Intel Stock Surges on AI Optimism Ahead of Earnings Report
Intel shares reached a four-year high Wednesday, climbing nearly 12% amid broad market gains. The rally reflects growing Wall Street confidence in the chipmaker's AI-driven turnaround ahead of Thursday's earnings release.
Analysts from HSBC, KeyBanc and Wedbush point to stronger-than-expected demand for Intel's server CPUs, particularly in data center applications. KeyBanc also highlighted potential upside from Apple's rumored interest in Intel's foundry services - a development that could reshape the semiconductor competitive landscape.
While the stock remains below historic peaks, this pre-earnings momentum suggests investors are betting on Intel's ability to capitalize on the AI infrastructure boom. The market appears to be pricing in not just beat-and-raise quarterly results, but sustainable improvements in Intel's competitive positioning.