New York, Jan 25, 2026, 10:51 EST — Market closed
- AMD climbed 2.35% on Friday to settle at $259.68, marking its ninth consecutive day of gains.
- Attention now turns to the Fed’s January 28 decision, with AMD’s earnings set for February 3 after markets close.
Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O) ended Friday up 2.35%, closing at $259.68, marking the ninth straight day of gains. Since Jan. 12, the stock has jumped roughly 25%. In after-hours trading, the shares slipped 0.3% to $258.86, with U.S. markets closed on Sunday. (Investing)
AMD’s recent surge has put it squarely in the spotlight during a fresh “show-me” phase for megacap tech stocks, where investors demand concrete revenue growth to validate sharp gains. Janus Henderson portfolio manager Julian McManus pointed out, “Companies are going to have to actually put up the revenue growth to justify the run-up in stocks,” while noting Intel doesn’t fit into the “haves.” (Reuters)
Intel’s supply warning rattled chip stocks late last week, putting extra pressure on AMD’s outlook. The company flagged tight supply as it struggled to keep up with AI-fueled demand for data-center chips. Intel’s CFO said supply should ease in the second quarter, after hitting a low in Q1. TD Cowen analysts called Intel’s surge more a story of “the dream” than solid near-term fundamentals. (Reuters)
For AMD, the immediate question boils down to this: will customers facing Intel’s capacity crunch turn more to AMD’s PC and server chips? CPUs—the central processors powering PCs and servers—remain a key front in the rivalry. Shifts in market share often surface quickly in quarterly forecasts.
There’s also the AI factor at play. Data centers rely on GPUs—graphics processors that have become essential for training and running AI models—working alongside server CPUs. Even a hint of strong demand or constrained supply can send chip stocks surging.
On the wider market, the S&P 500 closed Friday almost flat at 6,915.61. The Dow slipped 0.6%, while the Nasdaq inched up 0.3%. For the week, the S&P 500 dropped 0.4%, marking its second consecutive weekly loss in a market quick to react to disappointing forecasts. (AP News)
This week’s key macro event is the Federal Reserve decision. The FOMC meets over two days, Jan. 27-28, with the policy statement scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 28, followed by a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. Expectations around rates are crucial for pricey tech stocks since they impact the discount rates applied in valuing those shares. (Federal Reserve)
AMD is set to release its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Tuesday, Feb. 3, right after markets close. A conference call will follow at 5:00 p.m. EST. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
Investors are focused on any shift in tone around data-center demand and the speed of AI-related shipments, plus whether pricing remains steady after the stock’s recent surge. They’ll also be looking for updates on the PC market, where weaker demand could drag down volumes despite the ongoing AI momentum.
The flip side is clear. Following a nine-day rally, AMD can’t afford sloppy guidance. Even a slight sign that demand is being pulled forward or competition is heating up could spark a sharp sell-off in a stock priced on expectations.
On Monday, traders will watch to see if AMD can maintain its gains around $260 ahead of Wednesday’s Fed decision and, more immediately, the company’s earnings release after the close on Feb. 3.
