backdrop -- a huge surge in the stock price over the last year -- helps explain the market's reaction today.
Valuation is where I hesitate. The stock's price tag is simply hard to justify. The company commands a market capitalization of about $480 billion. Annualize the adjusted earnings pace of its current and guided quarters, and shares trade at about 60 times that figure. That price assumes quarters like this one become the norm -- and for a long time.
So, is this the quarter that settles the argument? Partly. The turnaround is no longer just a story. The company grew 25% and produced a $2.2 billion adjusted profit doing it.
But given its sky-high valuation, the stock demands that the pace continue -- even after a sharp pullback from 52-week highs recently.
As of 11:31 AM ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.32%) is up 0.72% to 52,082, the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.02%) has gained 0.59% to 7,452, and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC -0.58%) is rising 0.09% to 25,161 as blue-chip stocks rebound from yesterday's heavy selling.
Gold is up 0.74% to $4,080.10 as of 11:31 AM ET and the 10-Year Treasury yield is up 0.04% to 4.71%.
Today's biggest movesIntel (INTC -6.14%) shares are falling 4% today as investors weigh heavy capital spending against an earnings beat, while Alphabet (GOOGL +0.42%) is seeing a modest recovery attempt. Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX -3.49%) is under pressure as space industry valuations soften today.
What this means for investorsSpaceX stock dropped to an all-time low today as investors continue to rerate the company’s valuation after its massive initial public offering (IPO) last month. Investors are focusing on buying blue-chip names today, as reports say Pakistan is considering a path to new peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Intel and Tesla are both slumping after recent earnings reports, leading to underperformance of the tech-heavy Nasdaq. Investors are growing increasingly concerned about the massive increase in capital expenditures among tech companies.
Oil prices and the conflict in the Middle East will likely continue to drive market sentiment into next week, but investors with a long-term outlook should consider using weakness to add to their favorite names.
Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Howard Smith has positions in Alphabet and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Intel, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Intel (INTC) is experiencing pressure this morning despite posting impressive quarterly results and providing optimistic Q3 guidance. Investors seem to be balan
Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC, XETRA:INL) shares reversed sharply on Friday, falling more than 4% after an initial surge after Thursday’s bell as investors weighed a mixed picture from Wall Street analysts following the chipmaker's second-quarter results.
Intel beat expectations with $0.42 in pro-forma earnings per share, nearly double consensus estimates, on revenue that topped forecasts by 12%. Data center sales jumped 59% year-over-year, marking the company's best growth rate in 15 years, according to Bank of America. Third-quarter guidance of $16.3 billion also came in well above Street estimates.
Despite the beat, analysts were split on what it means for the stock.
Wedbush raised its price target by more than 50% to $98 but maintained a Neutral rating, citing valuation concerns. "We still struggle to justify Intel's valuation, particularly relative to its peers, and thus remain on the sidelines with regard to the stock," the firm wrote, noting that gross margins remain closer to historical lows despite favorable demand conditions.
Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating, raising 2026 through 2028 earnings estimates by 20% to 40%. The firm pointed to progress in Intel's foundry business and strength in server CPUs tied to the broader AI buildout as reasons for optimism, calling Intel's US-based manufacturing capacity and government backing "long-term competitive moats."
BofA flagged the need to fund rising capital expenditures as a risk, though it noted Intel has other levers available, including asset sales and customer prepayments.
Jefferies described the quarter as a "seventh consecutive beat and raise," driven by better pricing and record server revenue growth. The firm raised its 2026 EPS estimate by 34%. Jefferies said an increase in planned 2027 capital spending, layered on top of this year's raised $20 billion-plus budget, signals that external foundry customers are moving from evaluation toward firmer commitments.
Still, the firm cautioned that the outlook was "not thesis-changing" and pointed to a Q3 guide showing data center sales roughly flat quarter-over-quarter due to ongoing supply constraints.
All three firms highlighted supply as a limiting factor, with Wedbush noting that Intel compute remains among the hardest components to source in the server supply chain.
Management also pointed to progress on its 14A manufacturing process, telling analysts the company has hit milestones needed to deliver a key design kit in October and is stepping up investment ahead of planned production in 2027 and 2028.
Key Takeaways Intel is expanding AI across PCs, enterprise systems, edge computing and AI infrastructure.INTC ramped Intel 18A production while advancing 14A development and advanced packaging.Intel is growing AI infrastructure exposure through Xeon, networking, custom silicon and cloud partnerships. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the semiconductor industry, creating new opportunities across data centers, enterprise computing, networking and advanced manufacturing. For Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) , these trends are driving a broader transformation that extends well beyond its traditional PC business.
The company's ability to capitalize on AI infrastructure demand while executing its manufacturing roadmap will likely play a central role in determining its long-term growth trajectory.
Intel Pushes AI Beyond Traditional PCsIntel is expanding its AI strategy across commercial and consumer markets by integrating artificial intelligence capabilities into PCs, enterprise systems and edge computing platforms. The company has repositioned its client business around both traditional computing and physical AI applications, reflecting growing demand for local AI processing across a wider range of devices.
Beyond AI PCs, Intel continues investing in enterprise AI infrastructure, robotics and edge deployments. Its expanding portfolio enables customers to process AI workloads closer to where data is generated, supporting applications that require lower latency, enhanced security and improved real-time performance.
INTC Advances the Next Foundry CycleIntel's manufacturing roadmap continues to make measurable progress. The company has ramped Intel 18A into volume production for multiple products while reporting improving yields, higher factory output and better cycle times across its manufacturing network.
Looking ahead, Intel remains on track with Intel 14A development, including continued progress on process technology and customer engagement. At the same time, advanced packaging technologies such as EMIB-T and growing external foundry relationships highlight Intel's broader effort to transform its manufacturing business into a long-term competitive advantage serving both internal products and third-party customers.
Intel Benefits From AI Infrastructure DemandAI infrastructure demand is expanding well beyond graphics processors, creating opportunities across CPUs, networking, custom silicon and advanced packaging. Intel is benefiting from stronger adoption of Xeon processors as enterprises and hyperscale customers build increasingly sophisticated AI environments.
The company is also strengthening its position through networking products, purpose-built silicon, advanced packaging technologies and collaborations with enterprise customers and cloud providers. These initiatives support Intel's participation across multiple layers of AI infrastructure rather than concentrating on a single product category.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) continues expanding its presence in server processors and AI computing, while NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) remains the market leader in AI accelerators. Intel's diversified product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities provide an alternative competitive approach as enterprise AI deployments continue to broaden.
INTC Navigates Industry HeadwindsDespite favorable industry trends, Intel continues operating in a highly competitive and capital-intensive environment. Manufacturing execution remains essential as the company scales advanced process technologies while balancing production costs and customer commitments.
Broader industry challenges also remain. Supply constraints affecting leading-edge components, fluctuations in memory markets, aggressive competition across CPUs, GPUs, networking and application-specific integrated circuits, along with elevated capital spending requirements, could influence how effectively Intel converts emerging AI opportunities into sustained financial growth.
How Intel's Rating Reflects the Trend StoryIntel's strategic transformation is increasingly tied to long-term technology trends rather than the traditional PC replacement cycle. Continued execution across AI products, manufacturing and foundry services will remain critical as these opportunities evolve.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reflecting improving earnings estimate momentum. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. However, its VGM Score of D indicates that its overall combination of value, growth and momentum characteristics remains relatively modest. The Value Score of F and Growth Score of C contrast with a stronger Momentum Score of B, suggesting the market currently places greater weight on Intel's improving operational momentum while investors continue to monitor whether long-term execution translates into stronger value and growth characteristics.
Key Takeaways Intel is expanding beyond PCs with AI, enterprise, edge computing, foundry and autonomous driving businesses.Intel's foundry utilization, yields and factory output improved, with narrower operating losses.INTC's growing AI adoption through Xeon, AI PCs, networking, packaging and cloud and enterprise partnerships. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) is reshaping its business around artificial intelligence, enterprise infrastructure and advanced manufacturing as it reduces its reliance on the traditional PC market. The company's long-term investment case increasingly depends on its ability to execute across these strategic priorities while strengthening its manufacturing leadership.
Recent results suggest Intel is making progress. Stronger demand for AI infrastructure, improving foundry execution and expanding customer adoption across multiple product categories are helping reinforce confidence in its turnaround strategy.
Intel Expands Beyond the PC MarketIntel has steadily diversified beyond its legacy PC business by focusing on data-centric markets that include AI infrastructure, enterprise computing, edge computing and autonomous driving. Its operating structure now reflects this transition, with dedicated businesses serving client computing, data center and AI, manufacturing, networking and Mobileye's autonomous driving platform.
A major strategic shift has been the adoption of Intel's internal foundry operating model. By separating product development from manufacturing operations, the company aims to improve transparency, accountability and cost discipline while increasing manufacturing efficiency. The structure also supports Intel's broader ambition to become a leading foundry serving both internal products and third-party customers.
INTC Builds Momentum Across AI PlatformsArtificial intelligence has become a key growth driver across Intel's portfolio. Demand for Xeon processors continues to strengthen as enterprises and hyperscale customers expand AI infrastructure beyond graphics processors into CPUs, networking and purpose-built silicon. The company has also broadened its AI offerings with AI PCs, Arc Pro graphics solutions, networking products and advanced packaging technologies.
Intel is expanding customer adoption through partnerships spanning cloud providers, enterprise customers and industry-specific AI deployments. Continued investment in purpose-built silicon, physical AI and advanced packaging should further strengthen its position across data center, edge and enterprise workloads.
Competition remains intense from Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) , which continues expanding its presence in data center processors and AI accelerators. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) also remains a dominant force in AI infrastructure through its GPU ecosystem, underscoring the importance of Intel's differentiated CPU, networking and manufacturing strategy.
Intel Foundry Becomes a Strategic Growth EngineIntel Foundry has become one of the company's most important long-term growth initiatives. The business reported improving factory utilization, better manufacturing yields and significantly higher factory output, while operating losses narrowed as production efficiency improved.
Management also highlighted meaningful reductions in Panther Lake wafer costs, continued progress on Intel 18A manufacturing and development milestones for Intel 14A. External customer engagement continues to expand alongside growing demand for advanced packaging services, reinforcing Intel's effort to establish foundry services as a meaningful long-term revenue driver.
INTC Faces Execution and Competitive RisksDespite encouraging progress, Intel still faces significant execution challenges. Manufacturing leadership depends on successfully ramping advanced process technologies while maintaining cost discipline and meeting customer commitments.
The competitive landscape also remains challenging across CPUs, GPUs, application-specific integrated circuits, networking and custom silicon. Elevated capital expenditures, ongoing industry supply constraints and geopolitical uncertainty could continue creating operational and financial headwinds as Intel scales its manufacturing investments.
How Intel's Rating Fits the Current ThesisIntel's long-term outlook increasingly depends on consistent execution across AI products, manufacturing and foundry services. Continued progress in these areas could strengthen its competitive positioning as enterprise AI adoption expands.
The stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reflecting improving earnings momentum. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. However, its VGM Score of D suggests its overall combination of value, growth and momentum characteristics remains relatively weak. That weaker composite score largely reflects a Value Score of F and Growth Score of C, although the Momentum Score of B indicates comparatively stronger price and earnings momentum. Together, these measures suggest that while earnings expectations have improved, investors may still want to balance Intel's improving momentum against its more modest value and growth characteristics before making investment decisions.
Key Takeaways INTC posted 25% higher Q2 revenue and stronger profitability as manufacturing execution improved.Intel saw Data Center and AI revenue jump 59%, while foundry efficiency gains narrowed losses.INTC's outlook hinges on AI execution, foundry expansion and managing elevated capital spending. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) has staged a remarkable recovery in 2026, fueled by improving financial performance and growing confidence in its artificial intelligence and manufacturing strategy. After such a sharp rally, investors are increasingly asking whether the company's operational momentum can continue supporting further upside.
While Intel is benefiting from stronger AI demand and improving execution, its long-term investment case still depends on successfully scaling its foundry business, expanding its product portfolio and managing elevated capital investments.
INTC Delivered Strong Quarterly ResultsIntel reported a strong second quarter, with revenue rising 25% year over year to $16.1 billion while adjusted earnings of $0.42 per share comfortably exceeded expectations. The company also posted meaningful improvements in profitability, with non-GAAP gross margin expanding to 41.8% as stronger manufacturing execution and improving product mix supported results.
Performance improved across the business. Client Computing and Physical AI revenue increased 13% year over year, while Data Center and AI revenue surged 59%, reflecting stronger demand for Xeon processors and enterprise AI infrastructure. Intel Foundry also delivered solid growth as higher factory output, improving yields and better operating efficiency narrowed losses and reinforced confidence in its manufacturing strategy.
Intel's Growth Drivers Continue to ExpandIntel's growth opportunities now extend well beyond traditional personal computers. The company continues expanding its AI PC portfolio while benefiting from stronger adoption of Xeon processors across enterprise, cloud and sovereign AI deployments.
Additional growth drivers include purpose-built silicon, networking products, Arc graphics processors and advanced packaging technologies. Intel is also broadening its foundry business by attracting external customers while advancing its Intel 18A and Intel 14A process technologies. Together, these initiatives create multiple potential revenue streams as AI infrastructure spending continues to expand.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD - Free Report) remains one of Intel's closest processor competitors, while NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) continues to dominate AI accelerator markets. Intel's strategy increasingly centers on competing through its combination of CPUs, advanced manufacturing, packaging capabilities and foundry services rather than relying on any single product category.
INTC Must Balance Growth With SpendingIntel's turnaround also requires substantial investment. The company continues increasing spending on manufacturing equipment, clean-room capacity, substrates and advanced process technologies to support anticipated demand across both products and foundry services.
Those investments have weighed on cash generation, with adjusted free cash flow remaining negative as capital expenditures stay elevated. Although management expects these investments to strengthen Intel's long-term competitive position, maintaining balance sheet discipline and delivering consistent manufacturing execution will remain important as the company scales production.
Intel's Valuation and Outlook in ContextIntel's improving fundamentals have been accompanied by a higher valuation following its strong share price recovery. Even so, the equity research outlook remains constructive, supported by continued earnings estimate revisions, stronger operating execution and an improving competitive position within the semiconductor industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock maintains an Outperform recommendation with a 12-month price target of $115.50. That outlook assumes Intel continues executing on its AI roadmap, manufacturing improvements and foundry expansion while sustaining recent momentum across its product portfolio.
What Intel's Rating Signals for InvestorsFollowing its strong recovery, Intel appears better positioned than it was a year ago, but future returns will likely depend more on operational execution than multiple expansion. Delivering on manufacturing milestones, expanding AI adoption and improving foundry profitability remain central to the investment thesis.
The stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reflecting favorable earnings estimate momentum. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. At the same time, its VGM Score of D indicates that its overall combination of value, growth and momentum characteristics remains mixed. The weaker Value Score of F and Growth Score of C are partially offset by a stronger Momentum Score of B, suggesting investors may benefit from balancing Intel's improving near-term momentum with a measured assessment of its valuation and long-term growth profile.
Brent closed at $100.69, the Mag 7 lost $938.7 billion, and Intel just flipped the after-hours script.
Two facts that should not feel comfortable together: oil crossed $100 while the market’s most expensive growth stocks absorbed nearly $1 trillion in lost value. That is what happens when an inflation shock collides with an AI spending bill that investors finally want explained.
The tape was not indiscriminately weak. Defense, industrials, health care, and utilities found buyers. Big Tech did not. Two markets in one, and the split is getting harder to ignore.
The Inflation Shock Met The AI Bill. The Tape Picked Sides.AI › The Capex Revolt Arrives
Alphabet fell 7.13% after lifting 2026 capital spending guidance to $195 billion to $205 billion. Cloud revenue grew 82%, but free cash flow was negative $5.9 billion. Investors did the math, then punished the entire complex: the Magnificent Seven lost roughly $938.7 billion in market value. AI demand is not the question anymore. The bill, the payback period, and the financing cost are.
Macro › Strong Labor Complicates The Fed
Initial jobless claims came in at just 187,000, another sign the labor market is not cracking. Pair that with $100 oil and a 4.706% 10-year yield, and the Fed enters next week with less room to sound relaxed. Rate expectations are shifting because the inflation and growth signals refuse to cooperate.
Defense › Backlogs Become The Signal
Lockheed Martin rose 10.54% after reporting $20.1 billion in sales and a backlog near $230 billion. RTX gained 7.33% with a $289 billion backlog. The geopolitical risk premium is now landing in signed demand, not just headlines.
Chips › Intel Flips The After-Hours Tape
Intel reported $16.13 billion in revenue and adjusted earnings of $0.42 per share, then guided third-quarter revenue above the Street’s midpoint. Shares jumped after hours. Big Tech sold off all day, but Intel reminded the market that expectations matter as much as the headline.
This Is A Rotation. Not A Liquidation.
A 2.15% Nasdaq drop feels broad until you look beneath it. Industrials gained 1.73%, health care added 1.24%, and utilities finished higher. Communication services and consumer discretionary took the hit.
Capital did not leave the market. It moved toward cash flow visibility, pricing power, and backlogs.
01 · The Tape Kept Picking
Lockheed and RTX rallied because multiyear backlogs convert uncertainty into revenue visibility. Utilities held because their cash flows look durable when growth multiples compress. This was not fear without discrimination. It was a repricing of what investors are willing to pay for distant earnings.
02 · The Discount Rate Moved
$100 oil feeds inflation risk. A 4.706% 10-year yield raises the hurdle rate. Heavy AI spending pushes more value into the future. Put those together and even excellent revenue growth can lose to a higher discount rate. A bounce is not a bottom when the math keeps getting harder.
03 · Next Week Is The Confirmation
The Federal Reserve meets while Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple report. That creates one clean test for the rotation. If yields stay elevated while megacap guidance fails to justify the spending, the market will keep rewarding current cash flow over distant promises. The tell is the 10-year yield. Watch it next week.
Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Intel (INTC) won broad support from Wall Street after delivering better-than-expected second-quarter results, but analysts remain divided on whether the company
"The Intel (INTC) story is largely over," argues Michael Robinson, pointing to the stock's stellar surge over recent months as a sign that "easy money" has already been made. Sean O'Hara adds that the AI spending story is real but would not put a big position on Intel due to its growth story taking time.
Intel (INTC -6.14%) stock dropped 4% through 1:25 p.m. ET Friday after reporting Q2 earnings last night. But here's the thing: Intel's news seemed pretty good.
Heading into the report, analysts expected Intel to earn $0.21 per share (pro forma) on sales of $14.3 billion. Intel actually earned twice what it was expected to -- $0.42 per share. Its sales also topped estimates at $16.1 billion.
Image source: Intel.
Intel Q2 earnings Intel grew its sales 25% year over year, the company's best performance in nearly 15 years. Earnings news was more mixed.
On the one hand, Intel beat estimates by 2x. On the other hand, these were only non-GAAP earnings -- not earnings calculated under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). When calculated under GAAP, Intel didn't earn a profit at all; it lost $2.16 per share, a result significantly worse than many investors may have expected after hearing Intel "beat earnings."
That's reason No. 1 why Intel stock might be down today.
Today's Change
(
-6.14
%) $
-6.15
Current Price
$
94.08
Was Intel's news good or bad? Despite the GAAP loss, Intel's showing signs of improvement. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan says, "AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute" and improving margins. Gross profit margin for the quarter surged nearly 13 full percentage points to 40.4%, and GAAP operating margins flipped from negative to positive (11.1%).
That wasn't enough to produce a GAAP profit, but when turning to guidance, Intel confirmed that gross margins are continuing to improve, and should hit 41% in Q3, helping to deliver a GAAP profit of perhaps $0.31 per share this current quarter.
Best of all, free cash flow has turned positive again, with Intel reporting cash profits of $1.9 billion in Q2. Analysts are still predicting Intel will burn cash this year, but if Intel proves them wrong about that -- look out above!
Rich Smith 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.
Live Coverage Updates appear automatically as they are published.
Live Updates 22 minutes ago
Live
The market’s tone improved Friday as oil prices backed off and investors latched onto signs that U.S.-Iran diplomacy may not be dead. The Nasdaq Composite is up 0.28%, while the S&P 500 rose 0.6% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 333 points, or 0.7%, helped by a 3% jump in Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) stock.
1 hour ago
Live
The White House kept tariff risk in the market’s path, extending a 10% baseline on imports from nearly 60 countries and the EU, according to Bloomberg. The move keeps trade friction front and center just as investors are already weighing higher oil, rising yields, and mixed tech earnings.
2 hours ago
Live
Intel’s (Nasdaq: INTC) earnings landed as a stronger turnaround signal than expected. Revenue jumped 25% to $16.1 billion, ahead of the $14.42 billion estimate and marking the company’s fastest quarterly growth in 15 years. Adjusted EPS of $0.42 doubled expectations, and guidance also came in above Wall Street’s bar, though the stock gave back its initial post-earnings pop during Friday trading. YTD shares are up 163.5%.
This article will be updated throughout the day, so check back often for more daily updates.
The Nasdaq Composite hovered near the flatline Friday as the market tried to steady itself after Thursday’s tech-led selloff. The S&P 500 was roughly flat, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 89 points, or 0.2%. All three major averages remained on track for a losing week.
Oil prices remain volatile. Brent crude eased 3% to roughly $97 per barrel after topping $100 earlier this week for the first time since late May, while WTI slipped 2% to trade above $89. The pullback took some pressure off a market that had been wrestling with a fresh spike in Middle East risk, higher energy prices, and rising yields.
Tech earnings are now moving through the tape, and the early read is mixed: Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL) is spending aggressively to stay ahead in AI, while Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) gave investors another reason to question the near-term profit story.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Here’s a look at where things stand as of early morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 51,766 Up 0.11%
Nasdaq Composite: 25,000 Down 0.55%
S&P 500: 7,403 Down 0.07%
Market Movers Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang made an appearance on X, using his first post to back open AI models, arguing that AI will transform every industry and be built by every country. He framed open models as a safety, cybersecurity, innovation, and sovereignty issue, adding that “the world needs both frontier closed models and frontier open models.”
Google and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) signed a $1 billion data center infrastructure agreement aimed at expanding AI and cloud capacity. The deal gives Google another enterprise-scale infrastructure partner while Verizon gets a clearer lane into the AI data center buildout.
SpaceX (Nasdaq: SPCX) has become one of the biggest casualties in a space-stock selloff that started before its June 12 debut. The Procure Space ETF (Nasdaq: UFO) peaked in late May, and Bespoke Investment Group recently called the move a “violent crash in space-related stocks.” SpaceX rallied out of the gate, but it entered the public market after the sector’s momentum had already cracked.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
HomeIndustriesTech StocksTech StocksThe company is impressing analysts with its profit performanceJuly 24, 2026, 10:10 a.m. ET
Intel just posted its strongest revenue growth in 15 years — and perhaps that wasn’t even the biggest highlight from its report, according to one analyst.
Seaport Research’s Jay Goldberg wrote that the “standout feature,” in his view, was Intel’s profitability. Pro-forma gross margins topped 40% for the first time since the start of 2024, he said. And Intel’s INTC pro-forma operating margin of 17% was its highest since early 2022, demonstrating to Goldberg that the company’s “high fixed-cost model” has “considerable operating leverage.”
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) delivered one of its strongest earnings beats in years on July 24, prompting some analysts to revise their Intel stock price targets.
For instance, Seaport Global Securities has raised its Intel stock prediction 2026 from $90 to $125 while reiterating a “Buy” rating, citing strong quarterly results and an improving outlook.
Specifically, the brokerage highlighted that Intel’s return to gross margins were above 40% for the first time in two years, which is seen as a key sign that the company’s turnaround is gaining traction.
Seaport also pointed to management’s decision to increase capital expenditure forecast for 2026 and likely 2027, arguing the chipmaker would not commit without securing meaningful customer demand. Intel’s confirmation that its 14A manufacturing process remains on track seems to support this.
Intel share price YTD. Source: Finbold DA Davidson raises INTC stock price target to $100 DA Davidson also raised its price target on Intel, lifting it from $77 to $100 while maintaining a “Neutral” rating. Analysts noted that the latest quarterly results exceeded Wall Street expectations on both revenue and earnings, which shows the growing importance of the firm’s CPU business.
“We maintain our NEUTRAL rating and raise our price target to $100 from $77 on INTC following strong 2Q26 earnings that were highlighted by a significant beat on top and bottom-line expectations,” DA Davidson wrote.
Moreover, DA Davidson pointed to increased capital expenditure plans as a sign that leadership is continuing to attract new customers as demand for domestic semiconductor manufacturing accelerates in the United States.
Cantor Fitzgerald cuts Intel stock price target Conversely, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered its Intel share price forecast from $150 to $125, albeit while reiterating a “Neutral” rating and stating that the long-term outlook still remains promising.
On the more cautious end, Cantor pointed to uncertainty surrounding Intel’s client computing business, server CPU market share losses, and lack of new customer announcements. In addition, the brokerage also noted ongoing speculation that Intel could pursue an equity raise.
Nonetheless, the firm remains constructive on Intel, especially thanks to its ties to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), which could strengthen both the company and the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Overall, Cantor concluded that investors are likely not going to be more bullish until Intel shows greater revenue potential in its front- and back-end manufacturing operations.
Featured image via Shutterstock
Best Crypto Exchange for Intermediate Traders and Investors
Invest in cryptocurrencies and 3,000+ other assets including stocks and precious metals.
0% commission on stocks - buy in bulk or just a fraction from as little as $10. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees.
Copy top-performing traders in real time, automatically.
eToro USA is registered with FINRA for securities trading.
30+ million Users worldwide
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Join Finbold's newsroom, become a Sales Executive today! Apply now to join Finbold as a crypto/finance news writer!
Key Takeaways Intel reported Q2 revenue of $16.1B, up 25% year over year, with Data Center and AI revenue up 59%.INTC increased 2026 capital spending to more than $20 billion amid stronger customer demand signals.Intel Foundry revenue reached $5.8 billion as yields, factory scale and Intel 18A production improved. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize accelerating demand for AI infrastructure, improving manufacturing execution and increased investment to expand capacity. Management highlighted stronger-than-expected execution while pointing to supply constraints as the key near-term challenge.
The company also raised its capital spending outlook as executives detailed progress across CPUs, foundry operations, advanced packaging and purpose-built silicon.
INTC Expands AI Infrastructure FocusCEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel is seeing strong demand across products and foundry operations, with AI-driven businesses growing more than 70% year over year. He emphasized that the company’s x86 CPU franchise, packaging technology and wafer network remain central assets.
Tan highlighted improving execution at Intel Foundry, noting that Intel 18A production exceeded internal targets due to better yields, cycle times and wafer starts. He also discussed progress toward Intel 14A development and future customer adoption.
Management positioned advanced packaging and purpose-built silicon as additional growth areas. The company said its design services business revenue nearly tripled year over year, supported by expanding AI-related opportunities.
Intel Sees Strong Server DemandIntel reported second-quarter revenue of $16.1 billion, up 25% year over year, while non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42 versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.21. Revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.41 billion.
Data Center and AI revenue reached $6.3 billion, up 59% year over year, driven by hyperscale and enterprise demand. CFO David Zinsner said server demand is outpacing available supply.
The company cited Xeon 6 momentum and expanding demand for AI infrastructure as important contributors. Management said capacity expansion remains critical to meeting customer requirements.
INTC Pushes Foundry Investment PlansZinsner said Intel is increasing 2026 capital expenditures to more than $20 billion due to stronger customer demand signals. Investments will focus largely on manufacturing tools, advanced nodes and packaging capacity.
The company said Intel Foundry revenue was $5.8 billion in the quarter, while operating losses improved sequentially as yields and factory scale increased.
Management stressed that spending decisions remain tied to customer commitments and expected returns. Executives said future investments will be aligned with demand visibility rather than capacity expansion alone.
Intel Navigates Supply ConstraintsIntel said industry-wide shortages in wafers, memory and substrates continue to limit supply. Management expects supply improvements later in the year but noted that demand remains ahead of production capacity.
The company expects third-quarter 2026 revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.38 and non-GAAP gross margin of 42% at the midpoint.
Executives also noted pressure in the PC market, citing memory constraints and weaker second-half consumption trends. Edge AI deployments and improving product availability provide offsets.
INTC Addresses Analyst ConcernsA Morgan Stanley analyst asked about server market share and competition. Tan said Intel is focused on strengthening its server roadmap through products including Clearwater Forest, Diamond Rapids and Coral Rapids.
A Bernstein analyst questioned client strength and margin impacts. Zinsner explained that pricing, product mix and higher-end demand supported client revenue, while inventory actions affected segment profitability.
A Wells Fargo analyst asked about ASIC growth. Management said the business is approaching a $2 billion run rate and expects further expansion supported by AI-related demand and Intel’s design capabilities.
Intel Sets Path for TransformationIntel’s leadership emphasized continued progress in its operational transformation, with greater focus on execution, customer relationships and manufacturing discipline. Management said the company is building capabilities across computing, foundry and packaging.
The company highlighted collaborations involving Google Cloud, SambaNova and Fortinet as part of its broader AI strategy. These efforts are aimed at expanding Intel’s role in emerging AI workloads.
Executives maintained that supply expansion, technology execution and customer engagement remain the central priorities. The call reflected a strategy focused on scaling AI-related opportunities while improving manufacturing performance.
Zacks Rank and Style Scores SignalsIntel carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating the strongest ranking category in the Zacks Rank system. The Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions and can change after analysts update their expectations following reported results.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The stock has a Value Score of F, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of D. The Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank by evaluating value, growth and momentum characteristics, with higher scores generally representing stronger attributes.
Intel (INTC) posted stronger-than-expected earnings as AI strengthens the company's tech backbone. The stock still fell following Friday's opening bell.
The importance of an earnings report has become almost overstated. However, it’s hard to understate what Intel Corporation NASDAQ: INTC faced heading into its Q2 2026 earnings report. The PHLX Semiconductor Index had fallen roughly 19% from its June 22 peak. Every constituent was in the red. Nearly $2 trillion in sector value had been erased.
Intel Today
$95.51 -4.72 (-4.71%)
As of 12:25 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$18.97▼
$142.35Price Target$105.30
The sell-off happened because investors questioned whether AI infrastructure spending can justify the current multiples being assigned to chip stocks. Investors needed Intel's results to answer one question: Is this a healthy reset, or early proof that demand is cracking?
Get Intel alerts:
The headline numbers from the report were encouraging. Revenue hit $16.1 billion, up 25% year-over-year, roughly $1.8 billion above the midpoint of guidance. It was also Intel's fastest growth rate since 2011.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 42 cents doubled the 21 cents analysts expected. Gross margin expanded to 41.8%, nearly 280 basis points above management's own guide. The stock jumped as much as 12-13% after hours, briefly touching levels above $112.
For a sector trading on fear all month, the earnings report seems to demand a repricing. But the details underneath still leave room for caution.
Data Center Demand Looks Real, Not a Rebound StoryThe clearest signal was in the company’s Data Center and AI Group segment. Revenue jumped 59% year-over-year to $6.3 billion. Management said AI-linked businesses grew more than 70% year-over-year and now make up roughly 70% of total revenue.
Chief financial officer (CFO) David Zinsner told analysts that server CPU demand has improved since last quarter. He pointed to double-digit industry unit growth through 2028. Intel also disclosed 10 long-term supply agreements with customers. Some customers want to lock in pricing. Others are focusing purely on securing volume.
Here's why that matters. Intel said demand is still outstripping available supply. It cited industry-wide shortages of substrates and memory that are expected to persist into next year. That's a different story than the bear case behind July's sell-off, which centered on fears that hyperscalers might pull back AI capital spending. Intel's numbers argue that the bottleneck is hardware supply, not fading demand.
Margins Are Recovering, But Foundry Still Isn't Fully ProvenMargin recovery is another pillar of the bull case, and it's real. Non-GAAP gross margin came in at 41.8% compared to just 29.7% a year ago. For a chip company, that happens because of scale, a richer product mix, and disciplined pricing.
Foundry is where caution still belongs. Intel Foundry revenue rose 31% to $5.8 billion. 18A wafer output grew more than 50% quarter-over-quarter, with yields ahead of internal targets. But external Foundry revenue was just $293 million, which was about 5% of the segment's total. The Foundry operating loss narrowed to roughly $2.1 billion but remains substantial.
Intel landed Fortinet NASDAQ: FTNT as a named foundry customer this week. That's on an older node, though, not the leading-edge 18A business investors need validated. Until a marquee customer commits real volume to 18A or 14A, Foundry will still be a story of internal progress, not proven outside demand.
Guidance Suggests the Beat Wasn't a One-Quarter FlukeIntel guided Q3 revenue to $15.8-$16.8 billion. It guided non-GAAP EPS to 38 cents. Both figures came in well above Wall Street's roughly $15.1 billion and 27 cents estimates. Management also raised its 2026 capital expenditure (CapEx) outlook from $18 billion to more than $20 billion, with 2027 spending set to climb further.
This marks Intel's seventh straight quarter of beating its own outlook. That looks like a management team that has recalibrated expectations lower than what it can actually deliver.
The Tougher Comp Problem AheadIntel has now strung together two quarters of exceptional, AI-fueled growth. The Data Center and AI segment's 59% year-over-year jump follows strong growth last quarter. That makes the next few comparisons much harder.
However, beating a 25% growth quarter against an easy prior-year base is one thing. Beating it again against a quarter that grew 25% is another. Some deceleration in year-over-year growth rates should be expected over the next two or three quarters, even if the underlying business stays healthy. That's not necessarily a red flag, but it does raise the bar for future beats.
Buy the Dip, or Stay Cautious?This report was bullish for INTC. Demand strength, margin recovery, and raised guidance all point to real AI-driven growth. The main unresolved risk is specific to its Foundry business. In that regard, Intel remains a story stock until external 18A customers show up.
Valuation is an interesting wrinkle. Even if the stock pops in the sessions following earnings, Intel wouldn't look expensive against its new earnings power. If anything, shares look modestly undervalued relative to the growth just reported. That's a reasonable setup for patient buyers, but not necessarily one to chase into strength.
Given tougher comps ahead, this looks like a hold rather than a chase. A pullback toward more attractive levels would offer a better entry point. That's not a bearish call on the business. It's a preference for a better price on a company that's proven it can execute.
Intel Corporation (INTC) Price Chart for Friday, July, 24, 2026
For the broader chip dip, Intel's results support the bullish read on demand. Supply constraints, long-term agreements, and raised CapEx all argue the AI buildout isn't stalling. But Intel is one data point in a 30-stock index. The sharpest damage has concentrated in memory and hyper-growth momentum names that don't share Intel's specific demand mix.
Investors reacting to this print have a reasonable case for treating Intel as attractive on a pullback. Diversified semiconductor ETF exposure remains a sensible way to play the broader recovery. Intel's strength doesn't automatically clear every beaten-down chip name of the concerns that drove this sell-off.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Intel Right Now?Before you consider Intel, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Intel wasn't on the list.
While Intel currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Enter your email address and we’ll send you MarketBeat’s list of ten stocks set to soar in Summer 2026, despite the threat of tariffs and what's happening in Iran. These ten stocks are incredibly resilient and are likely to thrive in any economic environment.
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) just delivered its strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years, and our model sees more room to run. The stock trades at $100.23 after a stunning 171.63% year-to-date rally.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel is $130.66, implying 30.36% upside over the next 12 months. That earns a buy rating with a 90% confidence level. This is a high-conviction call anchored to a genuine earnings inflection.
Metric Value Current Price $100.23 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $130.66 Upside 30.36% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% The Rally Has Legs After a Blowout Q2 Intel reported Q2 fiscal 2026 on July 23, 2026, and the numbers reframed the story. Revenue hit $16.13 billion, up 25.4% year over year, beating estimates by 11.64%. Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42 versus a $0.10 estimate, a 320% surprise. The Data Center and AI segment surged 59% to $6.26 billion, and CEO Lip-Bu Tan called it “our strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years.”
The stock has cooled off recently, down 24.23% over the past month from a peak of $142.35, but shares are up 326.69% over the past year. That pullback has compressed the valuation multiple relative to peers.
Why Bulls See a Breakout Ahead The bull case rests on three pillars:
AI demand for server CPUs is broadening, and Intel’s Xeon 6 was selected as the host CPU for NVIDIA DGX Rubin NVL8 Intel 18A-P entered risk production on schedule, and Panther Lake is in high-volume manufacturing using ASML High NA EUV tools Intel raised 2026 CapEx to over $20 billion, signaling management confidence echoed by ecosystem partners The $5 billion NVIDIA equity investment and $2 billion SoftBank investment add strategic ballast. If Q3 lands at the high end of guidance ($16.8 billion) with 42% non-GAAP gross margin, a bull-case path to $138.44 becomes credible.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore raised the firm’s price target on Intel to $84 from $75 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares.
The Risks Worth Watching The GAAP net loss of $11.03 billion looks ugly, driven by a $12.53 billion non-cash charge on CHIPS Act escrow shares, not operating deterioration. Operating income actually rose 156.55% year over year.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Intel Foundry is running roughly $2.1 billion in quarterly operating losses, and management flagged that Intel 14A could be paused if customer demand is insufficient. A bear case with Foundry misses and export-control friction points toward the model’s downside scenario of $96.58.
How Intel Compares to AMD and Qualcomm AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) is the natural x86 rival. AMD posted Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $10.25 billion, up 37.9%, with Data Center up 57% to $5.78 billion. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 203 with a market cap of $880 billion. Intel’s forward P/E of 119 looks defensible against that.
Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) trades at a trailing P/E of 33 with an operating margin of 27.9%. Intel is nowhere near that on profitability yet, but its growth is now double Qualcomm’s. On balance, the peer set makes our $130.66 target look reasonable rather than aggressive.
Company Forward/Trailing P/E Latest Revenue Growth Intel 119x fwd +25.4% AMD 203x ttm +37.9% Qualcomm 33x ttm -3.5% Intel Price Prediction 2026-2030 The 24/7 Wall St. price target is $130.66, the recommendation is buy, and confidence is high. The Q2 earnings inflection combined with sustained AI CPU demand tips the scale. The thesis strengthens if Q3 revenue lands above $16.3 billion with gross margin holding near 42%. The thesis weakens if Foundry losses widen materially or 18A yields disappoint.
Here is where our model projects Intel could trade in the coming years, extending base-case growth assumptions.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $130 2027 $148 2028 $170 2029 $192 2030 $214 These projections assume Intel executes on 18A and 14A ramps and Foundry losses narrow steadily. Significant upside could come from anchor foundry customers signing multi-year commitments. Downside would come from a stalled 14A roadmap.
Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.
Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC) on Thursday reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results.
Intel posted second-quarter revenue of $16.13 billion, beating analyst estimates of $14.42 billion. The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share, doubling estimates of 21 cents per share, according to Benzinga Pro.
"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," said Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel.
Intel expects third-quarter revenue to be in the range of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion versus estimates of $15.01 billion. The company anticipates third-quarter adjusted earnings of 38 cents per share versus estimates of 24 cents per share.
Intel shares gained 1.7% to $103.00 in pre-market trading.
These analysts made changes to their price targets on Intel following earnings announcement.
Mizuho analyst Vijay Rakesh maintained the stock with a Neutral and lowered the price target from $135 to $109. Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers maintained the stock with an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $110 to $120. Considering buying INTC stock? Here’s what analysts think:
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Intel sits at 100.23 after sliding from the 133.00 area, holding the shaded 100 support zone. Source: TradingView The market for Intel is positive early during the session. It looks like it’s going to jump pretty significantly, maybe about $4 or roughly 4% from the close, and if that’s going to be the case, one would have to say that’s pretty healthy. The 50-day EMA sits at the $107 region, $108 or so, and this is a market that will, more likely than not, pay close attention to it based on recent market memory and the way it’s behaved around this indicator.
Regardless, the $100 level, I think, is going to remain important as well from a psychological standpoint. This looks like a market that’s trying to turn things around, but it is worth noting that the last couple of days have seen shots higher that have been faded pretty significantly later in the session.
Intel stock was rallying into Friday after the chipmaker reported blowout earnings supported by strong demand for hardware used in artificial intelligence. With the shares coming off a rough patch, this could be a buying opportunity as Wall Street sees more gains ahead.
The Data Center and AI (DCAI) division generated $2.5 billion in operating income, while Intel Foundry posted a $2.1 billion operating loss. Put side by side, the foundry loss equaled 84% of the operating profit generated by Intel’s fastest-growing major division.
INTC stock is moving after earnings. See the chart and price action here. Chips Business Fires on All CylindersDCAI revenue reached $6.3 billion, up 59% year-over-year from $3.9 billion, as hyperscalers and enterprises kept buying server processors for AI workloads. Operating margin expanded from 16.1% a year ago to 39.5%.
CFO Dave Zinsner said the jump reflected higher revenue, improved product margins and lower operating expenses, calling the roughly $1 billion sequential gain in operating profit meaningfully ahead of expectations.
The Client Computing and Physical AI Group added $8.9 billion in revenue, up 13% to 15%, at a 26% operating margin, giving Intel’s two product segments a combined $4.8 billion of operating profit.
Foundry Narrows the Gap, But Stays RedIntel Foundry revenue climbed to $5.8 billion, up 31% year-over-year, driven by stronger fab volumes on the Intel 18A process, which ran roughly 25% above target and more than 50% higher quarter-over-quarter.
The operating loss narrowed to $2.1 billion from $3.2 billion a year earlier, an improvement of $348 million sequentially. Zinsner credited stronger yields, faster cycle times, and increased factory scale across Intel 43 and 18A for the improved wafer costs.
Tension in Intel’s ComebackTotal revenue hit $16.1 billion, up 25% year-over-year, the fastest growth rate since 2011, and non-GAAP earnings per share of 42 cents doubled the 21 cents consensus estimate, per Benzinga Pro. Shares jumped as much as 12% in after-hours trading following the report.
AI-related server demand is reviving Intel’s most profitable franchise, but the cost of rebuilding manufacturing competitiveness continues to consume most of that operating contribution.
At the current run rate, Intel Foundry is losing roughly $8 billion annually with no confirmed break-even date, even as management touts narrowing losses and rising external interest as proof the turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan is gaining traction.
INTC Stock Price Activity: Intel stock was up 3.15% at $103.39 during premarket trading Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Over the past month, INTC has declined about 22.3% versus a 0.4% rise in the S&P 500 and is up roughly 174% year-to-date compared to the index’s 7.7% gain.
Photo: Piotr Swat / Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) shares rose 3% Friday morning to $103.05, extending a striking turnaround after a blowout Q2 2026 report delivered Thursday after the close. The chipmaker carries a market value of $503.76 billion, and Intel stock is up 178% year to date (YTD).
The move looks idiosyncratic. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) stock is down 1% at $390.41, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) shares are up 1% at $546.20, and NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) stock sits flat at $208.20. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX), a concentrated fund holding all four names, trades flat at $549.68.
Traders are treating Intel’s report as a single-name earnings reaction rather than a broad chip-sector catalyst. The NASDAQ 100 is essentially unchanged as well.
Earnings Beat and Upbeat Q3 Guide Drive the Pop Intel reported Q2 revenue of $16.13 billion, up 25% year over year (YoY), topping the $14.45 billion consensus by 12%. The company’s non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.42, nearly double the $0.2166 estimate, swinging from a $0.10 loss a year earlier.
Intel’s segment strength was broad. Data Center and AI revenue surged 59% to $6.26 billion, Client Computing rose 13% to $8.88 billion, and Intel Foundry climbed 31% to $5.77 billion. Management guided Q3 revenue to $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, above the $15.06 billion consensus, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.38.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, driving the ongoing turnaround, stated that “Our Q2 results represent our strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years, enabled by greater speed, accountability, and customer focus.” He added that “AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute.”
Foundry Wins and Analyst Response Foundry momentum is fueling the response. Alphabet‘s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google reportedly ordered 3 million custom TPUs from Intel’s foundry, per The Information, while NVIDIA is said to be weighing Intel as a backup manufacturer given Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing‘s (NYSE:TSM) capacity constraints serving NVIDIA, Advanced Micro Devices, and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL).
Intel also raised its full-year capex to $20 billion from $18 billion, signaling confidence in foundry and product demand. Wall Street is following through: at least six analysts raised their price targets on Intel stock, and the median target sits 9% above the last close, per LSEG.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The execution numbers back the enthusiasm. Intel’s non-GAAP operating margin swung from -4% a year ago to 17%, and operating cash flow jumped 242% YoY to $7.01 billion. Panther Lake began high-volume manufacturing, and Xeon 6+ launched as the first server-class product on Intel 18A.
The Caveats Behind the Beat Foundry losses remain a drag. Intel Foundry ran a $2.1 billion operating loss in Q2 despite the revenue jump, and GAAP results reflected an $11 billion net loss tied to a $12.53 billion non-cash CHIPS Act escrow charge. The turnaround is real; Intel’s manufacturing arm still needs to prove sustained profitability.
Data center layoffs announced earlier this week also linger as a workforce question. However, with AI capex from hyperscalers still ramping (Alphabet reported strong quarterly capex and NVIDIA guided to strong Q2 revenue), near-term product demand remains supportive for Intel and its foundry pipeline.
What to Watch Traders may want to watch for whether Intel stock holds above $100 into the close and whether analyst target hikes broaden into rating upgrades next week. Execution on the Intel 18A-P ramp, Panther Lake shipments, and additional foundry customer signings could shape the next leg of the story.
Intel’s foundry narrative is a major swing factor. Confirmation of the Google engagement and any incremental customer wins, particularly with NVIDIA reportedly evaluating Intel as a backup, would validate the 18A investment case and help offset the ongoing Intel Foundry losses.
The sector context also matters. If AI capex momentum from Alphabet, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) continues to accelerate into second-half prints, Intel’s DCAI franchise and foundry pipeline should stay supported even as peers like NVIDIA, Broadcom, and AMD trade flat on the day.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Broadcom didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The 10-year yield is near a 12-month high as the U.S.-Iran war continues to serve as an overhang for equities. Kevin Hincks offers his thoughts on the volatility as crude oil prices remain elevated and tariff developments add more questions to the macro picture.
Just three months after warning that its next-generation 14A manufacturing process could be delayed—or even abandoned—without enough customer demand, Intel has officially committed to high-volume production in 2028.
The decision removes one of the biggest questions hanging over Intel Foundry. It also starts a new countdown. After committing billions of dollars to the technology, Intel now has roughly two years to prove customers will place enough orders to justify the investment.
Three Months Changed EverythingEarlier this year, Intel made it clear that 14A wasn’t guaranteed.
In its first-quarter filing, the company said future investments in 14A and factory expansion would depend on securing meaningful external customer commitments and achieving acceptable returns on capital.
This quarter, that language changed materially.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel has “made the decision in Q2 to fully commit to high volume ramps in 2028,” citing stronger customer engagement, rising demand from Intel’s own product roadmap and encouraging technical progress across the node.
“We remain on track for 14A risk production for our internal products in the second half of 2027,” Tan said, adding that the company is seeing “increasing momentum on customer engagements” and growing confidence that 14A will be competitive on performance, power, density, cost and schedule.
CFO Dave Zinsner echoed that message, saying Intel increased investments during the quarter to prepare for 14A risk production in 2027 while committing to high-volume manufacturing the following year.
The Countdown Has StartedThe commitment doesn’t mean Intel’s foundry turnaround is complete.
Far from it.
Intel still reported a $2.1 billion operating loss in its Foundry business during the quarter, although operating margin improved to negative 36.2% from negative 71.7% a year earlier as revenue climbed to $5.8 billion, according to the earnings presentation.
The company also entered risk production for 18A-P, while the next major milestone for 14A—the 0.9 Process Design Kit (PDK)—remains on track for October, giving prospective customers another opportunity to evaluate the technology before committing future chip designs.
The company’s latest Form 10-Q also makes clear that the investment case now hinges on converting technical momentum into commercial success. Intel said it intends to accelerate manufacturing expansion projects for 14A, but “the scale and pace” of those investments will ultimately depend on demand from Intel’s own products and design wins from major external foundry customers.
For investors, the story is no longer whether Intel will build 14A.
It’s whether, by 2028, enough customers will be waiting for it.
Image Via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways INTC beats earnings and revenue estimates as Q2 2026 revenues rose 25% year over year.INTC witnessed growth from Xeon CPUs, AI PCs, Intel 18A output, pricing and advanced packaging.Intel expects Q3 2026 revenues of $15.8B-$16.8B and non-GAAP EPS of about 38 cents. Intel Corporation (INTC - Free Report) reported strong second-quarter 2026 results, with both adjusted earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The company reported 25% year-over-year revenue growth, supported by strong demand for Xeon server CPUs and AI PCs, higher Intel 18A output, improving yields and cycle times, favorable product mix and pricing, and continued momentum in purpose-built silicon application-specific integrated circuit products and advanced packaging.
Net IncomeThe company reported a GAAP loss of $11.03 billion or a loss of $2.16 per share compared with a net loss of $2.92 billion or a loss of 67 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Despite higher revenues, GAAP earnings declined sharply due to higher interest and other expenses during the quarter.
Excluding non-recurring items, non-GAAP earnings in the reported quarter were $2.2 billion or 42 cents per share against a net loss of $0.44 billion or a loss of 10 cents per share a year ago. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21 cents.
RevenuesGAAP revenues increased to $16.13 billion from $12.86 billion in the year-ago quarter. The company witnessed solid growth in its total Products and Foundry business segments. The top line beat the consensus estimate of $14.41 billion.
Segment Performance Client Computing and Physical AI Group revenues increased to $8.88 billion from $7.87 billion, driven by strong demand for client CPUs, growing adoption of AI PCs, the launch of Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and Intel Core Series 3 processors, and a favorable product mix with higher average selling prices.
Datacenter and AI Group revenues improved to $6.26 billion from $3.94 billion, driven by strong demand from hyperscale and enterprise customers, robust adoption of Xeon 6 processors for AI infrastructure, continued growth in purpose-built silicon products, and additional strategic customer wins and long-term agreements.
While total Intel Products revenues were up to $15.14 billion from $11.81 billion, Intel Foundry revenues increased to $5.77 billion from $4.42 billion, owing to higher fab volumes, strong growth in Intel 18A output, improving yields, better cycle times, and increasing wafer starts across Intel 7, Intel 3, and Intel 18A. All Other revenues, which include Altera, Mobileye and other businesses, were $0.7 billion.
Other DetailsNon-GAAP gross profit was $6.74 billion compared with $3.81 billion in the year-ago quarter, with respective margins of 41.8% and 29.7%. Non-GAAP research and development and marketing, general and administrative expenses totaled $3.97 billion compared with $4.32 billion in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP operating income was $2.77 billion against an operating loss of $0.5 billion in the year-ago quarter, with respective margins of 17.2% and a negative 3.9%.
Cash Flow & LiquidityAs of June 27, 2026, Intel had cash and cash equivalents of $12.87 billion and long-term debt of $48.55 billion. In the first six months of 2026, the company generated $8.1 billion in cash compared with $2.86 billion in the year-ago period. In the second quarter of 2026, Intel generated $7.01 billion of cash from operating activities compared with $2.05 billion in the year-ago quarter.
OutlookFor the third quarter of 2026, Intel expects GAAP revenues to be in the range of $15.8-$16.8 billion. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be 42%. Non-GAAP earnings are expected to be around 38 cents per share. Non-GAAP tax rate is anticipated to be 11%.
Zacks RankIntel currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Upcoming ReleasesArista Networks Inc. (ANET - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 89 cents per share, suggesting growth of 21.92% from the year-ago reported figure.
Arista has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.86%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 8.31% in the last four reported quarters.
Amphenol Corporation (APH - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.19 per share, implying growth of 46.91% from the year-ago reported figure.
Amphenol has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 24.01%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 14.08% in the last four reported quarters.
Corning Incorporated (GLW - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 28. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 76 cents per share, implying growth of 26.67% from the year-ago reported figure.
Corning has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 23.89%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 2.41% in the last four reported quarters.
Beats Estimates, Raises OutlookThe chipmaker beat second-quarter expectations, with revenue rising 25% year over year to $16.13 billion, above the $14.42 billion estimate. Adjusted EPS of 42 cents doubled estimates of 21 cents, while Data Center and AI revenue jumped 59% and Intel Foundry revenue rose 31%.
The company also guided third-quarter revenue to $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, ahead of the $15.01 billion estimate. Intel expects adjusted EPS of 38 cents, topping the 24-cent estimate.
Wall Street largely viewed Intel’s quarter as further evidence that its turnaround is gaining momentum. Analysts said stronger-than-expected results, improving foundry execution and robust AI-driven server demand reinforce the recovery narrative.
However, they cautioned that Intel still must consistently execute, attract more external foundry customers and convert its heavy AI investments into sustainable, profitable growth as it competes with Advanced Micro Devices Inc., NVIDIA Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd..
Intel Foundry Execution Remains The Key CatalystSemiAnalysis’ Doug O’Laughlin told CNBC on Friday that Intel’s upside depends on whether it can execute its foundry strategy after years of missteps.
He said Intel should announce more external customers over time, including potential interest from Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., but first needs to prove it can deliver for the customers it has already won.
Benchmark’s Cody Acree also told CNBC on Friday that Intel needs firmer foundry customer announcements to drive the stock higher. He said the company is making progress on yields and development, which could help attract more interest.
Benefits From AI-Driven Server CPU DemandAcree said Intel’s second-quarter results showed broad strength across foundry, PC and server businesses. He said server CPU demand remains strong as hyperscalers continue spending on AI infrastructure.
Acree said AI workloads are moving toward inference and agentic AI, which require CPUs to orchestrate and manage activity alongside GPUs.
He said AMD has gained share from Intel, but the expanding server CPU market could benefit both companies as Intel’s products become more competitive.
Intel Valuation Hinges On Turnaround ExecutionDeepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster told CNBC on Friday that Intel’s post-earnings rally gives investors more upside potential, helped by stronger September-quarter guidance and commentary around 14A, which he sees as a 2028 catalyst.
Munster said Intel remains much smaller than NVIDIA in data center and AI, and NVIDIA’s GPU business still holds a stronger position in the AI infrastructure buildout. Still, he said Intel’s smaller base gives it more room for upside than larger AI leaders.
O’Laughlin said Intel can look expensive on current sales and cash-flow metrics, but investors are paying for the possibility of margin recovery if the company executes in foundry.
Turnaround Still Needs ProofO’Laughlin said Intel’s U.S. manufacturing footprint gives it scarcity value because the company spans process design through fabrication domestically. The analyst said Intel should not give up its Ohio cleanroom, especially as AI chip demand accelerates.
He said partnerships with memory suppliers such as SK hynix Inc. matter because leading-edge AI accelerators require both logic chips and memory packaging.
He also said Intel’s restructuring reflects an effort to move past organizational bloat, noting that AMD and Taiwan Semiconductor had previously employed fewer people combined despite stronger performance.
Acree said Intel’s valuation looks stretched versus its history, but he sees that as secondary while the company remains early in its turnaround and investors wait for proof from foundry, PCs, servers and AI infrastructure.
Intel Price ActionINTC Stock Price Activity: Intel shares were up 5.55% at $105.79 during premarket trading on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Computer motherboard and Intel chip appear in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
July 24 (Reuters) - Intel's (INTC.O), opens new tab shares rose 6% in premarket trading on Friday after bullish forecasts signaled the AI boom was propelling the chipmaker's long-awaited turnaround.
The company forecast third-quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations and raised this year's capital expenditure estimate to $20 billion from $18 billion.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Intel's improving outlook reflects growing adoption of its data center central processing units (CPUs) by customers building infrastructure for artificial intelligence, as CEO Lip-Bu Tan works to position the company as a broader beneficiary of AI-driven semiconductor demand despite Nvidia's (NVDA.O), opens new tab lead in accelerator chips.
"The capex increase not only signals confidence in cash flow upside and demand visibility from long-term agreements for products, but also confidence that Foundry customers are coming (for packaging and 14A wafers)," analysts at Melius Research said.
This month's selloff in global chip stocks has pushed Intel off record highs, but the shares have more than doubled this year, driven by optimism around the company's turnaround efforts.
The strong results prompted at least six analysts to raise their price targets, leaving the median target about 8.8% above the stock's last close, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Tan has spent the past year strengthening Intel's finances, securing backing from the U.S. government and major investors as the chipmaker seeks to play a key role in Washington's push to revive domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
"The aggressive capex raise is a proof point that Intel is likely to see continued customer acquisition as the United States demands more domestic semiconductor manufacturing," D.A. Davidson analysts said.
Demand for data center CPUs has surged alongside the rise of AI agents, with Intel executives noting earlier this year that orders were running ahead of the company's production capacity.
Reporting by Joel Jose in Bengaluru; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Devika Syamnath
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Výrobce čipů Intel zveřejnil výsledky hospodaření za druhý kvartál 2026. Společnost překonala predikce na úrovni všech hlavních ukazatelích. Podle analytika ze Citi Intel vykázal nejsilnější růst tržeb za více než 15 let, přičemž výsledky i výhled jsou výrazně nad tržním konsenzem, především z důvodu silné výkonnosti segmentu datových center a poptávce po umělé inteligenci.
Výsledky společnosti Intel (INTC) za 2Q 2025 2Q 2026 Konsensus 2Q 2026 2Q 2025 Tržby (mld. USD) 16,13 14,43 12,86 Čistý zisk (mld. USD) -11,03 -- -2,92 Očištěný zisk na akcii (EPS, USD/akcie) 0,42 0,21 -0,10 Výsledky za 2Q Společnost ve druhém kvartálu reportovala 25% meziroční růst výnosů na 16,1 mld. USD.
Tržby Intelu ve 2Q dle segmentů
(mld. USD) Segment Tržby Kosenzus Meziroční změna Produkty Intel
15,14 13,46 +28 % Osobní počítače 8,88 7,99 +13 % Datová centra a umělá inteligence 6,26 5,54 +59 % Výrobní služby Intel Foundry 5,77 5,48 +31 % Ostatní 0,70 0,64 -33 % Eliminace mezi segmenty -5,48 -5,32 -24 % Hrubá marže dosáhla 40,4 %, jedná se o meziroční růst o 12,9 p. b. Očištěná hrubá marže byla reportována na úrovni 41,8 %, očekávalo se 39,2 %. V meziročním srovnání vzrostla o 12,1 p. b.
Očištěný provozní zisk dosáhl 2,77 mld. USD, očekávalo se 1,62 mld. USD. Ve 2Q 2025 společnost reportovala ztrátu 503 mil. USD. Očištěná provozní marže činila v uplynulém kvartálu 17,2 %. Tržní konsensus byl nastaven na 11,1 %.
Výdaje na výzkum a vývoj dosáhly 3,37 mld. USD. Jedná se v meziročním srovnání o pokles o 8,6 %. Analytici tyto výdaje predikovali na úrovni 3,46 mld. USD.
Očištěné free cash flow bylo reportováno na úrovni -8,42 mld. USD. Ve stejném období 2025 činilo -1,05 mld. USD.
Výhled na 3Q 2026 Společnost na následující kvartál projektuje:
Výnosy v rozmezí 15,8-16,8 mld. USD, očekávalo se 15,06 mld. USD Očištěný čistý zisk na úrovni 0,38 USD při očekávání 0,27 USD. Očištěnou hrubou marži na úrovni 42 %, analytici v průměru predikovali 40,2 %. Očištěnou míru zdanění ve výši 11 %, trh predikoval 11,3 %. Komentář CFO „Ve druhém čtvrtletí jsme dosáhli silných výsledků a překonali náš finanční výhled díky robustní poptávce a zlepšení provozní efektivity. K lepším výsledkům přispěl vyšší objem výroby podpořený vyšší výtěžností továren a kratšími výrobními cykly. Poptávka po výpočetním výkonu poháněném umělou inteligencí nadále sílí a s cílem podpořit očekávaný růst v letošním i příštím roce výrazně navyšujeme investice do výrobního vybavení, kapacity čistých prostor (clean rooms) a substrátů pro výrobu čipů, “ uvedl finanční ředitel Dave Zinsner.
Komentář analytiků Analytik z Bernstein uvedl: „Po letech překonávání řady překážek Intel jednoznačně překonal tržní konsenzus téměř ve všech hlavních ukazatelích. To představuje další důkaz, že zlepšující se výrobní realizace se promítá do vyšší ziskovosti.“
Analytik z Truist Securities uvedl, že ačkoliv Intel vykázal „vynikající“ výsledky, tak investoři by měli dát pozor na rychle rostoucí kapitálové výdaje.
Analytik Citi komentoval výsledky následovně: „Intel vykázal nejsilnější růst tržeb za více než 15 let a výsledky i výhled jsou výrazně nad tržním konsenzem, především z důvodu silné výkonnosti segmentu datových center a poptávce po AI.“
Vývoj akcie Akcie společnosti Intel (INTC) v předburzovní fázi posilují o 6,11 % na 106,33 USD. Akcie Intel se rovněž obchodují na RM-SYSTÉMU, a to pod tickerem BAAINTEC, kde se obchodují za 2 278,00 Kč.
Akcie Intel Corp (INTC) uzavřely včera poklesem o 2,3 % na 100,23 USD. Ukazatel Ukazatel Kapitalizace (mld. USD) 503,8 P/E 116,3 Vývoj za letošní rok (%) +171,6 Očekávané P/E 75,4 52týdenní minimum (USD) 19,0 Prům. cílová cena (USD) 112,6 52týdenní maximum (USD) 142,4 Dividendový výnos (%) -- Zdroj: Bloomberg, Intel
John Pitzer - Corporate Vice President of Corporate Planning & Investor Relations
Lip-Bu Tan - CEO & Director
David Zinsner - Executive VP, CFO and Principal Financial & Accounting Officer
Conference Call Participants
Benjamin Reitzes - Melius Research LLC
Joseph Moore - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Stacy Rasgon - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Timothy Arcuri - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Vivek Arya - BofA Securities, Research Division
Christopher Muse - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division
Aaron Rakers - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Thank you for standing by, and welcome to Intel Corporation's Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, today's program is being recorded.
And now I'd like to introduce your host for today's program, Mr. John Pitzer, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.
John Pitzer
Corporate Vice President of Corporate Planning & Investor Relations
Thank you, Jonathan, and good afternoon to everyone joining us today. By now, you should have received a copy of the Q2 earnings release and presentation. Both are available on our Investor Relations website, intc.com. For those joining us online today, this presentation is also available on our webcast window.
I am joined today by our CEO, Lip-Bu Tan; and our CFO, David Zinsner. Lip-Bu will open up with comments on second quarter results and update the progress we're making on strategic priorities. Dave will then discuss our overall financial results, including third quarter guidance before we transition to answer your questions.
Before we begin, please note that today's presentation does contain forward-looking statements based on the environment as we currently see it. As such, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. It also contains reference to non-GAAP financial measures that we believe provide useful
Key Takeaways Intel's release highlighted favorable demand trends for AI compute. YoY sales growth of 25% reflected the highest read in more than a decade. Intel is significantly increasing its investments in equipment to support future growth. The 2026 Q2 earnings season really picked up pace this week, with a few Magnificent Seven members, namely Alphabet and Tesla, headlining the docket.
While the reactions to those releases were less than desirable, the reaction to Intel’s (INTC - Free Report) results has been relatively more constructive. The stock’s action over July has been disappointing, but the favorable release could help turn sentiment around.
Intel Benefits From AI-Driven Compute DemandIntel reported revenues of $16.1 billion, growing by a rock-solid 25% YoY and reflecting the highest growth rate we’ve seen from the company in more than a decade. The growth rate alone reflects a huge highlight, with the stock’s comeback over the past year simply incredible, gaining more than 400% since last July.
Importantly, its Data Center and AI business unit saw revenue surge nearly 60% YoY to $6.3 billion, with Intel Foundry also seeing 31% YoY revenue growth to $5.8 billion. These results overall reflect that Intel is successfully capturing the AI boom both as a designer of AI processors and as a factory building them.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO, said –
‘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.’
Intel (INTC - Free Report) is also significantly increasing its investments in equipment, clean room space, and substrates. Simply put, Intel is expecting strong, long-term AI demand. The stock currently sports the highly-coveted Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), but keep an eye on the revisions in the coming days/weeks following the release. Further upward revisions would ignite near-term momentum.
By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Bloomberg/Getty Images Not long ago, Intel looked like a fallen giant. Now, the chipmaker has posted its "strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years," CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Thursday.
The company's second-quarter results sent shares up more than 11% in after-hours trading.
The company reported revenue of $16.1 billion, up 25% from a year earlier. It also reported adjusted earnings of $0.42 per share, nearly double Wall Street's expectations.
The company's data center and AI (DCAI) business — an area where it has struggled to keep pace with category leader Nvidia — grew 59% year over year to $6.3 billion.
The results come days after Intel said it was planning layoffs in its data center group as part of an efficiency push.
The results suggest Intel is gaining traction after missing much of the early AI boom. In recent years, it has also been beset by manufacturing delays and lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In 2025, the US government took a 9.9% stake in the chip company.
Today, the company is betting big on its foundry business, which manufactures chips for third-party customers. The strategy helps Intel diversify beyond designing its own chips and brings it closer into competition with manufacturing leader TSMC.
That said, Emarketer senior analyst Jacob Bourne called the foundry business "a work in progress," noting it "lost $2.1 billion and has yet to land the major customers Intel's strategy depends on."
Tan attributed the company's improving performance to better execution — namely, "greater speed, accountability, and customer focus."
Read next
Geoff Weiss You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Geoff Weiss is a senior reporter on Business Insider’s tech team, where he writes about AI startups and Y Combinator, the intersection of AI and the media industry, and workplace dynamics within top AI labs and chip companies.Previously, Geoff was on the media desk, covering YouTube and Netflix, and themes like the intersection of Hollywood and the creator economy. His work on Netflix’s video podcasting ambitions and Mr Beast’s lessons for Hollywood won second and first prize, respectively, at the 2025 LA Press Club Awards.Prior to joining Business Insider, Geoff was the senior editor of Tubefilter and a staff writer at Entrepreneur. He graduated from New York University with a degree in English Literature.He can be reached at [email protected], on Signal @geoffweiss.25, and on LinkedIn. Have a tip? Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.Selected stories:Nvidia crushed its quarter — and CEO Jensen Huang said in a leaked all-hands that 'the market did not appreciate it'Nvidia will foot the bill for Trump's new visa fees. Here's what CEO Jensen Huang told staff.Massive AI salaries and RTO are fueling a real estate boom in San Francisco: 'It's going to rain money'The AI talent wars are ricocheting across startups. Here's how they're competing with Big Tech.
Intel Corporation delivered a stunning Q2 2026 double-line beat, with revenues of $16.1 billion, up 24% year-over-year. INTC's adjusted gross margin reached 41.8%, and operating margin turned positive, reflecting successful streamlining and AI-driven growth. Data Center and AI segment revenues surged 59%, while the Foundry business rebounded 31%, underscoring broad-based strength.
The Silicon Valley chipmaker's revenue rose 25 percent in the latest quarter, its fastest growth in 15 years, as A.I. firms increasingly bought chips known as central processing units.
SummaryIntel Corporation posted a strong Q2, with Data Center revenue up nearly 60% YoY and operating margin rising to 39.5%.INTC’s turnaround is gaining traction, but its valuation remains stretched, trading at a premium to AMD, Broadcom, and Nvidia even on optimistic assumptions.Despite operational improvements and positive guidance, much of the future upside appears already priced in, limiting shareholder yield potential.I’m downgrading INTC to a Sell, as robust execution is outweighed by an inflated valuation and limited margin of safety. Getty Images
The Intel Corporation (INTC) thesis right now seems a bit strange to me. Sure, it has a bit of turnaround characteristics, as well as some secular trends that the company can ride to improve its earnings. But it also has
2.89K Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NVDA 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.
Intel (INTC - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.42 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.21 per share. This compares to a loss of $0.1 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +100.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this world's largest chipmaker would post earnings of $0.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.29, delivering a surprise of +2800%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Intel, which belongs to the Zacks Semiconductor - General industry, posted revenues of $16.13 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.89%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $12.86 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Intel shares have added about 178.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.6%.
What's Next for Intel?While Intel has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Intel was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.25 on $15.08 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.07 on $58.71 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Semiconductor - General is currently in the top 3% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Amtech Systems (ASYS - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 5.
This provider of equipment for solar panel and semiconductor makers is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.10 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +66.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Amtech Systems' revenues are expected to be $21.5 million, up 9.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Intel (INTC - Free Report) reported $16.13 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 25.4%. EPS of $0.42 for the same period compares to -$0.10 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +11.89% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.41 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.21, the EPS surprise was +100%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Intel performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Revenues- Total Intel Products Group: $15.14 billion compared to the $13.46 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +28.2% year over year.Net Revenues- Total Intel Products Group- Data Center and AI: $6.26 billion versus $5.5 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +59% change.Net Revenues- All other- Total: $701 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $629 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -33.4%.Net Revenues- Intel Foundry Services: $5.77 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $5.6 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +30.5%.Net Revenues- Intersegment eliminations: $-5.48 billion versus $-5.46 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +23.9% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Intel here>>>
Shares of Intel have returned -22.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
AMD’s $5 Billion Anthropic Deal Could Redraw the AI Chip BattleIntel NASDAQ: INTC executives said the company delivered another quarter above its financial outlook, as demand for client and data center products continued to exceed available supply and management moved to increase capital spending to support future growth.
Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan said second-quarter revenue, gross margin and earnings per share all came in above guidance, marking the company’s seventh consecutive quarter of exceeding its financial expectations. “Strong demand for our products continue to outpace our growing supply,” Tan said, adding that Intel’s design and manufacturing execution is improving and that operating discipline put in place over the past 15 months is producing tangible results.
Get Intel alerts:
One Short- and One Long-Term ETF for Quantum Computing BullsChief Financial Officer David Zinsner said second-quarter revenue was $16.1 billion, $1.8 billion above the midpoint of Intel’s guidance. Non-GAAP gross margin was 41.8%, about 280 basis points better than guidance, while non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.42, compared with guidance of $0.20. Operating cash flow was $7 billion, and Intel ended the quarter with about $30 billion in cash and short-term investments.
AI Demand Drives Client and Data Center Results Zinsner said Intel’s “AI-driven businesses” grew more than 70% year over year, including record data center growth, and contributed about 70% of total revenue. However, he said demand continues to outstrip supply even after the company exceeded its expectations for wafer output in the quarter.
A Market Panic Just Discounted the AI Highway's TollboothThe Client Computing and Physical AI Group, or CCPG, generated revenue of $8.9 billion, up 15% sequentially and above expectations. Zinsner said AI PC revenue rose 26% sequentially and now accounts for two-thirds of the client revenue mix. Edge deployments represented roughly 10% of CCPG revenue. The segment posted operating profit of $2.3 billion, or 26% of revenue, down about $173 million sequentially due to inventory charges tied to optimizing the factory network.
The Data Center and AI Group reported revenue of $6.3 billion, up 24% sequentially and 59% year over year, also meaningfully ahead of expectations. Zinsner said the result was driven by strong demand across hyperscale and enterprise customers. Operating profit for the segment was $2.5 billion, or 40% of revenue, up about $1 billion from the prior quarter due to higher revenue, improved product margins and lower operating expenses.
Tan said demand accelerated as customers increasingly recognize the role of CPUs, and x86 CPUs in particular, in AI infrastructure. He said second-quarter year-over-year server growth was the strongest on record and that Xeon 6 remains one of the fastest-ramping products in Intel’s history.
Foundry Roadmap Gains Emphasis Tan said his confidence in Intel Foundry’s process roadmap has grown significantly since he joined the company. During the quarter, he said Intel factories across Intel 7, Intel 3 and Intel 18A exceeded internal volume targets due to improving yields, better cycle times and rising wafer starts.
Zinsner said Intel Foundry revenue was $5.8 billion, up 6% sequentially on higher fab volumes driven by Intel 18A growth. He said 18A output was approximately 25% above target and more than 50% higher quarter over quarter. External foundry revenue was $293 million. Intel Foundry reported an operating loss of $2.1 billion, an improvement of $348 million from the prior quarter.
Tan said 18A output increased meaningfully in the quarter, with yields tracking ahead of expectations, and that Intel is ramping multiple new products on 18A, including Panther Lake and Wildcat Lake. The company also began risk production of 18A-P, which Tan said provides additional performance and power advantages while maintaining compatibility with Intel 18A.
Looking further ahead, Tan said Intel 14A development is progressing, with defect density and transistor performance outpacing 18A development. He said PDK 0.5 is complete and PDK 0.9 remains on track for October. Intel remains on track for 14A risk production for internal products in the second half of 2027 and made the decision in the second quarter to fully commit to a high-volume ramp in 2028.
Capital Spending Outlook Raised Intel is raising its 2026 capital spending outlook and now expects CapEx of more than $20 billion, Zinsner said. He added that 2027 capital expenditures are expected to be significantly above 2026 levels, with the vast majority spent across Intel’s U.S. network. Zinsner said the company is locking in tool purchase orders, accelerating clean room build-outs and securing substrate and memory supply.
During the question-and-answer portion of the call, Zinsner said the higher CapEx plan is broad-based, including advanced packaging, though front-end fabs will account for a larger portion because they are more expensive than packaging facilities. He said the increased investment reflects confidence in customers across Intel’s business units, particularly where the company has signed long-term agreements.
Zinsner said Intel remains disciplined in its spending and will put capital in place when it believes it can generate strong returns. He also noted that Intel expects investment tax credits on U.S. spending, though timing delays affect when those benefits are realized.
Third-Quarter Guidance Reflects Supply Constraints For the third quarter, Intel guided revenue to a range of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion. At the midpoint of $16.3 billion, the company expects non-GAAP gross margin of 42%, a tax rate of 11% and non-GAAP EPS of $0.38.
Zinsner said industrywide supply constraints across wafers, memory and substrates remain the dominant challenge for customers supporting the AI infrastructure build-out. He said Intel’s wafer output exceeded expectations from 90 days earlier, and quarter-to-date 18A yields in the third quarter are trending ahead of targets set in March. Even so, he said supply remains very tight, especially for servers, with supply growth skewed toward the end of the third quarter and into the fourth quarter.
Intel expects PC consumption to be sub-seasonal in the second half and down low-double-digit percent for all of 2026, affected by rising memory prices and constraints. Zinsner said Intel’s outlook for server CPU demand has improved since the prior earnings report, with the company forecasting strong double-digit industry unit growth this year and next, with momentum extending into 2028.
Management Highlights ASICs, Packaging and Memory Executives also pointed to longer-term opportunities in purpose-built silicon, advanced packaging and external foundry services. Tan said Intel’s design services revenue grew nearly three times year over year and cited a collaboration with Fortinet for a security processor as part of the company’s ASIC strategy. In response to an analyst question, Zinsner said Intel’s ASIC business is approaching a $2 billion run rate, while Tan described the broader opportunity as a potential market of more than $100 billion.
Tan said customer interest in EMIB-T advanced packaging remains high and that Intel has a growing backlog. He said yields and reliability are hitting targets, with the company focused on ramping the technology to high volume and quality to support customer ramps in 2027.
On memory, Tan said it has become a major supply constraint in AI infrastructure and that Intel is collaborating with the three major memory vendors. He also said the company is exploring ways to better integrate compute and memory and improve memory utilization, while pointing to Intel’s history in memory and the recent hiring of Seok-hee Lee, the former CEO of SK hynix.
About Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)Intel Corporation, founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon E. Moore and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The company is historically notable for introducing the first commercial microprocessor and for driving the x86 architecture that underpins many personal computers and servers. Intel's core business spans the design, fabrication and marketing of processors, chipsets and related components for a wide range of computing applications.
Intel's product portfolio includes client and mobile processors marketed under brands such as Intel Core and Pentium, as well as high-performance Xeon processors for data centers and cloud infrastructure.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Intel Right Now?Before you consider Intel, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Intel wasn't on the list.
While Intel currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
The AI boom extends far beyond the biggest tech names. Discover 10 companies supplying the memory, storage, networking, semiconductor manufacturing, and power infrastructure that make AI possible. Learn where the next wave of AI investment opportunities may emerge—and the key risks investors should watch as the global AI buildout accelerates.
