Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Trading Down 5.9% – Should You Sell?

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) was down 5.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $83.10 and last traded at $86.30. Approximately 149,425,850 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 24% from the average session volume of 120,952,195 shares. The stock had previously closed at $91.67.

More Intel News

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong earnings and revenue growth: Intel reported second-quarter EPS of $0.42 versus the $0.21 consensus, while revenue reached $16.13 billion, up 25.2% year over year and well above expectations. Coverage highlighted the company’s best revenue growth in roughly 15 years and a partnership with Synopsys to use AI-assisted electronic-design automation for Intel’s 14A process. Intel Just Posted Its Best Revenue Growth in 15 Years
• Positive Sentiment: AI and data-center optimism: Analysts pointed to improving data-center demand and Intel’s potential role in addressing an AI-related CPU bottleneck. Reports also cited stronger-than-expected Microsoft cloud results as evidence that infrastructure spending remains healthy, lifting Intel and other chip stocks. Why Wells Fargo Thinks Intel’s AI Business Is Getting Even Stronger
• Positive Sentiment: More constructive analyst views: Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating and $160 price target, citing an improving server and foundry outlook. Northland Securities also raised multiple 2026–2027 EPS estimates, including its FY2027 forecast from $0.74 to $1.32, although it retained a Market Perform rating. Intel Buy Rating Reaffirmed
• Neutral Sentiment: TSMC competition remains a key issue: TSMC reportedly is developing advanced packaging similar to Intel’s EMIB technology, potentially challenging one of Intel’s differentiated AI advantages. Investors appeared to view the threat as longer term while prioritizing Intel’s current execution and industry-wide rebound. TSMC Developing EMIB-Like Chips
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and governance risks persist: Intel’s restructuring includes data-center layoffs, and reports said the company granted a startup access to Atom chip technology through a relationship linked to CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Recent insider activity also showed sales without purchases, factors that may limit enthusiasm if operational improvements fail to translate into sustained profitability. Intel Providing Chip Technology to Startup

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Intel from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 24th. KeyCorp set a $125.00 price objective on Intel in a research report on Friday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Intel from $45.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $110.00 target price on shares of Intel in a research note on Monday. Finally, Moffett Nathanson downgraded shares of Intel to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, twenty-nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $107.93.

Intel Stock Up 11.2%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $114.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $79.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The stock has a market cap of $459.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.19 and a beta of 2.18.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $16.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.43 billion. Intel had a negative net margin of 19.79% and a positive return on equity of 2.62%. The company’s revenue was up 25.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.10) EPS. Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Intel Corporation will post 1.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Intel

In related news, EVP Boise April Miller sold 40,256 shares of Intel stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president owned 105,077 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,458,313.81. The trade was a 27.70% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Intel by 271.7% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 34,201 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $766,000 after purchasing an additional 25,001 shares during the period. United Bank purchased a new stake in Intel during the 2nd quarter worth $205,000. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its stake in Intel by 12.3% during the 2nd quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 13,737 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $308,000 after buying an additional 1,508 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Intel by 29.6% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 158,277 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $3,545,000 after buying an additional 36,116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in Intel by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 828,352 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $18,556,000 after buying an additional 74,838 shares in the last quarter. 64.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Intel Company Profile

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.