Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Reaches New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) shares hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday after Hsbc Global Res upgraded the stock from a moderate sell rating to a hold rating. The company traded as high as $53.80 and last traded at $54.0180, with a volume of 74818261 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $48.56.

INTC has been the subject of several other research reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Intel in a report on Monday, December 29th. Loop Capital boosted their price target on Intel from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Melius raised shares of Intel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $50.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Intel from $30.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Intel in a report on Tuesday, November 18th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twenty-eight have given a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $41.14.

Key Intel News

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Multiple analyst upgrades and renewed bullish coverage — upgrades from firms including Seaport, HSBC and Citi have been cited as a catalyst for today’s rally, lifting sentiment that Intel’s turnaround and foundry opportunity are real. Intel Stock Rises Again After Upgrades. Why Wall Street Is Warming to It.
• Positive Sentiment: AI data-center demand and reported “sold-out” server-CPU capacity are boosting confidence that core server revenue will accelerate, underpinning the bullish narrative into earnings. Intel results to spotlight turnaround efforts as AI data centers boost chip demand
• Positive Sentiment: Technology edge: coverage highlights Panther Lake and backside power-delivery advantages (and packaging/process progress) that could help Intel win share vs. rivals if execution continues. The Chip Technology That Finally Gives Intel an Edge Over TSMC
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings event risk — the market expects a meaningful move after Q4 results; that creates both upside potential and volatility regardless of direction. Options market-implied move estimates highlight elevated expectations. Here’s How Much Traders Expect Intel Stock to Move After Earnings This Week
• Neutral Sentiment: Progress on foundry/fab builds and government support is constructive but remains execution-dependent; some coverage frames these as important longer-term positives while awaiting customer wins and margin recovery. Will Intel Stock Keep Soaring As Q4 Earnings Approach?
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts urging caution — several firms (Wedbush, Susquehanna and others) keep neutral/hold stances or call for proof on margins and foundry execution; some price targets remain well below current levels, highlighting downside if execution slips. Intel: Near-Term Tailwinds and AI-PC Upside Offset by Structural Data-Center Headwinds
• Negative Sentiment: High expectations raise the risk of a sharp pullback if Q4 results or guidance disappoint; commentators (including Jim Cramer) warn that the turnaround needs to show tangible margin improvement to sustain the rally. Jim Cramer States “Given How Competitive That World Is, Intel’s Actual Earnings May Not Be Big Enough”

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Intel

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Focus Financial Network Inc. lifted its holdings in Intel by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 10,788 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $398,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Orca Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Intel by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Orca Investment Management LLC now owns 50,697 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $1,871,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Intel by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,235 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Intel by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. now owns 21,142 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $780,000 after buying an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hengehold Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Intel by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC now owns 10,564 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $390,000 after buying an additional 241 shares during the last quarter. 64.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Intel Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.60. The firm has a market cap of $255.69 billion, a PE ratio of 5,362.06, a PEG ratio of 30.67 and a beta of 1.35. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $32.49.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter. Intel had a net margin of 0.37% and a negative return on equity of 0.75%. The business had revenue of $13.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.46) earnings per share. Intel’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Intel has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 0.080-0.080 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Intel Corporation will post -0.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Intel Company Profile

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.