Intel Corp's stock rose by 5.00% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite the broader market decline with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.27% and the S&P 500 down 1.22%.
HSBC upgraded Intel's rating from 'Reduce' to 'Hold', reflecting optimism about a recovery in its traditional server business, with FY26 server shipments expected to grow 15%-20% year-over-year, significantly exceeding street estimates of 4-6%. Analysts noted that the rise of agentic AI is expected to significantly boost server CPU demand, providing new growth momentum for Intel. Additionally, HSBC raised Intel's price target from $26 to $50, indicating a reassessment of its future growth potential.
This upgrade comes at a crucial time as the semiconductor industry shows signs of recovery, and Intel's improved outlook could attract investor interest, especially with the anticipated growth in server shipments driven by AI demand.
Wall Street analysts forecast INTC stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for INTC is 39.30 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 52.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
29 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast INTC stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for INTC is 39.30 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 52.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
5 Buy
19 Hold
5 Sell
Hold
Current: 42.490
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 42.490
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Morgan Stanley
Equal Weight
maintain
$38 -> $41
2026-01-25
New
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Price Target
$38 -> $41
AI Analysis
2026-01-25
New
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Morgan Stanley raised the firm's price target on Intel to $41 from $38 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The company reported upside to Q4 estimates but the Q1 outlook reflects "meaningful supply constraints," which is "problematic," the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says supply constraints will not make Intel's customers feel better about its ability to consistently serve them in foundry.
Mizuho
Neutral
maintain
$41 -> $48
2026-01-23
New
Reason
Mizuho
Price Target
$41 -> $48
2026-01-23
New
maintain
Neutral
Reason
Mizuho raised the firm's price target on Intel to $48 from $41 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares following the earnings print. The company issued a "soft" March quarter outlook, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
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Stifel
Hold
maintain
$35 -> $42
2026-01-23
New
Reason
Stifel
Price Target
$35 -> $42
2026-01-23
New
maintain
Hold
Reason
Stifel raised the firm's price target on Intel to $42 from $35 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares after the company delivered "a robust 4Q beat" but Q1 guidance disappointed as "hand-to-mouth" inventory created a temporary supply bottleneck amid high demand for server CPUs and just-ramping 18A production. Q1 "should be the fundamental trough," says the analyst, who sees the longer-term outlook getting more positive, but contends shares appear fairly valued for now.
UBS
Neutral
maintain
$49 -> $52
2026-01-23
New
Reason
UBS
Price Target
$49 -> $52
2026-01-23
New
maintain
Neutral
Reason
UBS raised the firm's price target on Intel to $52 from $49 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. Intel's guidance disappointed despite strong server CPU demand, reflecting supply constraints and structural roadmap disadvantages that limit participation in AI-driven upside, while PC momentum remains weak amid high memory prices, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Although foundry progress and potential high-profile customer wins could be incremental positives, earnings power remains constrained and the bull case appears several years away after the stock's recent run-up, UBS says.
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.
