After underperforming peers for much of the past three years, Intel has drawn fresh support from Wall Street firms in recent weeks. Following a 130% rally in 2025, five major brokerages have raised their outlook on the stock since December, compared with two downgrades and six holds. Upgrades cite stronger execution in datacenter chip ramp-up and better cost discipline under the new CEO. One firm boosted its 12-month target by 20%, pointing to Intel’s narrowing performance gap with rival foundries and expanding AI chip design wins.

Intel is set to report its Q4 2025 results on January 22, with consensus estimates at $13.37 billion in revenue and $0.08 in non-GAAP earnings per share. Investors will watch the datacenter and AI accelerators segment closely, where sales are forecast to grow 10% year-over-year, and the client computing group, expected to deliver mid-single-digit annual revenue gains. Management commentary on supply chain normalizations and inventory levels will also be scrutinized for signs of stabilization.

Building on strategic pivots in manufacturing and leadership changes, Intel guided to 2026 revenue growth of roughly 6% and operating margin expansion of 250 basis points. The company reported a $10 billion reduction in net debt during 2025 and generated $11 billion in free cash flow, marking its first positive cash flow year since 2022. Management’s pipeline includes more than 200 design wins for its new 18A process node and potential custom AI processor deals, setting the stage for further market share gains and margin improvement.