Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Updates Q3 2026 Earnings Guidance

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) updated its third quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 0.380-0.380 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 0.240. The company issued revenue guidance of $15.8 billion-$16.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $15.0 billion.

Intel Stock Down 2.3%

INTC traded down $2.39 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $100.23. 121,757,930 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 120,172,016. The company has a market cap of $503.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -161.66 and a beta of 2.18. Intel has a one year low of $18.97 and a one year high of $142.35. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $116.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $77.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a current ratio of 2.31.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $16.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. Intel had a positive return on equity of 0.39% and a negative net margin of 5.90%.Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Intel will post 0.65 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on INTC shares. DZ Bank raised shares of Intel from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. HC Wainwright set a $150.00 target price on Intel in a research note on Monday, June 29th. Susquehanna increased their price target on Intel from $80.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Intel in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Finally, BTIG Research upgraded Intel from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating, twenty-nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $102.77.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Intel news, EVP Boise April Miller sold 40,256 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.53, for a total value of $4,006,679.68. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 105,077 shares in the company, valued at $10,458,313.81. The trade was a 27.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Intel reportedly secured its first named outside foundry customer under Lip-Bu Tan, a sign that its contract manufacturing strategy may be gaining traction. Intel’s Foundry Just Landed Its First Named Outside Customer Under Lip-Bu Tan. The Stock Jumped More Than 8% — 2 Days Before Earnings.
• Positive Sentiment: Fortinet announced a collaboration with Intel on a security processor built on Intel 4, reinforcing foundry credibility and adding a visible customer win. Fortinet and Intel Just Announced a New Collaboration. The Real Test for FTNT Stock Is Earnings.
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple reports say Intel and AMD are locking in longer-term China server CPU demand, which could support near-term revenue and pricing. Intel, AMD sign long-term server CPU deals with Chinese clients as prices surge, sources say
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts broadly expect Intel to report around $0.22 EPS on roughly $14.4 billion in revenue, so the market is focused on whether results merely meet or can materially beat expectations. Intel Q2 Preview: Stock Hammers Nvidia with 7x Returns Since Dow Swap — Will Earnings Fuel Further Gains?
• Negative Sentiment: Several previews warn that Intel’s valuation and recent rally leave little room for disappointment, especially if PC demand stays weak or guidance underwhelms. Intel Stock Nearly Tripled in 2026 — Q2 Earnings Could Be a Reality Check

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in INTC. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Intel by 15.8% during the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 5,373 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $198,000 after acquiring an additional 732 shares during the period. Compound Planning Inc. raised its stake in shares of Intel by 258.3% during the 4th quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 127,906 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $4,720,000 after purchasing an additional 92,206 shares during the period. TMB Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Intel during the 4th quarter valued at $217,000. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Intel by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 86,715 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $3,200,000 after purchasing an additional 3,995 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Birchwood Financial Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Intel during the fourth quarter valued at about $71,000. Institutional investors own 64.53% of the company’s stock.

Intel Company Profile

Intel Corporation, founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon E. Moore and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The company is historically notable for introducing the first commercial microprocessor and for driving the x86 architecture that underpins many personal computers and servers. Intel’s core business spans the design, fabrication and marketing of processors, chipsets and related components for a wide range of computing applications.

Intel’s product portfolio includes client and mobile processors marketed under brands such as Intel Core and Pentium, as well as high-performance Xeon processors for data centers and cloud infrastructure.