Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Shares Up 11.3% – What’s Next?

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) shares shot up 11.3% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $94.10 and last traded at $91.13. 136,107,621 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 12% from the average daily volume of 121,429,891 shares. The stock had previously closed at $81.88.

Key Stories Impacting Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong earnings and revenue growth: Intel reported second-quarter EPS of $0.42 versus the $0.21 consensus, while revenue reached $16.13 billion, up 25.2% year over year and well above expectations. Coverage highlighted the company’s best revenue growth in roughly 15 years and a partnership with Synopsys to use AI-assisted electronic-design automation for Intel’s 14A process. Intel Just Posted Its Best Revenue Growth in 15 Years
• Positive Sentiment: AI and data-center optimism: Analysts pointed to improving data-center demand and Intel’s potential role in addressing an AI-related CPU bottleneck. Reports also cited stronger-than-expected Microsoft cloud results as evidence that infrastructure spending remains healthy, lifting Intel and other chip stocks. Why Wells Fargo Thinks Intel’s AI Business Is Getting Even Stronger
• Positive Sentiment: More constructive analyst views: Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating and $160 price target, citing an improving server and foundry outlook. Northland Securities also raised multiple 2026–2027 EPS estimates, including its FY2027 forecast from $0.74 to $1.32, although it retained a Market Perform rating. Intel Buy Rating Reaffirmed
• Neutral Sentiment: TSMC competition remains a key issue: TSMC reportedly is developing advanced packaging similar to Intel’s EMIB technology, potentially challenging one of Intel’s differentiated AI advantages. Investors appeared to view the threat as longer term while prioritizing Intel’s current execution and industry-wide rebound. TSMC Developing EMIB-Like Chips
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and governance risks persist: Intel’s restructuring includes data-center layoffs, and reports said the company granted a startup access to Atom chip technology through a relationship linked to CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Recent insider activity also showed sales without purchases, factors that may limit enthusiasm if operational improvements fail to translate into sustained profitability. Intel Providing Chip Technology to Startup

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on INTC. HC Wainwright set a $150.00 price objective on Intel in a report on Monday, June 29th. KGI Securities downgraded Intel from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $71.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Intel from $75.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Intel in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Intel from $65.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, June 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, twenty-nine have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Intel has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $107.93.

Intel Stock Up 11.3%

The firm has a market capitalization of $459.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.19 and a beta of 2.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $114.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.30.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $16.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.43 billion. Intel had a positive return on equity of 2.62% and a negative net margin of 19.79%.The firm’s revenue was up 25.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.10) EPS. Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Intel Corporation will post 1.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Intel

In other news, EVP Boise April Miller sold 40,256 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.53, for a total value of $4,006,679.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 105,077 shares in the company, valued at $10,458,313.81. This trade represents a 27.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. iA Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Intel by 17.0% in the 4th quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 593,043 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $21,883,000 after purchasing an additional 86,189 shares during the period. Whalerock Point Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Intel during the fourth quarter valued at $205,000. Heritage Investment Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Intel during the fourth quarter valued at $219,000. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new position in Intel in the fourth quarter valued at $185,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Intel by 5.7% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 255,261 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $9,419,000 after buying an additional 13,858 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the company’s stock.

About Intel

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.