NEW YORK, Jan 10, 2026, 16:49 ET — Market closed
- Intel shares surged 10.7% on Friday, closing at $45.55 following a strong rally late in the week.
- The decision came after President Donald Trump publicly endorsed CEO Lip-Bu Tan.
- Coming next: U.S. inflation figures on Jan. 13 and Intel’s earnings report set for Jan. 22.
Intel Corp shares jumped 10.7% to close at $45.55 on Friday, continuing a sharp rally sparked by President Donald Trump’s praise of CEO Lip-Bu Tan. The stock hit a high of $45.73 and dipped to $41.69, with roughly 186.7 million shares changing hands.
Intel’s stock surged to its highest close since March 2024, wrapping up a 15.7% gain on the week. Momentum traders pushed the rally, though a few analysts are skeptical about how much of the jump ties back to near-term fundamentals. 1
The rally coincided with gains in chip stocks, as the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index climbed 2.7% to a fresh record high. “With the broader AI story, investors are digging deeper, sorting out winners from losers,” said Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments. 2
Trump posted on Truth Social about having “a great meeting” with Tan and noted the U.S. government was “proud” to hold Intel shares, a comment that helped push the stock higher. 3
Intel’s political boost isn’t exactly fresh. Back in August, the U.S. government agreed to purchase 433.3 million primary Intel shares at $20.47 apiece, securing a 9.9% stake. Intel said this would be a passive investment, with no board seats granted, and came with a five-year warrant contingent on Intel maintaining control over its foundry business. 4
Intel grabbed headlines this week with its product launch at CES. The company unveiled its Core Ultra Series 3 processors, claiming they’re the first AI PC platform based on the Intel 18A manufacturing process. These chips will feature in over 200 PC models, hitting shelves worldwide starting Jan. 27. “With Series 3, we are laser-focused on improving power efficiency,” said Jim Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group. 5
Reuters reported earlier this week that Panther Lake, Intel’s first high-volume product on its 18A process, plays a key role in the company’s push to reclaim laptop chip market share from Advanced Micro Devices. Intel has struggled with “yield” challenges on the new process — the proportion of usable chips per silicon wafer — but executives say yields are steadily improving each month. 6
Tan is pushing Intel’s next node after 18A hard, aiming to drum up support for the foundry business—the contract chipmaking side—for outside clients. “We are going big time into 14A,” Tan said in an Intel News video, according to Tom’s Hardware. But RBC’s John Pitzer cautioned that signing an external customer might mean Intel has to ramp up costs before seeing any revenue, which could delay when the foundry turns profitable. 7
Following Friday’s jump, all eyes will be on whether Intel can stay in the mid-$40s next week or if it slips back toward the low-$40s, where it started on Friday. The heavy volume points to a crowded trade, which could swing either way once the news cycle quiets down.
Sentiment could face a quick retest soon. The U.S. consumer price index for December 2025 drops Tuesday, Jan. 13. Then, on Jan. 15, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co reports its full Q4 earnings, likely updating guidance and capital spending plans. Some investors see this as a key indicator of chip demand and supply trends. 8
Intel has issued a warning that the U.S. government’s 9.9% stake might damage international sales and make future grants more difficult. The company also highlighted dilution risks from selling shares at a discount. Any shift in political stance or a cautious forecast from Intel could quickly derail a rally largely fueled by sentiment. 9
Intel’s next major event is the Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings report, set for Thursday, Jan. 22, after markets close. The earnings call follows at 2 p.m. PT. Investors want details on the 18A ramp-up, PC demand trends, and when the foundry division’s revenue will catch up with its heavy investments. 10
