Intel (INTC) Stock Rises Premarket as Traders Bet on Strong Q4 Results

Intel Corporation (INTC) shares are trading higher in premarket activity on Wednesday, climbing to $49.75, up $1.19 or 2.45% as of 8:43 AM EST. The semiconductor giant is experiencing renewed investor optimism ahead of its Q4 2025 earnings call scheduled for today, January 22, 2026 at 5 PM EST.

Shareholders are displaying confidence levels not seen in many quarters, betting that CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s promised turnaround is gaining traction and that the explosive growth in AI data center infrastructure is driving robust demand for Intel’s traditional server chips and processors.

Turnaround Strategy and Data Center Demand Drive Optimism

The optimism surrounding Intel centers on CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s comprehensive restructuring efforts, which have included overhauling chipmaking operations and streamlining management structure. High-profile investments have strengthened Intel’s position, including a $5 billion stake from Nvidia and $2 billion from SoftBank, alongside the U.S. government’s investment. These capital infusions have given Tan the financial flexibility to reshape Intel’s manufacturing capabilities and AI strategy.

Analysts anticipate Intel’s data center business will report a more than 30% jump to $4.43 billion for the December quarter, driven by hyperscale companies building advanced AI data centers that require Intel’s traditional server chips and CPUs.

Ryuta Makino, an analyst at Gabelli Funds, noted this is “the most optimistic people have felt about the company in a long time,” with expectations for at least a double-digit server CPU price increase in 2026. Intel has also begun shipping its new “Panther Lake” PC chips, the first products manufactured using the company’s critical 18A manufacturing technology, marking a strategic shift from relying on contract manufacturer TSMC.

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Intel Stock Jumps Premarket Ahead of Earnings

Intel shares closed Tuesday’s regular session at $48.56, up $1.57 or 3.34%, and extended those gains in Wednesday’s premarket to $49.75. The stock has demonstrated remarkable strength in 2026, surging 19% year-to-date and gaining an impressive 125.97% over the past year.

This performance represents a dramatic reversal from the 2024 downturn, when the stock crashed to a 52-week low of $17.67 following years of management missteps and competitive losses in the AI chip market.

The company’s market capitalization now stands at approximately $231.63 billion, with trading volume reaching 148.4 million shares on Tuesday, well above the 93.6 million average. Intel’s stock gained 84% in 2025, far outperforming the benchmark semiconductor index’s 42% rise.

At least 10 brokerages have raised their price targets or ratings over the past two months, with Susquehanna most recently maintaining a neutral stance while raising the price target from $40 to $45 on January 20, 2026.

Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article. All stock prices were quoted at the time of writing.