New York, February 22, 2026, 11:25 (EST) — The market has closed.
- Intel (INTC) slipped roughly 1.1% on Friday, finishing at $44.11.
- Nvidia’s results land Feb. 25, with traders this week zeroed in on the update for fresh signals on AI demand.
- Intel’s finance chief David Zinsner has a spot on the agenda for Morgan Stanley’s TMT conference, set for March 4.
Intel Corp slipped 1.1% to finish at $44.11 on Friday, trailing off into the weekend. Shares moved in a range from $42.88 up to $44.90, with trading volume hitting roughly 90.7 million.
U.S. markets are closed this Sunday, so chip investors are now eyeing Nvidia’s upcoming results for fresh signals on the AI trade. Reuters’ Morning Bid pointed out that some investors are growing uneasy about surging AI costs—and the fact that a handful of customers make up a large chunk of Nvidia’s revenue. 1
Macro isn’t going away. The personal consumption expenditures price index, which the Fed watches closely, came in above forecasts at the close of 2025—fuel for ongoing rate jitters in tech. “This will trigger more concern inside the Fed that inflation needs a closer look again,” wrote Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. 2
Intel trailed behind on Friday, despite a lift in the broader market. The S&P 500 advanced 0.69% and the Dow climbed 0.47%, according to MarketWatch. Nvidia tacked on around 1%. Broadcom edged lower, while AMD also slipped. 3
Intel’s shares have climbed roughly 69% in the past year despite the recent dip, which still lags the peer average rise of about 84%, according to Reuters data. 4
Plenty on tap this week: Nvidia steps into the earnings spotlight Wednesday, grabbing traders’ attention. Another thing on the docket — a pack of Fed officials scheduled to speak. Friday brings the producer price index, the wholesale inflation read traders watch for possible rate clues. 5
Nvidia will release its results around 1:20 p.m. PT, ahead of a conference call set for Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET). The company said it will start with prepared remarks, then take questions exclusively from analysts and institutional investors. 6
Intel has circled March 4: CFO David Zinsner will speak at 8:35 a.m. PT during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, sharing insights on Intel’s business and strategy, according to the company’s announcement. Both the live webcast and the replay are expected on Intel’s investor relations page. 7
Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan is pushing for a bigger overhaul. Earlier this month, he told Reuters that Intel has plans to make graphics processing units, or GPUs—chips essential for AI tasks—and said the project connects directly to the data center business. Tan added that “a couple of customers” are already working with Intel Foundry, which is the company’s contract chipmaking arm. 8
But the setup isn’t one-sided. Should Nvidia’s outlook fall short of reassuring investors on AI spending, chip stocks are primed for sharp moves—Intel’s slump could easily accelerate.
Intel faces a quick succession of events: Nvidia reports Wednesday, which could shift the semiconductor mood, while Zinsner is set to speak on March 4—giving management another shot at clarifying demand, capex, and their schedule. Macro desks are watching Friday’s PPI for new inflation signals ahead of the next rate discussion.
