Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) stock rose nearly 1% in Monday’s premarket session as improving risk appetite lifted large-cap technology stocks. Nasdaq futures gained 1.12%, while S&P 500 futures advanced 1.01%, supporting a broader rally across semiconductor names.
Intel Stock Rises Ahead Of The Bell As Tech Rally Lifts Chipmakers
The early move appeared driven by the broader market rather than company-specific news, as investors rotated back into technology stocks ahead of the opening bell.
Intel has also been one of the market’s strongest performers over the past year, with the stock up 472.86% over the last 12 months. That momentum has encouraged buyers to step in on recent pullbacks, helping support the shares during risk-on sessions.
Bernstein Sees Improving Fundamentals
Investor sentiment also received a boost after Bernstein senior analyst Stacy Rasgon said Friday he is more constructive on Intel than he has been in a long time, although the company still needs to prove it can execute on advanced manufacturing.
Speaking on CNBC, Rasgon said Intel is benefiting from stronger server CPU demand and a more supportive market backdrop. He said customers continue buying Intel’s available server processors despite the company acknowledging its current products are not the most competitive.
Rasgon also pointed to Intel’s stronger balance sheet following the U.S. government’s investment, along with investments from NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA), SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:SFTBY) (OTC:SFTBF), and other strategic partners.
He added that tight foundry capacity across the industry, including wafer production and advanced packaging, has prompted more customers to consider Intel.
Still, Rasgon cautioned that Intel must prove it can manufacture chips at scale, meet performance specifications, control costs, and deliver products on schedule.
He noted that Intel’s 18A-P process has entered risk production, marking an important milestone, but said the company still needs to demonstrate it can successfully execute its roadmap.
He also said Intel’s sharp rally remains difficult to justify on fundamentals alone, even though the company’s narrative has improved. Rasgon added that recent weakness across semiconductor stocks should be viewed in context, noting the semiconductor index remains up about 90% year to date and roughly 150% over the past year.
Technical Picture Remains Bullish
Intel continues to trade in a strong uptrend. The stock sits about 8.4% above its 20-day simple moving average of $119.42 and 19.5% above its 50-day SMA of $108.39. It also remains well above its 100-day and 200-day moving averages, reflecting sustained buying momentum.
The moving-average setup remains constructive, with the 20-day SMA above the 50-day SMA. A golden cross, formed in August 2025 when the 50-day SMA moved above the 200-day SMA, continues to support the longer-term bullish trend.
The stock also broke above a key resistance level in June before reaching a new 52-week high later that month. While the trend remains positive, traders may watch for a period of consolidation after the recent advance.
Momentum indicators also remain supportive. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator is above its signal line with a positive histogram, suggesting buying momentum continues to strengthen.
The next resistance level is near $133, a round-number area where rallies could encounter selling pressure.
Earnings And Analyst Outlook
Intel is expected to report second-quarter earnings on July 23, 2026.
Wall Street expects earnings of 19 cents per share, compared with a loss of 10 cents a year earlier. Revenue is projected to increase to $14.40 billion from $12.86 billion a year ago.
Analysts maintain a Hold consensus rating on the stock with an average price forecast of $86.41. Recent analyst actions include:
- Goldman Sachs: Initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a $150 price forecast on June 25.
- Bank of America Securities: Reiterated its Buy rating and raised its price forecast to $160 on June 23.
- Bank of America Securities: Upgraded the stock to Buy and raised its price forecast to $135 on June 11.
Benzinga Edge Rankings
Intel carries a Momentum Score of 99.41, reflecting strong relative price performance and continued buying interest following recent pullbacks.
ETF Exposure
Intel is a significant holding in several exchange-traded funds, including:
- iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX): 6.30%
- iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE): 9.28%
- Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (NYSE:TRFK): 7.85%
Large inflows or outflows in these funds can influence demand for Intel shares because of their portfolio weightings.
Price Action
INTC Stock Price Activity: Intel shares were up 0.99% at $129.59 during premarket trading on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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