New York, January 28, 2026, 18:02 EST — After-hours
Intel shares jumped roughly 11% in after-hours trading Wednesday, climbing $4.83 to $48.78 on volume near 201 million shares. The surge came after a DigiTimes report suggested Apple and Nvidia might move a small slice of their 2028 chip production to Intel, adding a second supplier alongside Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Both companies usually stay silent on supply-chain rumors.
The report arrives as Intel works to restore faith in its contract manufacturing, or foundry, business to attract outside clients. The stock took a hit last week after the company warned that first-quarter sales and profits would fall short of estimates and admitted it’s having trouble keeping up with demand for certain data-center server chips paired with AI processors.
Wednesday saw chip stocks bounce back as fresh data hinted AI-driven data-center spending is spreading beyond just premium graphics chips. Louise Dudley, portfolio manager at Federated Hermes, noted that “conditions are improving” and firms are “expanding their growth plans.” The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbed 1.7%, with Nvidia, AMD, and Intel all trading higher. Reuters
ASML’s fourth-quarter numbers helped shape the mood in Europe. The chip-equipment giant announced bookings of 13.2 billion euros and lifted its sales forecast for 2026, despite plans to trim 1,700 jobs. Bookings, seen as a key indicator of future orders, drew particular attention.
SK Hynix posted a record quarterly operating profit of 19.2 trillion won earlier in Asia, fueled by strong demand for memory chips in AI systems, and revealed plans for a significant share cancellation. The company’s report reinforced the idea that AI server-related spending is holding steady, despite ongoing volatility in other consumer sectors.
Investors took note of insider buying at Intel. CFO David Zinsner purchased 5,882 shares at $42.50 on Jan. 26, according to a regulatory filing, bringing his total direct holdings to 247,392 shares.
The broader market showed mixed signals. The Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75%. U.S. stocks ended near unchanged. After hours, Meta and Tesla gained, but Microsoft dropped following its earnings release.
Intel’s rally isn’t without its risks. Supply-chain reports tend to lose steam fast, and 2028 feels distant in chip terms—there’s room for redesigns, setbacks, or shifts in sourcing along the way.
Traders are hunting for solid leads: follow-up reports, statements from the companies, or signs that the “second source” plan is more than just a test. Apple’s earnings come Thursday, and investors are keeping an eye on the global memory-chip shortage, which could tighten supplies for device makers and disrupt the PC and components supply chain. Reuters
Intel now faces the test of maintaining its gains into Thursday’s regular session as traders weigh Apple’s results and look for clues on who might entrust Intel with outsourced chip production.
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