US Stocks Mostly Higher, Intel Hits Record High
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 24 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Intel Stock Surge: Intel (INTC) shares rose over 22% to a record high after forecasting Q2 revenue between $13.8 billion and $14.8 billion, significantly exceeding expectations of $13.04 billion, thereby boosting overall confidence in the semiconductor sector and reflecting optimism about the economic potential of artificial intelligence.
- Consumer Confidence Rebound: The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index was revised upward to 49.8, surpassing expectations of 48.5, indicating an increase in consumer confidence which could stimulate spending and drive economic growth.
- Oil Price Volatility Impacting Markets: WTI crude oil prices fell over 1% amid expectations of renewed US-Iran talks, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis and affecting operational costs and profit forecasts for energy-intensive sectors.
- Strong Earnings Season Performance: So far, 81% of the 123 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have beaten estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to climb 12% year-over-year, demonstrating resilience in corporate profitability that may further boost market sentiment.
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Analyst Views on AMAT
Wall Street analysts forecast AMAT stock price to fall
22 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 592.920
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
Current: 592.920
Low
190.00
Averages
288.05
High
425.00
About AMAT
Applied Materials, Inc. is a materials engineering solution company. The Company provides equipment, services and software to the semiconductor, display, and related industries. It operates through two segments: Semiconductor Systems and Applied Global Services (AGS). The Semiconductor Systems segment includes semiconductor capital equipment to enable materials engineering steps including etch, rapid thermal processing, deposition, chemical mechanical planarization, metrology and inspection, wafer packaging, and ion implantation. The AGS segment provides integrated solutions to optimize equipment and fab performance and productivity, including services, spares and factory automation software for semiconductor and other products. Its products include personal computing devices, mobile phones, artificial intelligence (AI) and data center servers, automobiles, connected devices, industrial applications and consumer electronics.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Market Volatility Leads to Divergent Stock Performances
- Overbought Stocks: This week, Applied Materials and Western Digital saw gains of nearly 9% and 33%, respectively, with relative strength indices (RSI) of 77 and 78 indicating overbought conditions, suggesting potential pullback risks that investors should consider.
- Rating Upgrade Impact: Citi reiterated its buy rating on Applied Materials and raised its price target to $710, implying a 15% upside from Thursday's closing price, reflecting market optimism about the stock's future performance.
- Earnings Miss Dragging Down: Accenture's stock fell nearly 25% this week, with an RSI of 23, after reporting third-quarter revenue of $18.72 billion, which was below market expectations, alongside a decline in new bookings, leading to diminished confidence in its growth prospects.
- Acquisition Financing Challenges: Fox Corporation announced its acquisition of Roku for $160 per share, totaling approximately $22 billion, and while securing a $12 billion loan, concerns over its financing strategy may impact stock performance moving forward.
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US Stocks Rise on US-Iran Peace Deal Optimism
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose 1.08%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.14%, and the Nasdaq 100 surged 2.48% as optimism over the US-Iran peace deal eased inflation risks, reflecting a positive market sentiment.
- Chip Sector Surge: Intel's stock jumped over 10% after President Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, leading the iShares Semiconductor ETF to rise more than 7%, indicating strong momentum in the tech sector.
- Energy Stocks Weaken: WTI crude oil prices fell to a 3.5-month low, causing significant declines in energy stocks, with SLB, ConocoPhillips, and Halliburton dropping over 3%, highlighting concerns over energy price volatility.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market strength, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, surpassing expectations, further boosting investor confidence.
See More
Stocks Rise as Apple Signals Price Increases for Chips
- Market Performance: U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, recovering from losses earlier in the week, with the S&P 500 up about 1% for the week, reflecting optimism about the economic outlook, particularly as crude prices fell due to tankers exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
- Apple's Price Increase Signals: Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that the company will raise prices due to rising memory and storage chip costs, suggesting that memory prices are unlikely to decrease soon, which exacerbates supply-demand imbalances and drives up related chip stocks.
- Amazon's Chip Business Potential: Amazon shares rose after reports of talks to sell custom chips to third-party data centers, with CEO Andy Jassy estimating that the chip business could generate an annual revenue run rate of $50 billion, a figure comparable to analyst estimates for AMD, highlighting Amazon's potential in the semiconductor market.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Next week, earnings will be released from FedEx and its recently spun-off FedEx Freight, along with significant reports from memory chipmaker Micron and other key companies, as the market closely monitors these data points to assess economic health.
See More
US Stocks Surge as Geopolitical Risks Ease
- Market Rebound: The signing of a preliminary deal by President Trump to end the US-Iran war has driven crude oil prices to a 3.5-month low, resulting in a broad market rally with the S&P 500 up 0.99% and the Nasdaq 100 up 2.16%, indicating a resurgence in risk appetite among investors.
- Chip Stocks Lead Gains: Intel shares surged 7% after Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, propelling the entire semiconductor sector higher, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF rising over 5%, reflecting strong investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Energy Stocks Under Pressure: Crude oil prices fell more than 3%, putting pressure on energy producers, with major companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron experiencing declines, highlighting market concerns regarding the energy sector's outlook amid falling oil prices.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market resilience, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, exceeding expectations, further bolstering market optimism.
See More
Enphase Energy Shares Surge Following Production Announcement
- Enphase Energy Surge: Enphase Energy's shares jumped 10% after announcing the commencement of production shipments for its IQ9S microinverters, indicating strong growth potential in the global energy technology sector.
- AI-Related Stocks Rally: Stocks tied to artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure saw significant gains, with Corning up 7% and Credo Technology rising 5%, reflecting ongoing investor optimism in AI technologies.
- Kroger Earnings Miss: Kroger reported first-quarter earnings of $1.58 per share, slightly below analysts' expectations of $1.59, resulting in a more than 6% drop in stock price, despite revenue of $46.12 billion exceeding forecasts.
- Smith & Wesson Performance: Smith & Wesson's stock surged approximately 20% after reporting earnings and revenue beats, with handgun sales increasing 23% year-over-year, highlighting strong demand in the firearms market.
See More
US Stocks Surge as Chipmakers Lead Gains Amid Positive Economic News
- Market Rally: Following President Trump's signing of a preliminary US-Iran ceasefire agreement, the S&P 500 rose by 0.73%, the Dow Jones by 0.53%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.62%, reflecting a risk-on sentiment in asset markets.
- Chipmaker Surge: Intel's stock jumped 8% after Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, leading the semiconductor sector higher, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF up over 4%.
- Supportive Economic Data: Weekly initial unemployment claims fell by 4,000 to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey rose by 10.7 to 10.3, exceeding expectations and bolstering market confidence.
- Oil Price Decline Impact: WTI crude oil prices dropped over 2% to a new 3.5-month low, potentially releasing over 100 oil-laden tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf, which could increase market supply and influence future oil price trends.
See More
Market Volatility Leads to Divergent Stock Performances
- Overbought Stocks: This week, Applied Materials and Western Digital saw gains of nearly 9% and 33%, respectively, with relative strength indices (RSI) of 77 and 78 indicating overbought conditions, suggesting potential pullback risks that investors should consider.
- Rating Upgrade Impact: Citi reiterated its buy rating on Applied Materials and raised its price target to $710, implying a 15% upside from Thursday's closing price, reflecting market optimism about the stock's future performance.
- Earnings Miss Dragging Down: Accenture's stock fell nearly 25% this week, with an RSI of 23, after reporting third-quarter revenue of $18.72 billion, which was below market expectations, alongside a decline in new bookings, leading to diminished confidence in its growth prospects.
- Acquisition Financing Challenges: Fox Corporation announced its acquisition of Roku for $160 per share, totaling approximately $22 billion, and while securing a $12 billion loan, concerns over its financing strategy may impact stock performance moving forward.
See More
US Stocks Rise on US-Iran Peace Deal Optimism
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose 1.08%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.14%, and the Nasdaq 100 surged 2.48% as optimism over the US-Iran peace deal eased inflation risks, reflecting a positive market sentiment.
- Chip Sector Surge: Intel's stock jumped over 10% after President Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, leading the iShares Semiconductor ETF to rise more than 7%, indicating strong momentum in the tech sector.
- Energy Stocks Weaken: WTI crude oil prices fell to a 3.5-month low, causing significant declines in energy stocks, with SLB, ConocoPhillips, and Halliburton dropping over 3%, highlighting concerns over energy price volatility.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market strength, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, surpassing expectations, further boosting investor confidence.
See More
Stocks Rise as Apple Signals Price Increases for Chips
- Market Performance: U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, recovering from losses earlier in the week, with the S&P 500 up about 1% for the week, reflecting optimism about the economic outlook, particularly as crude prices fell due to tankers exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
- Apple's Price Increase Signals: Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that the company will raise prices due to rising memory and storage chip costs, suggesting that memory prices are unlikely to decrease soon, which exacerbates supply-demand imbalances and drives up related chip stocks.
- Amazon's Chip Business Potential: Amazon shares rose after reports of talks to sell custom chips to third-party data centers, with CEO Andy Jassy estimating that the chip business could generate an annual revenue run rate of $50 billion, a figure comparable to analyst estimates for AMD, highlighting Amazon's potential in the semiconductor market.
- Upcoming Earnings Reports: Next week, earnings will be released from FedEx and its recently spun-off FedEx Freight, along with significant reports from memory chipmaker Micron and other key companies, as the market closely monitors these data points to assess economic health.
See More
US Stocks Surge as Geopolitical Risks Ease
- Market Rebound: The signing of a preliminary deal by President Trump to end the US-Iran war has driven crude oil prices to a 3.5-month low, resulting in a broad market rally with the S&P 500 up 0.99% and the Nasdaq 100 up 2.16%, indicating a resurgence in risk appetite among investors.
- Chip Stocks Lead Gains: Intel shares surged 7% after Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, propelling the entire semiconductor sector higher, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF rising over 5%, reflecting strong investor confidence in tech stocks.
- Energy Stocks Under Pressure: Crude oil prices fell more than 3%, putting pressure on energy producers, with major companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron experiencing declines, highlighting market concerns regarding the energy sector's outlook amid falling oil prices.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market resilience, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, exceeding expectations, further bolstering market optimism.
See More
Enphase Energy Shares Surge Following Production Announcement
- Enphase Energy Surge: Enphase Energy's shares jumped 10% after announcing the commencement of production shipments for its IQ9S microinverters, indicating strong growth potential in the global energy technology sector.
- AI-Related Stocks Rally: Stocks tied to artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure saw significant gains, with Corning up 7% and Credo Technology rising 5%, reflecting ongoing investor optimism in AI technologies.
- Kroger Earnings Miss: Kroger reported first-quarter earnings of $1.58 per share, slightly below analysts' expectations of $1.59, resulting in a more than 6% drop in stock price, despite revenue of $46.12 billion exceeding forecasts.
- Smith & Wesson Performance: Smith & Wesson's stock surged approximately 20% after reporting earnings and revenue beats, with handgun sales increasing 23% year-over-year, highlighting strong demand in the firearms market.
See More
US Stocks Surge as Chipmakers Lead Gains Amid Positive Economic News
- Market Rally: Following President Trump's signing of a preliminary US-Iran ceasefire agreement, the S&P 500 rose by 0.73%, the Dow Jones by 0.53%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.62%, reflecting a risk-on sentiment in asset markets.
- Chipmaker Surge: Intel's stock jumped 8% after Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, leading the semiconductor sector higher, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF up over 4%.
- Supportive Economic Data: Weekly initial unemployment claims fell by 4,000 to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey rose by 10.7 to 10.3, exceeding expectations and bolstering market confidence.
- Oil Price Decline Impact: WTI crude oil prices dropped over 2% to a new 3.5-month low, potentially releasing over 100 oil-laden tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf, which could increase market supply and influence future oil price trends.
See More
