New York, Jan 22, 2026, 04:52 EST — Premarket
- Intel surged 11.7% on Wednesday, reaching its highest price point since early 2022.
- The chipmaker is set to release results after Thursday’s close, as investors look for evidence that the turnaround is holding steady.
- Options markets are signaling a move of about 8% by the end of the week.
Intel Corp shares caught attention ahead of Thursday’s session, surging 11.7% on Wednesday. The jump extends a strong January rally as investors prepare for the company’s upcoming quarterly report.
That rally counts because Intel is on the brink of revealing if AI-driven data-center demand is actually boosting its core server-chip sales, and if its effort to make chips for third-party customers is gaining traction. The stock has surged ahead; now the earnings need to back it up.
Intel plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results right after the market closes on Thursday, followed by an earnings call at 2 p.m. PT.
Investors are showing renewed confidence in CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s turnaround strategy after Intel scored external backing that strengthened its balance sheet. The company is pushing to improve manufacturing execution and restore market trust. “It’s the most optimistic, I think, people have felt about the company in a long time,” said Ryuta Makino, an analyst at Intel investor Gabelli Funds. Reuters
The recent rally gained momentum thanks to a wave of analyst upgrades. Seaport Research bumped Intel from “neutral” to “buy,” setting a $65 price target, Yahoo Finance reported earlier this week. Bullish calls kept coming ahead of the earnings release. Yahoo Finance
Intel closed Wednesday at $54.25, hitting a high of $54.41 during the session. Roughly 219 million shares changed hands, per Yahoo Finance data.
Derivatives traders are gearing up for a fresh wave of volatility. According to Investopedia, options pricing indicates investors anticipate Intel’s stock might swing roughly 8% up or down by week’s end.
Intel is banking on “Panther Lake,” its AI-focused laptop chip made with the new 18A process, to prove it can claw back market share and boost its third-party manufacturing business. The chip is central to the ongoing earnings discussion. Reuters
Here’s the snag: climbing memory-chip costs are putting pressure on PC manufacturers and might dampen notebook sales. Taiwan’s Compal warned the effects could last through 2027, dubbing the current memory market a “true super cycle.” Reuters
Investors are zeroing in on three key factors: data-center trends, any hints about named foundry customers, and Intel’s updates on manufacturing “yields” — the proportion of good chips per wafer — which directly impacts margins and cash flow.
The next catalyst arrives with the earnings release after Thursday’s closing bell, then investors will focus on management’s guidance and tone during the call.
