Key Takeaways
- Intel’s server CPU market share declined by 370 basis points to 54.9% during Q1 2026, with competitors AMD and Arm making significant advances.
- Server CPU shipments increased 19% year-over-year overall, though Intel failed to capture proportional growth.
- INTC shares dropped 3.4% to $116.26 during premarket hours Thursday, marking the third consecutive session of declines.
- An executive vice president at Intel offloaded more than 40,000 shares valued at approximately $4 million in early May, reducing holdings by 27.7%.
- UBS forecasts the server CPU market expanding from $30 billion in 2025 to $170 billion by 2030, with Arm projected to capture 40–45% of unit volume.
Shares of Intel were trading lower by 3.4% at $116.26 during Thursday’s premarket session, continuing a three-day losing streak that follows an impressive rally which saw the stock more than triple throughout 2026.
The decline comes after UBS released research indicating Intel surrendered server CPU market share during the first quarter of 2026. Measured by units, Intel’s position contracted approximately 370 basis points to 54.9%. Meanwhile, AMD’s share expanded by 230 basis points to 27.4%, and Arm increased its footprint by 140 basis points to reach 17.7%.
UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri stated the situation directly: “Arm and AMD units outgrew and continued to gain share at the expense of Intel.”
The situation carries a certain irony: the total market actually expanded significantly. Server CPU shipments surged 19% in Q1 compared to the year-ago period. Intel simply couldn’t match the growth velocity of its competitors.
Massive Market Expansion Ahead — Arm Positioned as Primary Beneficiary
According to UBS projections, the server CPU market will balloon from approximately $30 billion in 2025 to $170 billion by 2030, propelled primarily by AI workload requirements. The revenue opportunity is substantial.
However, Arcuri anticipates that Arm’s instruction set architecture will “capture a disproportionate segment of this growth,” ultimately commanding approximately 40–45% of total unit shipments by 2030. Intel and AMD are expected to divide the remaining market share relatively evenly.
Arm stock also declined 2.7% in premarket trading Thursday, while AMD fell 1.5%.
Executive Sales and Institutional Portfolio Adjustments
Beyond the market share developments, there have been noteworthy transactions within Intel’s executive ranks. EVP April Miller Boise divested 40,256 shares on May 1st at an average execution price of $99.53, generating approximately $4 million in proceeds. This transaction decreased her holdings by 27.7%, leaving 105,077 shares remaining.
Institutional investors have shown divergent strategies. Money Concepts Capital Corp reduced its Intel holdings by 28% during the fourth quarter, while Trek Financial dramatically increased its position — expanding its stake by more than 400%.
Intel’s most recent earnings release came on April 23rd. The company delivered earnings per share of $0.29 for the quarter, substantially exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.01. Revenue reached $13.58 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $12.32 billion and representing a 7.4% increase year-over-year.
For the second quarter of 2026, Intel has provided guidance calling for EPS of $0.20.
INTC commenced trading Thursday at $120.29. The stock’s 52-week trading range spans from $18.97 to $132.75. The 50-day moving average stands at $64.79, highlighting the extraordinary pace of this year’s appreciation.
Intel appeared as a Barron’s stock recommendation last month when shares traded near $64. The stock has approximately doubled since that publication.
The consensus analyst rating for Intel remains at “Hold” with an average price target of $77.38 — significantly below current trading levels.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
