Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) ended Monday’s session lower, then inched higher after the closing bell as investors digested a fresh Wall Street upgrade and positioned for a thin, holiday-shortened trading week.
After regular-hours trading, Intel shares closed at $36.37, down 1.22% on the day. In after-hours trading, the stock ticked up to about $36.45 (roughly +0.22%) by the end of the extended session. [1]
That modest after-hours bounce matters because it came on a day when the broader market was firmly green—meaning Intel’s decline looked more like stock-specific underperformance than a marketwide risk-off move. [2]
Below is what moved Intel stock after the bell on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, and what investors should keep on their radar before the market opens Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Intel stock recap: down in regular trading, slightly up after hours
Key price levels from Monday (Dec. 22):
- Close: $36.37 (–1.22%)
- After-hours: about $36.45 (+0.22% vs. close)
- Day range: $36.29 to $37.90
- 52-week range: $17.67 to $44.01
[3]
Intel’s decline snapped a short winning streak and left shares still meaningfully below their early-December highs. Market data tracked by MarketWatch put Intel about 17% below its 52-week high (set on Dec. 3). [4]
Trading activity also looked light. About 48 million shares changed hands—well below recent averages, consistent with the kind of thinner liquidity that can exaggerate day-to-day moves in late December. [5]
Why Intel underperformed Monday even as the market rose
The broader tape was supportive: the S&P 500 rose 0.64%, the Dow gained 0.47%, and the Nasdaq climbed about 0.5%. [6]
But within semiconductors, Intel lagged some major peers. On MarketWatch’s comparison set, Nvidia finished higher while Intel fell, and Broadcom also rose. [7]
There wasn’t a single headline indicating a sudden new Intel-specific negative on Monday afternoon. Instead, Monday’s action fits a common late-year pattern: rotation and profit-taking in names that have run hard, paired with cautious positioning ahead of macro data and holiday-thinned sessions.
That said, Intel did get a catalyst that helped stabilize sentiment into the close and after-hours: a Bank of America upgrade.
The big “today” catalyst: Bank of America upgrades Intel to Overweight
In one of the most notable Intel-specific notes of the day, Bank of America upgraded Intel to “Overweight” from “Marketweight.” [8]
According to Investing.com’s report on the note, BofA analyst Tom Curcuruto pointed to:
- Improved stability and liquidity
- More compelling relative value
- A view that Intel’s lower exposure to the AI demand cycle could help “insulate” it if the market becomes more concerned about AI infrastructure spending overheating (even as Intel still faces ongoing market share pressures). [9]
Just as important for investors watching Intel’s multi-year turnaround: the note flagged a marked improvement in credit metrics in Q3, supported by asset sale proceeds and equity investments, alongside a return to positive free cash flow for the first time since 2023. [10]
BofA also raised its FY25 and FY26 EBITDA estimates by 20% and 18%, respectively, and expects leverage to continue improving into 2026. [11]
Why this matters for Tuesday’s open:
Upgrades don’t guarantee near-term upside—especially in a thin market—but they can put a floor under sentiment and encourage dip-buying, particularly when the thesis ties directly to what has mattered most for Intel lately: balance sheet confidence, cash flow trajectory, and whether Intel can execute on its manufacturing and foundry ambitions without being whipsawed by the AI cycle.
The other major Intel catalyst still in focus: Nvidia’s $5 billion investment cleared by U.S. antitrust agencies
While not a new Monday headline, it remains a current narrative driver: Reuters reported on Dec. 19 that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleared Nvidia’s investment in Intel, removing antitrust concerns, after Nvidia previously announced a $5 billion investment in the chipmaker. [12]
That development continues to show up in market commentary because it speaks to two investor questions that can move Intel shares quickly in either direction:
- How much external capital and partnership support Intel can attract, and on what terms.
- How the competitive landscape shifts if Intel strengthens its manufacturing footprint and ecosystem ties.
Going into Tuesday, traders will likely keep triangulating Intel’s direction using any incremental read-through from Nvidia and broader AI infrastructure sentiment—especially if macro data moves yields.
Wall Street forecast check: the Street is still split on INTC
Even with BofA leaning more constructive, the broader analyst picture remains mixed.
MarketBeat’s compiled consensus shows:
- Consensus rating: Reduce (based on 34 analyst ratings)
- Breakdown: 8 Sell, 24 Hold, 2 Buy
- Average 12‑month price target:$34.84, implying roughly –4% downside from Monday’s close
- High/low targets:$52 high and $20 low
[13]
That tension—a prominent upgrade vs. a still-cautious consensus—is one reason Intel can trade with outsized sensitivity to incremental news. In a stock where conviction is divided, marginal changes in expectations (cash flow, capex discipline, foundry traction, PC cycle strength) often matter more than broad market momentum.
What to know before the market opens Tuesday (Dec. 23): macro data and holiday liquidity
1) Key economic reports can move yields—and chip stocks
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s economic calendar lists several market-moving releases for Tuesday, Dec. 23, including:
- GDP (3rd release) at 8:30 a.m. ET
- Consumer Confidence at 10:00 a.m. ET
- New Residential Sales at 10:00 a.m. ET
- Richmond Fed manufacturing survey at 10:00 a.m. ET
[14]
Intel (and semiconductors broadly) can be especially sensitive to rate moves because higher yields often pressure long-duration equity valuations. If GDP or confidence surprises meaningfully, watch:
- Treasury yields
- Nasdaq futures
- Mega-cap tech leadership
as the first dominos that can spill into INTC at the open.
2) Expect thinner volume and sharper moves this week
Markets are operating in a holiday-shortened week. The NYSE confirms an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, and U.S. markets are closed Thursday, Dec. 25. [15]
Lower liquidity often means:
- Bigger reactions to headlines
- More stop-driven intraday volatility
- Less reliable “signal” from single-session moves
That dynamic helps explain why Intel’s lighter volume on Monday is not a footnote—it’s part of the backdrop for Tuesday.
Practical “Tuesday open” checklist for INTC traders and investors
Here’s what typically matters most for Intel specifically heading into a new session, based on Monday’s price action and today’s research/news flow:
1) Where does INTC print premarket versus the $36.37 close?
After-hours ended slightly higher (about $36.45). [16]
If premarket holds above the close, it suggests the BofA upgrade is being treated as a real near-term tailwind.
2) Watch Monday’s intraday extremes as near-term technical markers
- Support reference: $36.29 (Monday low)
- Resistance reference: $37.90 (Monday high) [17]
A break above Monday’s high would likely require a supportive macro tape or strong chip-sector leadership; a break below Monday’s low would put the focus back on whether Intel’s rally attempts are fading.
3) Track peer sympathy moves
MarketWatch’s peer comparison highlights how Intel lagged even as Nvidia and Broadcom rose Monday. [18]
If Nvidia-led AI sentiment is strong again Tuesday, Intel can catch a bid via sector flows—even if its fundamentals are not identical.
4) Keep the “Intel narrative” in view: cash flow + execution
BofA’s rationale centered on liquidity, stability, and cash flow, while acknowledging ongoing competitive pressure. [19]
Any fresh commentary that supports (or undermines) those themes can have outsized impact in thin liquidity.
Bottom line for Tuesday: Intel’s after-hours uptick suggests support, but macro headlines can dominate the open
Intel stock goes into Tuesday’s session with:
- A small after-hours gain that hints at stabilizing sentiment after Monday’s drop. [20]
- A high-visibility Bank of America upgrade that reframes Intel around balance-sheet improvement and relative-value appeal. [21]
- A still-split Street, with consensus targets below the current price—meaning Intel remains a battleground name where confidence can shift quickly. [22]
- A macro calendar that could move rates early Tuesday, plus holiday-thinned trading conditions that may amplify volatility. [23]
If Tuesday’s macro data is benign and the Nasdaq tone stays constructive, Intel’s after-hours bid and the BofA upgrade could provide enough support for a steadier open. If yields jump or risk appetite fades, Intel may continue to chop—regardless of today’s upgrade—because late-December liquidity can overwhelm single-stock fundamentals.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
References
1. www.google.com, 2. www.marketwatch.com, 3. www.google.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. www.marketwatch.com, 8. www.investing.com, 9. www.investing.com, 10. www.investing.com, 11. www.investing.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.marketbeat.com, 14. www.newyorkfed.org, 15. www.nyse.com, 16. www.google.com, 17. www.google.com, 18. www.marketwatch.com, 19. www.investing.com, 20. www.google.com, 21. www.investing.com, 22. www.marketbeat.com, 23. www.newyorkfed.org
