New York, Feb 21, 2026, 12:45 EST — The market has closed.
- Intel dropped another 1.1% on Friday, marking its fourth straight day in the red.
- Chip sentiment in the near term is riding on AI-related earnings, with Nvidia taking the lead.
- Intel CFO David Zinsner will speak at a Morgan Stanley conference March 4.
Intel (INTC.O) dropped 1.1% to finish Friday at $44.11. The stock moved between $42.88 and $44.90 during the session. U.S. markets now closed for the weekend.
Timing is crucial here. Chip stocks have been volatile while investors puzzle over whether big bets on artificial intelligence — software able to learn and create — will start delivering returns fast enough to match lofty price tags. Then there’s the added wrinkle: Reuters reported that a Supreme Court decision wiping away President Donald Trump’s tariffs has thrown fresh questions onto the table about what trade barriers might be on deck. (Reuters)
Intel shares lagged on Feb. 20, falling even as the S&P 500 advanced 0.69% and the Dow added 0.47%, according to MarketWatch data. Nvidia posted gains and Qualcomm climbed as well. Intel ended the session roughly 19% below its 52-week peak of $54.60. Volume came in at about 90 million shares, a bit under its 50-day average. (MarketWatch)
Some fund managers are looking to dodge the volatility hitting AI “hyperscalers” — think big cloud players like Meta and Amazon — by turning to suppliers fueling the AI infrastructure boom, especially chipmakers. “Our goal is that every time someone like Meta or Amazon invests in a data center, the cash registers ring across our portfolio,” said Adam Patti, CEO of VistaShares. The firm’s AI Supercycle ETF lists Intel among its leading positions, according to Reuters. Jay Jacobs, who oversees U.S. equity ETFs at BlackRock, summed up the focus on infrastructure: “where the revenues are right now.” (Reuters)
It was a choppy session Friday. Nvidia picked up almost 1% to finish at $189.82. AMD, though, dropped 1.6%, closing at $200.15.
The dynamic isn’t one-way. Should upcoming guidance or remarks dampen the outlook for AI-fueled demand, chip stocks could tumble quickly—particularly after a stretch where investors have leaned on AI spending plans as a kind of safety net.
For Intel, it’s still a question of execution — and timing. Back in January, the chipmaker admitted it couldn’t keep up with demand for its server chips powering AI data centers, projecting first-quarter sales and earnings to fall short of Wall Street’s expectations. “In the short term, I’m disappointed that we are not able to fully meet the demand in our markets,” CEO Lip-Bu Tan told analysts. (Reuters)
The first big sector signal lands soon. Nvidia plans to drop its results and written CFO commentary before a conference call scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET). NVIDIA Newsroom
Intel investors looking ahead will have March 4 circled, as CFO David Zinsner is set to appear in a fireside chat at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. The session starts at 8:35 a.m. PT, and both the live webcast and a replay can be accessed through Intel’s investor relations page. (Intc)
