New York, Jan 28, 2026, 11:09 a.m. ET — Regular session
Intel Corp (INTC.O) shares climbed 9.6% to $48.16 by late morning, hitting an intraday peak of $48.76. Earlier, the stock had slipped to a low of $45.78.
Intel is still reeling from last week’s setback, when it warned it might fall short of meeting soaring demand for AI data center server chips and offered a cautious first-quarter forecast. The company projected revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, with adjusted earnings per share expected to break even. CEO Lip-Bu Tan voiced frustration, telling analysts, “In the short term, I’m disappointed that we are not able to fully meet the demand in our markets.” 1
The rebound was fueled by a broad rally in semiconductors, pushing the S&P 500 past the 7,000 level. Chip stocks climbed after SK Hynix reported strong earnings and ASML saw a jump in fourth-quarter orders. The Fed’s rate decision is scheduled for later Wednesday, with most expecting rates to hold steady between 3.5% and 3.75%. Jeff Buchbinder of LPL Financial noted that “the earnings and AI investment is a bigger deal” for investors right now. 2
Intel’s CFO David Zinsner made a notable move, purchasing 5,882 shares on Jan. 26 at $42.50 each, according to a filing. After the buy, he reported holding 247,392 shares in total. 3
Beyond Intel, Texas Instruments helped drive the mood after forecasting first-quarter revenue and profit that beat expectations, citing strong AI-driven demand in data centers. Stifel analyst Tore Svanberg noted that the inventory correction appears “essentially complete,” suggesting the analog chip sector’s prolonged cleanup is finally easing. 4
The rally, however, hits the same snag that hurt Intel last week: supply constraints and the pace at which the company can turn demand into shipped units. Any hold-up in ramping production or boosting “yields” — the percentage of usable chips from each silicon wafer — risks keeping margins squeezed and limiting the recovery.
Investors remain focused on whether Intel can move beyond tests and talk to make solid commitments in its foundry push (contract chipmaking for others). The stock’s price action feels like a referendum on execution, with sentiment swinging on the smallest news.
Traders are shifting focus to major earnings reports from Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla, all set to release after the market closes, with Apple’s results coming Thursday. “If they blow the doors off earnings, you can see those stocks really jump back and that trade get hot again,” said Chuck Carlson, CEO at Horizon Investment Services. 5
