Northland Securities Has Positive View of Intel Q3 Earnings

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) – Equities researchers at Northland Securities increased their Q3 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Intel in a report released on Friday, July 24th. Northland Securities analyst G. Richard now expects that the chip maker will earn $0.30 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.14. Northland Securities currently has a “Market Perform” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Intel’s current full-year earnings is $0.70 per share. Northland Securities also issued estimates for Intel’s Q4 2026 earnings at $0.29 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.08 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.24 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.28 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.37 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.45 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $1.32 EPS.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on INTC. Tigress Financial raised their target price on Intel from $66.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Seaport Research Partners reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $125.00 target price on shares of Intel in a research note on Friday. New Street Research boosted their price target on shares of Intel from $100.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Intel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, July 18th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on shares of Intel from $150.00 to $125.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 24th. 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 assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $107.93.

Intel Price Performance

Intel stock opened at $86.30 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $115.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $435.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -40.90 and a beta of 2.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Intel has a 52-week low of $18.97 and a 52-week high of $142.35.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.21. Intel had a positive return on equity of 2.62% and a negative net margin of 19.79%.The firm had revenue of $16.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.10) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 25.2% on a year-over-year basis. Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of INTC. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Intel during the fourth quarter worth $2,233,159,000. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in Intel by 285.9% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 26,619,928 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $982,279,000 after purchasing an additional 19,722,010 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its position in Intel by 20.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 104,060,268 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $3,839,833,000 after purchasing an additional 17,557,147 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Intel by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 404,522,308 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $14,926,873,000 after acquiring an additional 13,692,624 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of Intel by 20.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 65,249,269 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $2,407,698,000 after purchasing an additional 11,056,090 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Boise April Miller sold 40,256 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.53, for a total value of $4,006,679.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 105,077 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,458,313.81. This trade represents a 27.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Northland Securities significantly raised its earnings forecasts. The firm increased its Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $0.30 from $0.14, FY2026 to $1.08 from $0.58, and FY2027 to $1.32 from $0.74. Estimates for each quarter from Q4 2026 through Q4 2027 were also increased, signaling greater confidence in Intel’s recovery. However, Northland maintained a “Market Perform” rating.
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating and $160 price target. The bullish view is based on an improving server business, stronger pricing and margins, and potential progress in Intel’s foundry operations. Intel Buy Rating Reaffirmed
• Positive Sentiment: Recent results and AI-related demand remain supportive. Intel reported quarterly revenue of $16.13 billion, ahead of the $14.43 billion consensus, with revenue up 25.2% year over year and EPS of $0.42 versus expectations of $0.21. Analysts have highlighted stronger AI-server CPU demand, improved server pricing, and higher data-center gross margins.
• Positive Sentiment: Intel is expanding its AI hardware ecosystem. A collaboration with Lens Technology targets glass-substrate advanced packaging intended to improve performance and power efficiency for AI and next-generation computing. Intel-powered Core Ultra Series 3 laptops are also launching through Dynabook, supporting the company’s AI PC strategy. Intel Advanced Packaging Partnership
• Neutral Sentiment: Intel’s longer-term turnaround still depends on execution. The company plans capital expenditures above $20 billion in 2026, with higher spending expected in 2027, to expand foundry capacity and address AI-related demand. This could strengthen the business but may pressure near-term cash flow and returns.
• Negative Sentiment: Sector-wide risk aversion is weighing on INTC. Investors are reducing exposure to chip stocks amid fears of an AI bubble, rising costs, heavy valuations, and uncertainty over whether AI infrastructure spending can continue at its current pace.
• Negative Sentiment: Competition from China is adding pressure. Reports of rapid advances in Chinese memory and semiconductor infrastructure have intensified concerns about pricing, market share, and the durability of Intel’s AI opportunity. Intel’s valuation and the unfinished nature of its foundry turnaround remain additional concerns.

About Intel

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.