Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) is the stock of the moment, riding a 250.79% year-to-date melt-up and dominating every chip headline.
The old market saying tells investors to “Sell in May and go away,” parking proceeds until the historically stronger fall months.
Intel's (NASDAQ: INTC) remarkable stock market performance that took the equity 459.95% higher from $22.56 one year ago to $126.33 at press time on May 13 appears to have done little to turn some prominent analysts bullish.
As the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution enters its next critical phase, the Founder of Niles Investment Management, Dan Niles, is looking past current market darlings, betting that Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) is poised for a massive hardware resurgence.
For much of 2026, the chip trade has been the only show on Wall Street. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is still up 77% year to date through May 11, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD | AMD Price Prediction) has more than doubled, and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) has been the comeback story of the cycle.
Shares of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) are down 10% in Tuesday trading, changing hands near $116 after closing at $129.44 on Monday.
Shares of major semiconductor companies retreated sharply on Tuesday as investors locked in gains following a powerful rally driven by optimism around artificial intelligence infrastructure and next-generation chip demand. Intel (INTC) fell about 10% in trading after the stock more than doubled over the past month through Monday's close.
Mizuho raised its price target on Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) stock to $124 from $100 on May 12, keeping a Neutral rating as the firm cited agentic AI continuing to drive server demand.
Intel (INTC) has rebounded sharply, driven by AI demand and strategic manufacturing moves, with a Buy rating maintained despite a rapid rally. INTC's transformation into a leading fab, securing major deals and benefiting from government support, positions it to capitalize on persistent AI supply bottlenecks. Current earnings estimates may be conservative; INTC could double EPS in the next year or two if AI momentum persists.
Profit-taking and computer-shipment data could be contributing to the Tuesday declines.
Intel stock's (NASDAQ: INTC) comeback has been one of the year's biggest market surprises. The stock was trading around $129 on Tuesday, after briefly touching an intraday high of $133.48, and it had already closed at a record $124.92 on Friday.
Traders are betting on some big moves for Intel's stock that could extend its record-setting rally.