New York, Feb 11, 2026, 15:35 EST — Session in progress.
Intel shares climbed 2% to $48.08 in Wednesday afternoon trading, bouncing between $46.87 and $49.52 earlier. Roughly 87 million shares changed hands. Chip stocks were mostly up: the iShares Semiconductor ETF rose 2.8%, Nvidia gained 1.5%, while AMD dipped 0.2%.
This move keeps Intel on the radar for momentum traders, who see the stock as a gauge of whether the company can convert AI buzz into consistent revenue instead of just headlines. Expectations around interest rates continue to dominate the sector’s outlook as well.
Intel is pitching investors on a two-pronged narrative: boosting data-center and networking attach sales tied to AI systems, plus a longer-term bet on contract chip production via Intel Foundry, its manufacturing division. Even slight changes in sentiment can quickly impact the stock price.
Intel announced Tuesday that it plans to demonstrate “AI inference” operating on live mobile networks at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona—AI inference being the process of running trained models to make real-time decisions. The company will focus on advancements in both the radio access network (RAN) and core network, promoting upgrades that sidestep expensive “rip-and-replace” overhauls. Newsroom
The pitch veers from the AI spotlight on training massive models, focusing instead on the network infrastructure that keeps everything connected. It lacks glamour but targets where operators aim to slash power consumption, automate processes, and minimize latency.
Chip stocks rallied after a delayed U.S. jobs report showed payrolls increased by 130,000 in January, surpassing expectations. However, revisions based on more detailed payroll data pared down last year’s figures. “With the policy rate near neutral, January’s signals leaning toward patience, and the economy steady, an extended pause still looks likely,” said Nationwide economist Oren Klachkin in a note. Reuters
Intel’s near-term outlook looks complicated. On Jan. 22, it forecasted first-quarter revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, admitting it underestimated demand for server CPUs paired with AI accelerators. “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
Tan revealed that Intel is gearing up to produce graphics processing units specifically for data centers, challenging Nvidia’s long-standing dominance. “I just hired the chief GPU architect, and he’s very good. I’m very delighted he joined me,” Tan said earlier this month. Reuters
Intel is also staying involved in AI hardware through outside investments. Reuters reported last week that Intel plans to put roughly $100 million into AI chip startup SambaNova Systems. This is part of a larger funding round exceeding $350 million, led by Vista Equity Partners. However, sources warn the final deal terms might still shift.
Intel’s turnaround hinges on execution—a weak spot in the past. Even with strong demand, manufacturing yields and supply chain issues could squeeze margins. And if AI capital spending cools, the margin for error shrinks even more.
Competition shows no signs of slowing. AMD keeps advancing its server CPUs, while Nvidia’s software ecosystem drives a big chunk of AI infrastructure investments. Intel, meanwhile, is left battling for “attach” sales and foundry clients.
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, set for March 2-5, is the next big event on the horizon. Intel plans to showcase its network AI efforts directly to telecom buyers and partners there.
