NEW YORK, Jan 26, 2026, 09:40 ET — Regular session
- Intel shares showed little movement in early trading, following a steep decline on Friday.
- Intel’s warning about tight supply this quarter is giving investors pause.
- The next key market event is the Federal Reserve’s rate decision on Jan. 28.
Intel shares slipped roughly 0.2% to $45.07 in early Monday trading, following a sharp selloff late last week sparked by a gloomy first-quarter forecast.
The chipmaker’s stumble hits harder given it was among the market’s top large-cap performers early this year. Its guidance shifted the spotlight onto execution risks—not just demand—in a market already on edge ahead of big-tech earnings and the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision. 1
Intel’s shares tumbled about 14% on Friday after management signaled it won’t be able to meet demand with sufficient shipments in the near future. 2
Intel projected first-quarter revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, with non-GAAP earnings per share at zero, according to a recent filing. CFO David Zinsner noted, “We expect our available supply to be at its lowest level in Q1 before improving in Q2 and beyond.” 3
The supply squeeze is hitting the key segment traders focus on: data-center and AI demand. Intel says its factories are running at full tilt, but the order mix is evolving faster than production can keep up. 4
Right now, the stock’s price moves read like a test of Intel’s ability to convert “demand is strong” into rising shipments fast enough — all without letting margins slip any more.
Semiconductor stocks have grown twitchy over any hint that AI spending might be shifting away from hardware or hitting supply bottlenecks. Nvidia and AMD still serve as the key benchmarks for tracking momentum in the sector.
The risk is straightforward: if Intel’s supply issues persist into Q2, the company might miss its own guidance. That would probably force the market to revise expectations once more — particularly if customers start diverting orders to competitors.
The macro picture isn’t providing much support. Investors are eyeing a two-day Fed meeting wrapping up Wednesday, where the central bank is widely expected to keep rates steady. Attention is also on earnings reports from several mega-cap tech giants this week. 5
Investors are now turning their attention to Intel, hoping for signs that supply issues are easing before the company reports again around April 23, per market calendars. 6
