U.S. Stocks Rise on Friday, Intel Surges Over 10%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy INTC?
Source: Benzinga
- Market Sentiment Improvement: The CNN Money Fear & Greed Index rose from 47.2 to 50.6, indicating a shift towards neutral sentiment, which may attract more investors and bolster market confidence.
- Employment Data Impact: December nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000, slightly below the expected 60,000, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.4%, suggesting potential stabilization in the labor market that could influence future monetary policy.
- Strong Stock Market Performance: The Dow Jones gained approximately 238 points, closing at 49,504.07, while the S&P 500 rose 0.65% to 6,966.28 and the Nasdaq climbed 0.81% to 23,671.35, reflecting investor optimism regarding economic recovery.
- Intel Stock Surge: Following President Trump's meeting with CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel's stock jumped over 10%, reaching its highest level since March 2024, indicating strong market confidence in the company's future prospects.
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Analyst Views on INTC
Wall Street analysts forecast INTC stock price to fall
29 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
19 Hold
5 Sell
Hold
Current: 46.480
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 46.480
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
About INTC
Intel Corporation is a global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The Company operates through three segments: Intel Products, Intel Foundry, and All Other. Its Intel Products segment includes Client Computing Group (CCG), Data Center and AI (DCAI), Network and Edge (NEX). The CCG is bringing together the operating system, system architecture, hardware, and software application integration to enable PC experiences. DCAI delivers workload-optimized solutions to cloud service providers and enterprises, along with silicon devices for communications service providers, network and edge, and HPC customers. NEX helps networks and edge compute systems from fixed-function hardware to general-purpose compute, acceleration, and networking devices running cloud native software on programmable hardware. The Intel Foundry segment comprises technology development, manufacturing and foundry services. All Other segments include Altera, Mobileye, Other.
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.
Intel Stock Rebounds but Fundamentals Lag Behind
- Stock Rebound: Intel's stock nearly doubled in 2025, yet the company's fundamental business metrics remain unhealed, indicating disappointment among long-term shareholders.
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In 2022, Intel's revenue plunged by 20% and net income fell nearly 40%, with a further 80% drop in net income in 2023, reflecting the impact of high inflation and macroeconomic pressures on demand.
- Management Changes: Following $15.9 billion in impairment and $2.8 billion in restructuring charges, Intel's board forced former CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, appointing Lip-Bu Tan as the new CEO in hopes of revitalizing performance.
- Future Outlook: Despite a rise in gross margin to 34.8% in 2025, Intel reported a GAAP loss of approximately $300 million, as weakness in the PC segment offset gains in data center and AI sales, leaving the success of its rebound uncertain.
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- Slow Project Progress: Although NuScale's RoPower project in Romania has received a Final Investment Decision (FID), the facility is not expected to be operational until at least July 2033 due to trial delays, which will impact the company's long-term revenue expectations.
- Contract Signing Challenges: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for potential 6GW capacity development lacks formal contracts, leading to a financial burden of $495 million for the company, increasing operational risks.
- Manufacturing Capability Needs: To achieve scalable production, NuScale must establish a manufacturing supply chain, with management noting that total payments for large projects could exceed billions of dollars, putting pressure on the company's liquidity and financial stability.
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- Debt Crisis Concerns: The U.S. government's increasing debt and reduced foreign purchases of U.S. bonds may lead to soaring bond yields and higher borrowing costs, thereby affecting corporate financing capabilities.
- AI Investment Demand: The estimated $3 trillion required for AI development by 2030 is testing the limits of capital markets, and any systemic shock could lead to a depletion of available funding.
- Historical Lessons: Dalio's warning echoes past market crashes, particularly the role of debt in bursting bubbles, prompting investors to focus on stocks with strong cash flows to navigate potential market contractions.
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- Infrastructure Investment: With rising demand for AI data centers, significant infrastructure investment deals are anticipated, further solidifying India's position as a global hub for AI technology.
- Talent Attraction: India is regarded as an 'AI talent factory,' with over 60% of Global Capability Centers focusing on AI and data development, and 80% of new centers projected to be AI-led in the next six to eight months, indicating a strong demand for tech talent.
- Executive Position Growth: An increasing number of firms are establishing senior leadership roles, such as 'Chief AI Officer,' in India, reflecting a reliance on local talent and a focus on the AI sector, which enhances competitiveness in the global market.
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- Long-Term Strategy Release: The Zcash Foundation published its 2026 strategy at the end of January, emphasizing routine consensus upgrades and improved wallet user experience, aiming to enhance ZEC's utility as digital cash and bolster investor confidence.
- Collaborations and Capital Inflows: Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin's recent donation to Shielded Labs to support Zcash's Crosslink upgrade indicates the network's potential for partnerships with other major blockchains and its future growth prospects.
- Positive Market Outlook: Should the capital inflows expected in 2024 and 2025 continue into the crypto market, Zcash could emerge as an intriguing investment opportunity, despite recent price fluctuations prompting some investors to take profits.
See More
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- Surge in Silver Demand: With silver's extensive applications in AI, electronics, and medical devices, demand is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, with Grandview Research forecasting a 30.6% CAGR for the AI market.
- Investment Advantages of Silver: While gold is viewed as a stronger store of value, silver also serves as an inflation hedge and has lower correlation with the stock market, offering higher potential upside during economic cycles, especially with growing industrial applications.
- Cautious Investment Advice: Although the iShares Silver Trust offers direct exposure to silver, analysts suggest that now may not be the best time to buy, recommending investors focus on other stocks deemed to have greater potential for returns.
See More
Intel Stock Rebounds but Fundamentals Lag Behind
- Stock Rebound: Intel's stock nearly doubled in 2025, yet the company's fundamental business metrics remain unhealed, indicating disappointment among long-term shareholders.
- Revenue and Profit Decline: In 2022, Intel's revenue plunged by 20% and net income fell nearly 40%, with a further 80% drop in net income in 2023, reflecting the impact of high inflation and macroeconomic pressures on demand.
- Management Changes: Following $15.9 billion in impairment and $2.8 billion in restructuring charges, Intel's board forced former CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, appointing Lip-Bu Tan as the new CEO in hopes of revitalizing performance.
- Future Outlook: Despite a rise in gross margin to 34.8% in 2025, Intel reported a GAAP loss of approximately $300 million, as weakness in the PC segment offset gains in data center and AI sales, leaving the success of its rebound uncertain.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Significant Challenges Ahead
- Stock Volatility: NuScale Power's stock peaked at $57 last year but has since fallen 70%, indicating significant uncertainty and investment risk in the nuclear energy sector, prompting investors to carefully assess future performance.
- Slow Project Progress: Although NuScale's RoPower project in Romania has received a Final Investment Decision (FID), the facility is not expected to be operational until at least July 2033 due to trial delays, which will impact the company's long-term revenue expectations.
- Contract Signing Challenges: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for potential 6GW capacity development lacks formal contracts, leading to a financial burden of $495 million for the company, increasing operational risks.
- Manufacturing Capability Needs: To achieve scalable production, NuScale must establish a manufacturing supply chain, with management noting that total payments for large projects could exceed billions of dollars, putting pressure on the company's liquidity and financial stability.
See More
Ray Dalio Warns of Global Capital War
- Capital Flow Warning: Billionaire Ray Dalio warns that the global capital flow system is breaking down, potentially leading to a 'capital war' that could significantly impact the stock market, especially given the current high levels of debt.
- Debt Crisis Concerns: The U.S. government's increasing debt and reduced foreign purchases of U.S. bonds may lead to soaring bond yields and higher borrowing costs, thereby affecting corporate financing capabilities.
- AI Investment Demand: The estimated $3 trillion required for AI development by 2030 is testing the limits of capital markets, and any systemic shock could lead to a depletion of available funding.
- Historical Lessons: Dalio's warning echoes past market crashes, particularly the role of debt in bursting bubbles, prompting investors to focus on stocks with strong cash flows to navigate potential market contractions.
See More
AI Summit in India Attracts Tech Giants
- Market Validation: The AI Impact Summit in India has attracted CEOs from tech giants like Nvidia, OpenAI, and Alphabet, highlighting the global business community's recognition of India's market potential, which is expected to drive future investments and collaborations.
- Infrastructure Investment: With rising demand for AI data centers, significant infrastructure investment deals are anticipated, further solidifying India's position as a global hub for AI technology.
- Talent Attraction: India is regarded as an 'AI talent factory,' with over 60% of Global Capability Centers focusing on AI and data development, and 80% of new centers projected to be AI-led in the next six to eight months, indicating a strong demand for tech talent.
- Executive Position Growth: An increasing number of firms are establishing senior leadership roles, such as 'Chief AI Officer,' in India, reflecting a reliance on local talent and a focus on the AI sector, which enhances competitiveness in the global market.
See More
Zcash Investors Experience Significant Profit Volatility
- Diverging Investment Returns: Investors in Zcash have seen over 800% returns over the past year, while those who invested just a month ago are down nearly 30%, highlighting the high volatility and rapid shifts in market sentiment surrounding this digital asset.
- Long-Term Strategy Release: The Zcash Foundation published its 2026 strategy at the end of January, emphasizing routine consensus upgrades and improved wallet user experience, aiming to enhance ZEC's utility as digital cash and bolster investor confidence.
- Collaborations and Capital Inflows: Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin's recent donation to Shielded Labs to support Zcash's Crosslink upgrade indicates the network's potential for partnerships with other major blockchains and its future growth prospects.
- Positive Market Outlook: Should the capital inflows expected in 2024 and 2025 continue into the crypto market, Zcash could emerge as an intriguing investment opportunity, despite recent price fluctuations prompting some investors to take profits.
See More
Investment Potential Analysis of iShares Silver Trust
- Gold Trust Performance: The SPDR Gold Trust has surged over 70% in the past year and nearly tripled over five years, demonstrating its strong appeal as an inflation hedge amid economic uncertainty, attracting increasing investor interest.
- Surge in Silver Demand: With silver's extensive applications in AI, electronics, and medical devices, demand is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, with Grandview Research forecasting a 30.6% CAGR for the AI market.
- Investment Advantages of Silver: While gold is viewed as a stronger store of value, silver also serves as an inflation hedge and has lower correlation with the stock market, offering higher potential upside during economic cycles, especially with growing industrial applications.
- Cautious Investment Advice: Although the iShares Silver Trust offers direct exposure to silver, analysts suggest that now may not be the best time to buy, recommending investors focus on other stocks deemed to have greater potential for returns.
See More
