Why Intel Stock Jumped This Week
Key Points
Intel is rebounding this week.
Consumer use of AI agents may increase demand for computer chips.
Intel is still a leader in the semiconductor space.
- 10 stocks we like better than Intel ›
Shares of Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) were rising this week, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The semiconductor maker is seeing rising enthusiasm due to the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) agents that could require massive amounts of compute to run.
Intel stock climbed 14.3% this week and is now up over 250% in the past year. Here's why, and whether the stock might be a buy from here.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Agentic usage and partnerships
The talk of the town over the last week has been the release of Meta Platforms' AI agent, Muse. Muse can perform legitimate tasks for users, such as booking flights, saving money by canceling subscriptions, or making restaurant reservations. It has shot up the mobile app stores, garnering millions of downloads in just a few weeks since launch.
For Intel, rising usage of AI agents could mean more usage from its computer chips in data centers, which is why the stock was rising this week. Intel has been struggling for years to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and the AI boom may just give it a bounce-back in demand, helping it regain a solid footing.
Image source: Getty Images.
Is Intel stock a buy?
Intel's revenue grew 25% year-over-year last quarter, and it now has partnerships with many players across the semiconductor supply chain, as well as backing from the U.S. government. The stock is not cheap today, but if you believe in the long-term growth of the AI infrastructure build-out, Intel stock will probably do fine over the next decade.
Should you buy stock in Intel right now?
Before you buy stock in Intel, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Intel wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $386,781!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,379,943!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 936% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 25, 2026.
Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intel, Meta Platforms, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
