New York, January 16, 2026, 16:26 EST — After-hours
- Intel closed Friday roughly 1.8% lower and dipped even more in after-hours trading
- Citi upgraded Intel to Neutral. At the same time, RBC kicked off coverage, and Barclays bumped up its price target.
- After the extended U.S. market holiday weekend, investors are gearing up for Intel’s earnings call on Jan. 22
Intel Corp shares ended Friday at $47.43, after fluctuating between $50.21 and $46.71 throughout the day, and later dipped to $46.96 in after-hours trading.
The retreat comes just a week ahead of Intel’s upcoming earnings report, with the company set to hold its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call on Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. Pacific time.
The broader chip sector swung higher on Friday. Semiconductor shares drove Wall Street’s gains, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF climbing 2.1%. U.S. markets will close Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Citi lifted its rating on Intel to Neutral from Sell and bumped the price target up to $50 from $29, following a coverage handoff. The firm highlighted “tightness” in advanced packaging supply at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co — the process that links and stacks chips after fabrication — describing it as a “unique window of opportunity” for Intel’s foundry business, which makes chips for external clients. TipRanks
RBC Capital analyst Srini Pajjuri kicked off coverage with a Sector Perform rating and set a $50 price target. He praised Intel’s management for a “commendable job” on cost control and balance-sheet improvements but pointed out challenges like rising memory prices and supply bottlenecks. Pajjuri also noted Intel’s lack of a “Data Center AI narrative” and highlighted manufacturing yields as a critical, yet uncertain, factor. TipRanks
Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley bumped Intel’s price target to $45 from $35, maintaining an Equal Weight rating. In a sector outlook, he highlighted proximity to the AI buildout as the key stock driver in 2026, pointing to companies “centric to the pillars of the AI ramp.” He also cautioned that the year will bring debates over the true extent of demand deployment. TipRanks
The notes highlight the persistent tension behind Intel’s rally: investors are ready to reward tangible execution but remain selective about what qualifies as success. For Intel, the focus is on its foundry strategy—can it attract and retain outside clients, and will that translate into better margins?
The downside risk is clear. Should supply issues worsen beyond forecasts, or if the company fails to demonstrate a turnaround in core market share, the rally could unravel fast — regardless of any upgrades.
U.S. markets were closed Monday, shifting focus to Tuesday’s open. All eyes will then turn to Jan. 22, when Intel is set to update investors on demand, margins, and the progress of its foundry push during its scheduled earnings call.
Related articles: NASDAQ:INTC
