New York, Jan 22, 2026, 08:17 (EST) — Premarket
- Intel shares hover close to multi-year highs ahead of its quarterly earnings report, set to drop after the bell
- Analyst upgrades have lifted forecasts for server-chip demand and advances in foundry technology
- Traders are zeroing in on guidance, margins, and any hints of major outside foundry clients
Intel Corp shares rose 1.1% to $54.83 in premarket trading, following a sharp 11.7% jump on Wednesday that pushed the stock to $54.25 — marking its highest close since January 2022. 1
Intel’s rally has drained some of the market’s patience ahead of earnings. The stock has made its move; now the report needs to back it up.
Intel’s recent surge is driven by renewed confidence under CEO Lip-Bu Tan and growing demand from AI-driven data center expansions, which boost sales of its core server CPUs—those essential chips powering servers. “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. He also expects server CPU prices to climb in 2026. 2
Options traders are gearing up for a big move following the report. Current pricing signals an 8.82% swing either way—a hefty shift for a mega-cap. It underscores how much the earnings release is expected to clear the air. 3
Analyst upgrades gave the stock a boost. Seaport bumped Intel up to Buy from Neutral, with a $65 price target, citing a stronger PC outlook and better prospects for Intel Foundry—the chipmaking arm targeting external clients. HSBC raised its rating to Hold from Reduce and nearly doubled its target to $50 from $26, highlighting how “agentic AI”—AI systems that operate more independently—could drive demand for general-purpose server CPUs. 4
Not everyone is convinced. KeyBanc stands out as one of the more optimistic voices, highlighting a potential win for Intel if it secures Apple as a foundry client. Still, most analysts monitored by Visible Alpha maintain neutral or sell ratings, despite the stock’s recent surge past the $45 consensus target. 5
Intel’s stock has surged roughly 47% in 2026, ranking it among the S&P 500’s biggest winners early this year. Investors are rallying around its core CPU business, even though Intel still lags behind competitors in AI accelerators — the specialized chips powering many AI models. The market remains focused on seeing concrete results from Intel’s manufacturing overhaul. 6
Thursday’s report will have traders zooming in on the gap between data center and PC demand, any signs of pricing power, and whether Intel can convincingly address yields—that is, how many good chips emerge from each wafer—as it scales up its new manufacturing process.
Intel’s product roadmap isn’t the only worry on the PC front. Memory-chip prices have spiked sharply, driven by heavy demand from AI infrastructure, which in turn is pushing up costs for laptops and other devices. That rise could dent unit sales, even if Intel’s chips remain competitive. “It is certainly going to show up as higher prices for consumers,” said Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne. 7
Intel will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings after the U.S. market closes Thursday, with a conference call scheduled for 2 p.m. PT. Investors will be watching closely for any updates on 2026 margin forecasts and the speed of external foundry contract wins, which could drive the stock’s next move. 8
