Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Reaches New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Intel shares hit a new 52-week high, trading as high as $132.75 and closing around $129.44, as investors continued to pile into the stock on strong momentum.
• Recent optimism is being driven by potential foundry-business catalysts, including reports of a preliminary chipmaking deal with Apple and possible chip-packaging collaboration with SK Hynix.
• Despite the rally, analysts remain mixed: Intel has a consensus Hold rating with an average price target of $75.64, even though the company recently beat quarterly earnings and revenue expectations.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $132.75 and last traded at $129.44, with a volume of 178802355 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $124.92.

Key Headlines Impacting Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Reports that Intel may secure a preliminary chipmaking deal with Apple would be a major endorsement of its foundry business and could open the door to a high-volume, high-profile customer. Apple-Intel preliminary chip deal seen as positive for Intel but raises fab questions, says Wedbush
• Positive Sentiment: News that Intel could work with SK Hynix on chip-packaging technology adds another potential growth catalyst for its semiconductor manufacturing and packaging operations. Intel's stock extends its hot streak. This is the latest source of optimism.
• Positive Sentiment: Broad tech-sector strength and reports that Intel and other chip names are trading at record levels are supporting momentum buying in the stock. Tech stocks today: AI chipmaker Cerebras to stage blockbuster IPO, Nvidia's Jensen Huang goes to China
• Neutral Sentiment: Intel remains one of the most heavily watched stocks in the market, but some analysts are still cautious and argue that much of the optimism is already reflected in the valuation. Why BofA remains cautious on Intel stock despite ongoing rally
• Neutral Sentiment: Intel’s short-interest update showed zero shares reported, so it does not provide a meaningful new trading signal. Intel stock data

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on INTC. KGI Securities lowered shares of Intel from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $71.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Intel from $45.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Roth Mkm upgraded shares of Intel from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $100.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group set a $51.00 target price on shares of Intel in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Intel from $48.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, twenty-five have assigned a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Intel currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $75.64.

Intel Trading Up 3.6%

The firm's 50-day moving average price is $61.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.71. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The company has a market cap of $650.57 billion, a P/E ratio of -208.77 and a beta of 2.18.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $13.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $12.32 billion. Intel had a negative net margin of 5.90% and a positive return on equity of 0.39%. Intel's revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.13 earnings per share. Intel has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 0.200-0.200 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Intel Corporation will post 0.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Boise April Miller sold 40,256 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.53, for a total transaction of $4,006,679.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 105,077 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,458,313.81. The trade was a 27.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Demars Financial Group LLC grew its stake in Intel by 1.7% during the first quarter. Demars Financial Group LLC now owns 7,675 shares of the chip maker's stock valued at $339,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Human Investing LLC grew its stake in Intel by 0.9% during the first quarter. Human Investing LLC now owns 14,525 shares of the chip maker's stock valued at $641,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Intel by 15.9% during the first quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 924 shares of the chip maker's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Intel by 0.7% during the first quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 19,107 shares of the chip maker's stock valued at $843,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signature Resources Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Intel by 21.5% during the first quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 831 shares of the chip maker's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.53% of the company's stock.

About Intel

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.

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