Core Insights - Intel's stock surged over 10% on Friday, becoming the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, driven by rumors of a potential deal with Apple for processor supply [1][6] - Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that the likelihood of Apple becoming a new customer for Intel has significantly improved, with potential shipments starting as early as 2027 [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance - Intel shares have roughly doubled in value this year, attributed to recent high-profile deals, including a partnership with Nvidia [3][6] - Despite the increase, Intel's stock remains below historical highs, as the company continues to address investor concerns regarding a sustainable turnaround [3] Group 2: Market Implications - A deal with Apple could enhance confidence in Intel's ability to secure long-term commitments for its manufacturing business, which has faced ongoing challenges [2][7] - The partnership with Nvidia did not include commitments to Intel's foundry, raising questions about the future expansion of this relationship and Intel's ability to attract new customers [4]

Core Insights - Intel emerged as the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, with shares surging 10.2% due to speculation about becoming a foundry supplier for Apple processors [2][8] - Major U.S. equities indexes experienced their best week since June, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5%, the Dow increasing by 0.6%, and the Nasdaq up by 0.7% [2] - Eli Lilly shares declined by 2.6%, reversing some gains that had previously pushed its market capitalization above $1 trillion [6][8] Company Performance - Intel's stock performance was driven by analyst speculation regarding a potential deal with Apple, which has fueled rumors throughout the year [2][8] - Sandisk's shares rose nearly 4% following its debut in the S&P 500, benefiting from increased demand due to its spin-off from Western Digital and strong AI-driven demand for memory pricing [3] - EQT, a natural gas producer, saw its shares gain over 3% as natural gas futures prices increased due to lower temperatures and higher demand for heating fuel [4] Market Trends - Cryptocurrency prices, including Bitcoin, rebounded, with Bitcoin surpassing $90,000, leading to a 3% increase in shares of Coinbase Global [5] - Several AI-related stocks faced pressure, with Nvidia shares falling 1.8% and Oracle shares declining by 1.5% amid competitive concerns [9]

Core Viewpoint - Intel shares surged over 10% following an analyst report indicating improved chances of a chip partnership with Apple, reaching their highest point in a month [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Intel's stock closed up 10.3% at $40.56, nearing its highest closing price in over a year [1] - Since January, Intel shares have climbed 102.3%, rising from approximately $20.22 [3] Group 2: Analyst Insights - TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that visibility on Intel becoming an advanced-node supplier to Apple has significantly improved [2] - Apple plans to utilize Intel for shipping its lowest-end M processor, which is used in MacBook Airs and iPad Pros [2] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Kuo noted that Intel will still lag behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in the coming years, but a deal with Apple and other tier-one customers could enhance Intel's long-term outlook [3]

Core Viewpoint - Intel Corporation (INTC) shares experienced a significant increase of 8.47 percent, rising $3.12 to $39.90, following a report predicting strong long-term growth in the U.S. graphics processing unit market [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Intel's stock is currently trading at $39.90, up from a previous close of $36.78 on the Nasdaq [1] - The stock's trading range for the day was between $37.35 and $39.85, with a trading volume of approximately 55.38 million shares [1] - Over the past 52 weeks, Intel's stock has ranged from $17.67 to $42.48 [1] Group 2: Market Growth Projections - The graphics processing unit market is projected to grow from $19.03 billion in 2024 to $136.07 billion by 2033 [2] - This growth is attributed to increasing demand in sectors such as gaming, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure, and data-intensive applications [2]

Core Viewpoint - Intel Corp. shares experienced an increase of over 8% following a report from technology analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, indicating that the company may become a foundry supplier for future generations of chips [1] Company Summary - Intel Corp. is positioned to potentially expand its role in the semiconductor industry by becoming a foundry supplier, which could enhance its market presence and revenue streams [1] Industry Summary - The semiconductor industry is witnessing shifts as companies like Intel explore new opportunities in foundry services, which may lead to increased competition and innovation in chip manufacturing [1]

Market Overview - All three major indexes were modestly higher during late-morning trading on Black Friday, with the Dow leading the gains [2] - The stock market had a shortened trading day, closing at 1 p.m. [2] Key Stock Movements - Intel (INTC) was the biggest mover on the S&P 500, rising approximately 8% [2] - Eli Lilly (LLY) was the largest decliner, slipping nearly 3% [2] - Brown-Forman (BF.A, BF.B) increased by 1.5%, while Lululemon (LULU) rose over 2% [3] - Best Buy (BBY) reported a decline of more than 1% following its latest quarterly financial results [3] Technology Sector Performance - Nvidia (NVDA) shares were down 1.8%, and Oracle (ORCL) fell by 2.2%, marking them as significant decliners in the S&P 500 [4] - The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS), which includes major tech stocks, was up 0.3% [4] Cryptocurrency Market - Shares of Coinbase Global (COIN) rose nearly 4%, influenced by purchases from Cathie Wood's ARK funds [5] - Bitcoin was trading around $92,000, showing a rebound from recent lows [5] - Strategy (MSTR), a Bitcoin buyer, saw an increase of 2.4% [5]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Market Trends & Industry Dynamics - Intel is projected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series processors as early as 2Q-3Q27, utilizing the 18AP advanced process [1] - Apple's plan hinges on the progress after obtaining PDK 1.0/1.1, expected from Intel in 1Q26 [1] - The lowest-end M-series chips are primarily used in MacBook Air and iPad Pro, with a combined shipment volume of approximately 20 million units in 2025 [1] - Expected shipments of the lowest-end M-series processors are projected to be between 15 million and 20 million units in both 2026 and 2027, potentially influenced by a new lower-priced MacBook equipped with an iPhone processor in 2026 [1] Strategic Implications & Supply Chain - Apple aims to diversify its supply chain by seeking a second supplier, aligning with the "Made in America" initiative, while still heavily relying on TSMC's advanced processes [2] - Securing Apple's advanced process orders holds significant symbolic value for Intel, outweighing the actual revenue and profit contribution [2] - This order signifies that the worst may be over for Intel's IFS business, potentially leading to more orders from Apple and other major clients for future 14A or more advanced processes, improving long-term prospects [2] - The order for the lowest-end M-series processors is not expected to impact TSMC's fundamentals or its leading position in the coming years [2]

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) is witnessing a notable strengthening in market sentiment, with its Benzinga Edge’s Stock Rankings‘ momentum score climbing from 88.53 to 90.51 week-over-week.Check out INTC's stock price here.Intel Jumps In Top Decline Of Momentum GainsThis shift pushes the chipmaker into the top tier of relative strength, signaling that investors are prioritizing macroeconomic tailwinds over a brewing corporate espionage issue involving its foundry rival, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Lt ...

Core Viewpoint - Investing in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is a sound strategy that can be potentially lucrative, with the AI infrastructure market projected to grow from $35.42 billion in 2024 to $223.45 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 30.4% [3]. AI Infrastructure Market - The AI infrastructure market is expected to experience significant growth, indicating a shift in investor focus from traditional chipmaking companies to broader infrastructure investments [3]. Data Center REITs - Investing in data centers through real estate investment trusts (REITs) offers a way to diversify investments away from chip stocks while generating a consistent revenue stream [4]. Digital Realty Trust - Digital Realty Trust is the fifth-largest publicly traded REIT in the U.S., owning over 300 data centers across multiple continents, with major clients including Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia [5]. - In Q3, Digital Realty's revenue increased by 10% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, with earnings of $64 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $0.09 per share a year prior [7]. - The company offers a dividend yield of 3% and is required to distribute 90% of its earnings to shareholders [8]. Equinix - Equinix reported $395 million in annualized gross bookings for Q3, a 25% year-over-year increase, and plans to double its computing power capacity by 2029 [9]. - The company operates 273 data centers globally, with total revenue of $2.31 billion, up 5% from the previous year [10]. - Equinix's net income rose by 26% to $374 million, with earnings per share increasing by 23% to $3.81 [12]. Iron Mountain - Iron Mountain has expanded from records storage to owning over 30 data centers, providing 1.2 gigawatts of computing power [13]. - The company reported a 12.6% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.8 billion in Q3, with its data center and digital businesses growing by over 30% [14]. - Iron Mountain expects full-year revenue between $6.79 billion and $6.94 billion, projecting a 12% improvement from 2024 [17].