Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Shares Up 2.6% – Time to Buy?

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s stock price was up 2.6% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $46.44 and last traded at $46.18. Approximately 73,677,618 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 33% from the average daily volume of 109,599,133 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.03.

Key Headlines Impacting Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Market perception is shifting that Intel is no longer a laggard in AI hardware as the company’s renewed push into AI chips and infrastructure is gaining traction; that narrative is supporting buying interest. Intel Stock Gains as New Push Into AI Hardware Takes Hold
• Positive Sentiment: Intel announced/extended a strategic collaboration with Versa to run AI-driven security, networking and analytics at the intelligent edge using Intel Xeon 6 processors — a commercial win that highlights actionable demand for Intel’s newer datacenter/edge silicon. Versa and Intel Collaborate to Bring AI-Powered Security and Networking to the Intelligent Edge
• Positive Sentiment: Intel is expanding advanced packaging capacity with a new Malaysian advanced-packaging plant — a supply-chain/capacity move that supports higher-margin packaging revenue and the company’s IDM 2.0 factory/packaging strategy. Intel Stock Surges With New Malaysian Advanced Packaging Plant
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary has been supportive recently (including notes highlighting packaging roadmap and EMIB-T progress), which helps sentiment for shares trading below $50 and reinforces the recovery narrative. Is Intel One of the Best Tech Stocks Under $50?
• Neutral Sentiment: Intel’s telecom/6G AI-RAN efforts (e.g., work with Viettel) are being framed as potential long-term moat plays in telco infrastructure — strategically positive but longer-dated and dependent on carrier deployments. Is Intel’s 6G AI-RAN Push With Viettel a Signal on Its Future Moat?
• Negative Sentiment: Bearish research and commentary remain in circulation (summarized bearish thesis and critical takes) that highlight valuation concerns, execution risks, and legacy PC/server cycle exposure — these narratives cap upside and increase volatility. Is Intel Corporation (INTC) A Good Stock To Buy Now?
• Negative Sentiment: Recent short-term weakness/previous session slides have left momentum fragile; some headlines noted a pullback in the prior session, reminding investors the rebound is not yet steady. Intel Stock Sinks As Market Gains

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on INTC. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of Intel in a research note on Friday, November 21st. They set a “market perform” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “hold” rating on shares of Intel in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. KeyCorp lifted their target price on Intel from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 target price on shares of Intel in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Intel from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twenty-six have assigned a Hold rating and six have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Intel currently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $45.74.

Intel Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $230.67 billion, a PE ratio of -577.18, a PEG ratio of 16.33 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 1.65. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $46.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.33.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The chip maker reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.08 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $13.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.37 billion. Intel had a negative net margin of 0.51% and a negative return on equity of 0.44%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.13 earnings per share. Intel has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.000-0.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Intel Corporation will post -0.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Intel news, EVP David Zinsner purchased 5,882 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 26th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $42.50 per share, for a total transaction of $249,985.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president directly owned 247,392 shares in the company, valued at $10,514,160. This represents a 2.44% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Boise April Miller sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.05, for a total value of $981,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 113,060 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,545,593. The trade was a 15.03% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financially Speaking Inc grew its position in Intel by 69.2% during the fourth quarter. Financially Speaking Inc now owns 682 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the period. Legacy Bridge LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intel during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Intel during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Intel in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Osbon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Intel in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. 64.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Intel Company Profile

Intel Corporation, founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon E. Moore and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The company is historically notable for introducing the first commercial microprocessor and for driving the x86 architecture that underpins many personal computers and servers. Intel’s core business spans the design, fabrication and marketing of processors, chipsets and related components for a wide range of computing applications.

Intel’s product portfolio includes client and mobile processors marketed under brands such as Intel Core and Pentium, as well as high-performance Xeon processors for data centers and cloud infrastructure.