New York, Feb 13, 2026, 06:49 (EST) — Premarket
- DA Davidson kicked off coverage on Intel, tagging it with a Neutral rating and a $45 target. The firm described Intel’s comeback as the “ultimate show me” story. TipRanks
- January’s U.S. Consumer Price Index numbers drop at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Intel (INTC) slipped another 1.2% to $45.93 in premarket trading Friday, following Thursday’s 3.75% slide to $46.48. Traders digested a fresh initiation and kept an eye on upcoming U.S. inflation numbers.
Timing’s a factor here. Tech shares slipped again Thursday—investors mostly sat on the sidelines before Friday’s CPI numbers. The Nasdaq dropped over 2% by the close, while the S&P 500’s tech sector lost 2.7%, according to a Reuters markets wrap.
DA Davidson launched coverage Thursday, setting a Neutral rating on Intel and pegging a $45 price target for the stock over the coming year. The analysts described Intel’s ongoing overhaul as “one of the hardest resets in semiconductor history,” as the company pursues top-tier manufacturing and pitches itself as a contract chipmaker for others. They also argued the current share price “continues to reflect assumptions we view are all too optimistic.” Investing
Intel shares took a sharper hit than several chip rivals Thursday—Nvidia slipped 1.64%, Broadcom gave up 3.38%, Qualcomm lost 1.82%. Trading volume for Intel came in at 87.6 million shares, lighter than its 50-day average of 109.2 million, according to MarketWatch data.
The mood across markets has shifted—anything with a whiff of artificial intelligence is suddenly volatile. “You’ve clearly seen that breakdown in terms of the monolithic AI trade,” said Garrett Melson, portfolio strategist at Natixis Investment Managers Solutions. He notes the market isn’t treating AI stocks as a single block anymore; it’s splitting hairs, moving quickly to separate the out-performers from the rest. Reuters
January’s CPI is seen climbing 0.3% from the prior month, the same pace as December, according to a Reuters poll. “Firms tend to raise prices at the beginning of the year,” said Diego Anzoategui, economist at Morgan Stanley, adding that seasonal adjustments don’t entirely offset that effect. Reuters
But there’s risk on both sides. A stronger CPI number could drive bond yields up, putting fresh pressure on tech stocks. And Intel? The company has to deliver on its turnaround plan before investors start to give it credit.
Intel is set to release its next earnings on April 23, after the bell. Until then, traders have their eyes on Friday’s CPI and whatever the bond market throws at them — that’s what will shape the next move for chip stocks, and whether they can hang onto any early gains.
