Key Takeaways
- President Trump expressed regret over requesting just a 10% ownership stake in Intel, stating he “should have asked for more”
- Shares of INTC gained 0.68% in premarket hours Monday, reaching $109.51, while broader indices showed weakness
- The company’s most recent quarter exceeded forecasts: $0.29 EPS versus $0.01 projected, $13.58B revenue versus $12.32B expected
- North Dakota State Investment Board initiated a fresh $5.53M stake in Intel during Q4
- Wall Street maintains a Hold rating overall, with a median price target of $77.38 — significantly under present levels
President Trump sparked renewed attention around Intel shares Monday following remarks in a Fortune interview where he suggested the federal government should have pursued a larger ownership position in the semiconductor manufacturer.
“He said, ‘You have a deal.’ I said, ‘Shit, I should have asked for more,'” Trump recounted during the conversation.
Shares traded at $109.51 during Monday’s premarket session, gaining 0.68%, even as broader market sentiment leaned negative — Nasdaq futures declined 0.14%, indicating the rally was company-specific.
Trump positioned the Intel equity stake as one component of a broader economic strategy blending tariffs, strategic government investments, and significant trade agreements designed to channel international investment into America. He referenced the national debt figure of “$38 trillion” as justification for exploring alternative approaches to government participation in corporate affairs.
This type of presidential commentary carries market-moving power, and Intel’s price action reflected that reality.
The company’s extended price chart has delivered one of the more striking performances within the semiconductor space. The equity currently trades 11.9% over its 20-day simple moving average and an impressive 143.8% above its 200-day moving average. A bullish golden cross materialized in August 2025, followed by a sustained rally.
The 52-week price spectrum illustrates the volatility: a floor of $18.97 and a ceiling of $132.75. Intel currently occupies the upper tier of that substantial range.
Quarterly Results Exceed Expectations, Yet Skepticism Lingers
Intel’s latest quarterly performance provided optimistic investors with concrete justification. The chipmaker delivered earnings per share of $0.29, crushing the $0.01 Street consensus by $0.28. Sales reached $13.58 billion compared to projected $12.32 billion — surpassing estimates across both metrics.
Year-over-year revenue climbed 7.4%. For an enterprise that endured considerable headwinds throughout the previous two years, this growth figure carries weight.
Management has established Q2 2026 earnings guidance at $0.20 per share. The Street anticipates full-year fiscal EPS of $0.63, with the subsequent earnings announcement scheduled for July 23, 2026.
Despite the impressive quarterly showing, analyst sentiment remains reserved. The average Street price objective stands at $77.38 — approximately 30% beneath current trading prices.
Analyst Updates and Institutional Activity
Mizuho elevated its price objective to $124 on May 12, maintaining a Neutral stance. RBC Capital Markets held steady at Sector Perform with an $80 projection. Tigress Financial Partners reaffirmed its Buy recommendation and lifted its target to $118.
The variation between analyst projections reveals disagreement — there’s no consensus view, and the stock has climbed beyond most forecasting models.
Regarding institutional movements, North Dakota State Investment Board established a fresh holding valued at $5.53 million during Q4, acquiring 149,868 shares. Multiple smaller investment advisors also expanded their positions throughout the period.
An Intel executive vice president, April Miller Boise, divested 40,256 shares on May 1st at an average transaction price of $99.53, trimming her stake by 27.7%.
The company additionally announced its partnership as the official compute provider for McLaren Racing, creating a high-profile real-world platform for its processor technology.
Erste Group Bank increased its fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings projections for Intel, though certain analysts continue highlighting competitive threats from AMD and Arm in the server CPU market.
Primary resistance remains positioned at $132.75 — the 52-week peak.
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