As Trump Says He Is ‘Proud’ of Intel, Should You Buy INTC Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Intel's stock surged 10% following a meeting between CEO Lip-Bu Tan and President Trump, who expressed government support for the company, which has seen its stock more than double since a federal investment of $8.9 billion last August [1][4]. Group 1: Company Performance - Intel's stock has more than doubled since the federal government acquired a 10% stake at $20.47 per share, with shares closing at $45.55 [1][4]. - The company is experiencing a critical inflection point under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who is implementing aggressive cultural transformation amid severe supply constraints [6]. Group 2: Government Support and Market Context - The U.S. government has expressed pride in being a shareholder of Intel, which aligns with its push for domestic semiconductor manufacturing [1][4]. - The federal investment has already generated unrealized profits exceeding $10 billion, indicating strong market confidence [4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The broader semiconductor sector has rallied alongside Intel, with companies like Broadcom, ASML, and Micron also seeing stock increases [5]. - Intel faces competitive challenges from AMD and ARM-based alternatives, which have been eroding its market share [6]. Group 4: Product Development - Intel's immediate challenge is to ramp up production of Panther Lake, its first major product built on the 18A manufacturing process, with initial shipments expected by year-end and broader availability in Q1 of 2026 [7].