New York, Jan 22, 2026, 16:28 EST — After-hours.
- AMD shares closed up 1.6% on Thursday and eased in after-hours trading.
- The chipmaker logged an eighth straight gain, its longest streak since February 2020.
- Focus is shifting to Feb. 3 earnings for updates on server CPU demand and the AI chip ramp.
Advanced Micro Devices closed up 1.6% at $253.73 on Thursday, then dipped 0.4% to $252.60 in after-hours trading — outside the regular session. (MarketScreener)
The move capped an eight-day winning streak, the stock’s longest since February 2020, with investors leaning into expectations that AMD can push prices higher for server central processing units, or CPUs, used in AI data centers. KeyBanc analyst John Vinh said AMD is nearly sold out of server CPUs for the year, while Bernstein’s Stacy Rasgon projected 30% growth in Epyc processor sales in 2026, MarketWatch reported. (MarketWatch)
The bid for chip names also rode a broader rally on Wall Street. The Nasdaq ended up 0.91% and the S&P 500 gained 0.53% as investors took comfort from tariff-relief headlines and economic data, with the Federal Reserve meeting next week in the background. (Reuters)
AMD, in a separate company update this week, said it appointed K.C. McClure — Accenture’s former chief financial officer — to its board. CEO Lisa Su said McClure brings “deep financial expertise and operational experience.” (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
A filing showed AMD increased the size of its board to nine directors and put McClure on the audit committee and the finance committee. The company also disclosed a grant of 1,278 restricted stock units, or RSUs — a form of stock award that typically vests over time. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
A separate Form 4 filing showed the RSU award and said McClure elected to defer receipt of the shares under AMD’s deferred compensation plan; the award vests on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
Thursday’s close followed a sharp pop the day before. AMD jumped 7.71% on Wednesday to end at $249.80 as chip stocks moved higher alongside a broad market advance. (MarketWatch)
After the bell on Thursday, rival Intel forecast first-quarter revenue and profit below estimates and its shares fell about 5% in extended trading, a jolt to sentiment across the chip group. Intel CFO David Zinsner said, “We expect our available supply to be at its lowest level in Q1 before improving in Q2 and beyond.” (Reuters)
But AMD’s run leaves little margin for a messy earnings report. Some investors still want proof AMD can close the gap with Nvidia in graphics processing units, or GPUs — chips widely used to train and run AI models — and are watching for clearer signals on customer wins and production schedules. (The Motley Fool)
Macro noise is still in the mix. U.S. initial jobless claims rose 1,000 to 200,000 last week and third-quarter GDP growth was revised up to a 4.4% annualized rate, while consumer spending rose 0.5% in November, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
The next hard catalyst for AMD is Feb. 3, when it is scheduled to report results after the market closes, according to Wall Street Horizon. Traders will be listening for any read-through on server CPU pricing and supply, and for updates on its AI chip roadmap. (Wallstreethorizon)
