New York, Feb 6, 2026, 17:16 EST — Trading after the bell
- Intel climbed 4.9% by the close, with the stock barely budging after hours.
- Intel and AMD have alerted certain customers in China that server CPU deliveries could face delays, with Intel’s lead times reportedly stretching up to six months.
- Intel plans fresh funding for AI chip startup SambaNova, while investors keep an eye on Q2 supply figures and wait for the next earnings date.
Intel (INTC.O) climbed 4.9% to $50.59 on Friday. The stock barely budged in after-hours trading.
Intel slid back into the chip rebound, but traders still had to untangle a complicated backdrop—server component shortages lingered, and new AI hardware deals were hitting the tape.
The AI push isn’t just squeezing high-profile chips—data centers are also hungry for central processing units (CPUs) to keep servers running. When CPUs get tight, prices can jump quickly.
Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have notified their China customers about extended delays for certain server CPUs, according to people familiar with recent communications. Intel has told clients that delivery lead times may stretch out as far as six months. One source said that tight supply has already bumped up prices on Intel’s server chips in China by over 10%. Intel attributed the squeeze to strong AI-fueled demand for “traditional compute,” and said it anticipates better availability in the second quarter. 1
Intel’s doubling down on AI inference chips, taking part in a fresh SambaNova Systems funding round that’ll be led by Vista Equity Partners, according to people familiar with the situation. The round should bring in north of $350 million; Intel is looking to put in around $100 million, and could push that as high as $150 million. Sources added that earlier acquisition discussions with Intel fizzled out. Both Intel and Vista wouldn’t comment. 2
Chip stocks snapped back sharply Friday, clawing back recent losses as the PHLX semiconductor index surged 5.7%. Nvidia popped 7.8%; AMD and Broadcom also tacked on more than 7% each, with the market latching onto hopes for fresh AI infrastructure spending. “This trade has been volatile,” Baird’s Ross Mayfield noted, but pointed to “enough evidence that there’s real demand for AI products.” 3
Intel’s caught in a tug-of-war here. Demand looks solid enough to help prices, but when supply tightens, shipments hit a ceiling—and if servers don’t arrive on time, buyers won’t wait around; they’ve got other options.
Supply constraints are a double-edged sword here. Intel’s inability to deliver enough server CPUs could undercut any price hikes, with lost sales outpacing gains—and customers might just shift more business to AMD or alternative server platforms.
Next week, eyes are on whether China’s delivery timelines let up, and if server component shortages start creeping past just CPUs. The SambaNova deal remains up in the air—its final size, specific terms, and any strategic partners may still change right up until it’s done.
Up next for Intel: the first-quarter report lands April 23. Investors want answers on inventory levels, demand out of China, and AI hardware spending plans. 4
