Intel (INTC) Stock Surges as Trump Expresses Regret Over 10% Stake Request

Key Takeaways

• President Trump expressed regret about requesting only a 10% government stake in Intel, stating he “should have asked for more”
• Intel shares climbed 0.68% in premarket Monday to $109.51, bucking broader market weakness
• The chipmaker’s recent quarterly performance exceeded forecasts: $0.29 EPS versus $0.01 expected, and $13.58B revenue against $12.32B projections
• The North Dakota State Investment Board initiated a fresh $5.53M Intel stake during Q4
• Wall Street maintains a Hold consensus with a $77.38 mean price target — significantly below current price levels

President Trump sparked renewed attention around Intel on Monday following a Fortune magazine interview where he revealed the federal government should have negotiated a larger ownership percentage in the semiconductor giant.

Intel Corporation, INTC

Shares of INTC reached $109.51 during premarket trading Monday, advancing 0.68%, even as broader indices showed weakness — Nasdaq futures declined 0.14%, indicating Intel-specific momentum.

Trump positioned the Intel equity arrangement within his broader economic strategy that blends tariffs, government equity stakes, and major commercial agreements designed to channel international investment into American markets. He referenced the national debt reaching “$38 trillion” as justification for pursuing non-traditional government participation in corporate strategies.

The statement created immediate market impact, driving share price movement.

Intel’s technical trajectory has been among the most volatile within the semiconductor space. Currently, the stock trades 11.9% above its 20-day simple moving average and an impressive 143.8% above its 200-day SMA. A bullish golden cross emerged in August 2025, triggering a sustained rally.

The 52-week price range paints a striking picture: from a low of $18.97 to a peak of $132.75. Intel currently occupies the upper end of this substantial range.

Quarterly Results Exceed Projections, Yet Uncertainty Persists

Intel’s latest quarterly financial report provided encouraging data for optimistic investors. The semiconductor manufacturer delivered earnings per share of $0.29, crushing the $0.01 consensus forecast by $0.28. Revenue reached $13.58 billion compared to the $12.32 billion estimate — achieving beats across both metrics.

Revenue increased 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. For a corporation that faced significant headwinds throughout the previous two years, this growth metric carries weight.

Intel has projected Q2 2026 EPS guidance at $0.20. The analyst community anticipates full fiscal year EPS of $0.63, with the upcoming earnings announcement scheduled for approximately July 23, 2026.

Notwithstanding the robust quarterly performance, Wall Street’s collective stance remains conservative. The consensus analyst price target stands at $77.38 — approximately 30% beneath current trading prices.

Professional Ratings and Institutional Portfolio Adjustments

Mizuho elevated its price objective to $124 on May 12 while maintaining a Neutral stance. RBC Capital Markets continued its Sector Perform rating with an $80 target. Tigress Financial Partners affirmed its Buy recommendation and increased its target to $118.

The divergence among price targets reflects underlying uncertainty — Wall Street analysts lack consensus, and the stock has surpassed most valuation frameworks.

Regarding institutional activity, the North Dakota State Investment Board established a new $5.53 million position during Q4, acquiring 149,868 shares. Multiple smaller investment advisors also expanded their holdings throughout the quarter.

April Miller Boise, an Intel Executive Vice President, divested 40,256 shares on May 1st at a $99.53 average price, trimming her holdings by 27.7%.

Intel recently announced a partnership as the official compute partner for McLaren Racing, creating high-profile visibility for its processor technology.

Erste Group Bank upgraded its FY2026 and FY2027 earnings projections for Intel, though certain analysts continue highlighting competitive threats from AMD and Arm in the server CPU market.

Critical resistance remains at $132.75 — the 52-week high watermark.

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