A $10,000 investment in Intel at the start of 2026 would now be worth $30,561 after a six-month rally.
Intel’s stock has more than tripled in 2026, with shares climbing from $39.38 on January 2 to $120.35 at Thursday’s close. A $10,000 investment at the start of the year is now valued at $30,561, though the stake briefly peaked at over $35,000 in late June before a 14% pullback in early July.
The rally was driven by surging demand for AI data center processors and a revival in Intel’s foundry business. First-quarter revenue from data center and AI rose 22% year over year to $5.1 billion, while Intel Foundry revenue grew 16% to $5.4 billion. Total revenue increased 7% to $13.6 billion, with adjusted earnings per share jumping to $0.29.
The gains defied expectations, as Intel was previously seen as a laggard in the AI boom. The stock’s performance has made it one of the year’s most dramatic large-cap comebacks.