U.S. Stock Futures Quiet as S&P 500 Nears Record
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 24 2025
0mins
Stock index futures were quiet in early pre-market trading ahead of a similarly muted holiday shortened session. U.S. stock markets closed at 1 pm ET and bond markets close at 2 pm ET.The S&P 500 index managed to hold near a record following the thin holiday trading as investors parsed labor market data for additional clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate path. The move in the benchmark index follows four-straight sessions of gains. The Dow also gained, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index closed little changed.Initial jobless claims fell to 214,000 for the week ended December 20, which was below expectations, and continuing jobless claims rose 38,000 to 1.92M in the latest survey.On the commodities front, gold prices climbed to another record, above $4,500 an ounce, while silver and platinum prices also hit records and copper heads for a 40% annual gain.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with this market wrap Fly By.STOCK NEWS:Intelshares slid afterthat Nvidiarecently tested out whether it would manufacture its chips using Intel's 18A production process, but stopped moving forwardSanofiagreed toof Dynavax Technologiesfor $15.50 per share in cash, reflecting a total equity value of $2.2BBPreached ana 65% shareholding in Castrol to Stonepeak, at an enterprise value of $10.1B, resulting in total net proceeds of $6BWALL STREET CALLS:NorthcoastCostcoto Buy with a $1,100 price targetRaymond JamesKB Hometo Market Perform following the company's "disappointing" Q4 reportComstock Inc.to Market Perform at Noble CapitalSpire Globalto Neutral from Buy at Alliance Global3. AROUND THE WEB:Ares Managementis open to buying a private equity firm in an attempt to bolster its leveraged buyout business,Bitcoin mining companies like Core Scientific, Cipher Mining, Iren, and CleanSparkhave transitioned to artificial intelligence data centers,Hondawill acquire LG Energy Solution's facilities and other assets from their joint battery plant in Ohio for approximately $2.9B,A federal judge has blocked a Texas law requiring companies that run mobile app stores, like Appleand Google, to verify ages of users,4. MOVERS:Agios Pharmaceuticalsincreased after thein anemia patientsEdgewise Therapeuticsgained afterfrom its Phase 2 EDG-7500 trialUiPathclosed higher after beingin the S&P 400 at the open on January 1, 2026Tesla (TSLA) fell afterthe NHTSA has opened a probe into the Model 3 vehicle over door release controlsBrandywine Realtyclosed lower after being picked toon the S&P 600INDEXES:The Dow rose 288.75, or 0.60%, to 48,731.16, the Nasdaq gained 51.46, or 0.22%, to 23,613.31, and the S&P 500 advanced 22.26, or 0.32%, to 6,932.05.
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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: 127.020
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
Current: 127.020
Low
20.00
Averages
39.30
High
52.00
About INTC
Intel Corporation is a global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The Company's segments include Intel Products, Intel Foundry, and All Other. Its Intel Products comprise Client Computing Group (CCG) and Data Center and AI (DCAI). CCG delivers platforms and processors that power PCs and edge devices, enabling enhanced performance, connectivity and user experience for consumer and commercial markets with capabilities that also support retail, industrial robotics and AI ecosystems at the edge. DCAI delivers workload-optimized solutions based upon its x86 architecture for data centers, including CPUs, AI accelerators, NICs, IPUs and custom ASICs, enabling performance and scalability for cloud, enterprise, telecommunication and HPC environments. The Intel Foundry segment comprises technology development, manufacturing and foundry services, developing new semiconductor process technologies and advanced packaging technologies. All Other segments include Mobileye and 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's Stock Triples Amid AI Boom and Foundry Growth
- Significant Investment Returns: A $10,000 investment in Intel on January 2 at $39.38 per share is now worth approximately $30,561, demonstrating that investors have seen over a threefold return in just six months, reflecting increased market confidence in Intel's transformation.
- Strong Revenue Growth: Recent reports indicate that Intel's data center and AI revenue rose 22% year-over-year to $5.1 billion, while foundry revenue grew 16% to $5.4 billion, showcasing the company's robust performance in emerging markets and ongoing business transformation.
- Restored Market Confidence: Intel's stock peaked at $139.63 in late June before a market pullback, indicating that investor confidence in the company's future growth is gradually recovering, despite the fact that the company remains unprofitable over the past 12 months.
- Future Challenges and Opportunities: Intel is set to report its second-quarter results on July 23, with the market keenly watching for growth in foundry revenue, gross margins, and new customer acquisitions, as these factors will directly impact the company's future valuation and investor confidence.
See More
Intel's Stock Triples: Key Drivers Behind the Surge
- Significant Investment Returns: A $10,000 investment in Intel at $39.38 per share on January 2 has appreciated to approximately $30,561, showcasing over a threefold return in six months, reflecting growing market confidence in the company's transformation.
- Growth in Data Center and Foundry: Intel's Q1 results revealed a 22% year-over-year revenue increase in its data center and AI segment to $5.1 billion, while foundry revenue rose 16% to $5.4 billion, indicating a resurgence in competitiveness in emerging markets.
- Rebuilding Market Confidence: Intel's stock price rebounded to a market cap of about $604 billion from earlier lows, reflecting investor expectations of successful transformation; however, the company remains unprofitable over the past 12 months, making future performance critical.
- Future Challenges and Opportunities: Investors should focus on the upcoming Q2 earnings report on July 23, particularly on the growth of foundry revenue, expansion of gross margins, and acquisition of new customers, as these factors will directly impact stock price stability and future profitability.
See More
Macron and Modi Lead AI Investment Charm Offensive
- Investment Attraction Strategy: French President Macron and Indian Prime Minister Modi are actively courting global tech giants for investments, particularly SoftBank's multi-billion dollar commitment in France, highlighting the urgency and strategic collaboration in AI infrastructure development.
- Infrastructure Commitment: SoftBank's plan to build 3.1 GW of AI data centers in France as part of a €75 billion program underscores France's significant role in the global AI ecosystem and reflects Macron's commitment to energy supply.
- Global Collaboration Opportunities: Modi's meetings with tech leaders at the Global AI Summit resulted in commitments of hundreds of billions of dollars, emphasizing India's potential and future in AI, aiming to attract more foreign investment to enhance domestic AI infrastructure.
- Technological Self-Reliance Development: The Indian government is offering long-term tax breaks to attract hyperscalers to build AI data centers, demonstrating its urgency in the global AI race while promoting local semiconductor industry development to reduce reliance on external technologies.
See More
Micron vs. Intel: Competing in the AI Surge
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income more than doubling sequentially and increasing over tenfold year-over-year, indicating strong performance in the AI chip market, and projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion suggests over 20% sequential growth, further solidifying its market position.
- Intel AI Chip Demand Growth: Intel's Data Center and AI segment saw a 22% year-over-year growth, contributing over one-third of total revenue, indicating strong demand in the AI market that will drive future revenue growth, especially with the $8.9 billion investment from the Trump administration.
- Market Share and Valuation Comparison: Micron's forward P/E ratio stands at 7.4, despite its growth rate exceeding Nvidia's, while Intel's P/E ratio is 147, reflecting differing market expectations for future growth potential and highlighting Micron's current market advantage.
- Impact of Strategic Customer Agreements: Micron's multi-year strategic customer agreements provide greater revenue visibility and mitigate cyclical business risks, positioning the company to capture further market share and revenue growth as the AI market continues to expand over the coming years.
See More
Micron and Intel Benefit from AI Growth
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income increasing over tenfold, indicating strong performance in the memory chip market, and projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion suggests over 20% sequential growth, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Intel AI Chip Demand Rising: Intel's Data Center and AI segment saw a 22% year-over-year growth, contributing to a 7% overall revenue increase, indicating rapidly increasing demand for its AI products, with potential for further market share expansion through government partnerships.
- Strategic Customer Agreements Enhance Visibility: Micron's multi-year agreements with strategic customers provide greater revenue visibility and mitigate cyclical business impacts, highlighting the company's long-term growth potential in the AI market.
- Intel's Market Positioning: Despite Intel's current P/E ratio of 147, significantly higher than Micron's 7.4, its strong relationship with the Trump administration may lead to more tech partnership opportunities, driving future revenue growth and showcasing its strategic positioning in the AI sector.
See More
Comparing AI Stock Performance: Micron vs Intel
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income more than doubling sequentially and increasing over tenfold year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the AI chip market, with projected revenue of $50 billion in Q4 suggesting over 20% sequential growth.
- Intel AI Business Growth: Intel's AI and data center segment grew 22% year-over-year, making up over one-third of total revenue, while overall revenue growth was only 7%; its strong relationship with the Trump administration may pave the way for future tech partnerships and revenue growth.
- Expanding Market Opportunities: Micron's multi-year strategic customer agreements provide greater revenue visibility and help insulate it from cyclical risks, positioning its high-bandwidth memory chips at the center of the expanding AI market.
- Valuation Comparison: Micron's forward P/E ratio stands at 7.4, significantly lower than Intel's 147 despite Micron's higher growth rates, highlighting its attractiveness to investors as it continues to grow rapidly while maintaining a lower valuation.
See More
Intel's Stock Triples Amid AI Boom and Foundry Growth
- Significant Investment Returns: A $10,000 investment in Intel on January 2 at $39.38 per share is now worth approximately $30,561, demonstrating that investors have seen over a threefold return in just six months, reflecting increased market confidence in Intel's transformation.
- Strong Revenue Growth: Recent reports indicate that Intel's data center and AI revenue rose 22% year-over-year to $5.1 billion, while foundry revenue grew 16% to $5.4 billion, showcasing the company's robust performance in emerging markets and ongoing business transformation.
- Restored Market Confidence: Intel's stock peaked at $139.63 in late June before a market pullback, indicating that investor confidence in the company's future growth is gradually recovering, despite the fact that the company remains unprofitable over the past 12 months.
- Future Challenges and Opportunities: Intel is set to report its second-quarter results on July 23, with the market keenly watching for growth in foundry revenue, gross margins, and new customer acquisitions, as these factors will directly impact the company's future valuation and investor confidence.
See More
Intel's Stock Triples: Key Drivers Behind the Surge
- Significant Investment Returns: A $10,000 investment in Intel at $39.38 per share on January 2 has appreciated to approximately $30,561, showcasing over a threefold return in six months, reflecting growing market confidence in the company's transformation.
- Growth in Data Center and Foundry: Intel's Q1 results revealed a 22% year-over-year revenue increase in its data center and AI segment to $5.1 billion, while foundry revenue rose 16% to $5.4 billion, indicating a resurgence in competitiveness in emerging markets.
- Rebuilding Market Confidence: Intel's stock price rebounded to a market cap of about $604 billion from earlier lows, reflecting investor expectations of successful transformation; however, the company remains unprofitable over the past 12 months, making future performance critical.
- Future Challenges and Opportunities: Investors should focus on the upcoming Q2 earnings report on July 23, particularly on the growth of foundry revenue, expansion of gross margins, and acquisition of new customers, as these factors will directly impact stock price stability and future profitability.
See More
Macron and Modi Lead AI Investment Charm Offensive
- Investment Attraction Strategy: French President Macron and Indian Prime Minister Modi are actively courting global tech giants for investments, particularly SoftBank's multi-billion dollar commitment in France, highlighting the urgency and strategic collaboration in AI infrastructure development.
- Infrastructure Commitment: SoftBank's plan to build 3.1 GW of AI data centers in France as part of a €75 billion program underscores France's significant role in the global AI ecosystem and reflects Macron's commitment to energy supply.
- Global Collaboration Opportunities: Modi's meetings with tech leaders at the Global AI Summit resulted in commitments of hundreds of billions of dollars, emphasizing India's potential and future in AI, aiming to attract more foreign investment to enhance domestic AI infrastructure.
- Technological Self-Reliance Development: The Indian government is offering long-term tax breaks to attract hyperscalers to build AI data centers, demonstrating its urgency in the global AI race while promoting local semiconductor industry development to reduce reliance on external technologies.
See More
Micron vs. Intel: Competing in the AI Surge
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income more than doubling sequentially and increasing over tenfold year-over-year, indicating strong performance in the AI chip market, and projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion suggests over 20% sequential growth, further solidifying its market position.
- Intel AI Chip Demand Growth: Intel's Data Center and AI segment saw a 22% year-over-year growth, contributing over one-third of total revenue, indicating strong demand in the AI market that will drive future revenue growth, especially with the $8.9 billion investment from the Trump administration.
- Market Share and Valuation Comparison: Micron's forward P/E ratio stands at 7.4, despite its growth rate exceeding Nvidia's, while Intel's P/E ratio is 147, reflecting differing market expectations for future growth potential and highlighting Micron's current market advantage.
- Impact of Strategic Customer Agreements: Micron's multi-year strategic customer agreements provide greater revenue visibility and mitigate cyclical business risks, positioning the company to capture further market share and revenue growth as the AI market continues to expand over the coming years.
See More
Micron and Intel Benefit from AI Growth
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income increasing over tenfold, indicating strong performance in the memory chip market, and projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion suggests over 20% sequential growth, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Intel AI Chip Demand Rising: Intel's Data Center and AI segment saw a 22% year-over-year growth, contributing to a 7% overall revenue increase, indicating rapidly increasing demand for its AI products, with potential for further market share expansion through government partnerships.
- Strategic Customer Agreements Enhance Visibility: Micron's multi-year agreements with strategic customers provide greater revenue visibility and mitigate cyclical business impacts, highlighting the company's long-term growth potential in the AI market.
- Intel's Market Positioning: Despite Intel's current P/E ratio of 147, significantly higher than Micron's 7.4, its strong relationship with the Trump administration may lead to more tech partnership opportunities, driving future revenue growth and showcasing its strategic positioning in the AI sector.
See More
Comparing AI Stock Performance: Micron vs Intel
- Micron Revenue Surge: Micron's revenue quadrupled year-over-year in Q3 FY2026, with net income more than doubling sequentially and increasing over tenfold year-over-year, indicating strong demand in the AI chip market, with projected revenue of $50 billion in Q4 suggesting over 20% sequential growth.
- Intel AI Business Growth: Intel's AI and data center segment grew 22% year-over-year, making up over one-third of total revenue, while overall revenue growth was only 7%; its strong relationship with the Trump administration may pave the way for future tech partnerships and revenue growth.
- Expanding Market Opportunities: Micron's multi-year strategic customer agreements provide greater revenue visibility and help insulate it from cyclical risks, positioning its high-bandwidth memory chips at the center of the expanding AI market.
- Valuation Comparison: Micron's forward P/E ratio stands at 7.4, significantly lower than Intel's 147 despite Micron's higher growth rates, highlighting its attractiveness to investors as it continues to grow rapidly while maintaining a lower valuation.
See More
