INTC: Intel Stock Up Massive 20% After Earnings Crush Estimates

Intel is looking to stand on year-to-date gains of about 100% at the opening bell Friday.

🚀 Surprise Blowout

• Shares of Intel INTC surged roughly 20% after-hours after the chipmaker reported adjusted earnings of 29 cents per share, far ahead of expectations for just 2 cents. It’s the beat that forces analysts to reopen spreadsheets immediately.
• Revenue reached $13.6 billion, topping forecasts of $12.4 billion and rising about 7% year over year. That’s notable for a company that posted annual revenue declines in five of the previous seven quarters.
• The result builds on a powerful rally already underway. Intel stock entered the report up more than 80% this year — and now appears poised to approach roughly 100% gains year to date.

🧠 Data Center Growth

• Intel’s data center division posted 22% revenue growth to $5.1 billion as demand for CPUs tied to artificial intelligence workloads strengthened. CPUs remain essential for orchestrating AI infrastructure even when GPUs grab most of the headlines.
• PC sales also held up better than expected despite rising memory prices squeezing margins across the industry. Stability in the legacy PC segment gave Intel an extra tailwind investors weren’t fully pricing in.
• Together, strength in both major end markets suggests Intel’s turnaround narrative is shifting from “maybe someday” to “already happening.”

📊 Guidance Signals Confidence

• Intel forecast second-quarter revenue between $13.8 billion and $14.8 billion with adjusted EPS around 20 cents — comfortably above Wall Street expectations of $13.07 billion and 9 cents, respectively. Guidance beats often matter more than the quarter itself. Just ask IBM.
• Gross margin improvements reinforced the message that operational efficiency is returning alongside demand growth — a key ingredient in restoring investor confidence after several uneven years.
• The rally also reflects broader strategic backing. The US government became Intel’s largest shareholder last year to support domestic chip production, while Nvidia and SoftBank added billions in investment — turning Intel’s comeback story into a political one as well.