Shares of Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) were rallying on Friday, with shares up 5.5% as of 11:52 a.m. EDT. Intel is up strongly year to date, even though the stock pulled back from recent highs following its Jan. 22 earnings report. However, the stock has been recovering this week and is now approaching its multi-year highs once again. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » Today, th ...

Core Viewpoint - Intel's stock dropped 17% due to mixed Q4 2025 results and disappointing guidance for Q1 2026, highlighting a significant strategic misstep in manufacturing capacity ahead of rising demand for CPUs [2][4][6] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 revenue was $13.7 billion, exceeding expectations by $300 million, but Q1 2026 guidance projected revenue of $12.2 billion, falling short by $350 million, with earnings per share at $0, below the expected 8 cents [6][7] Strategic Decisions - The disappointing guidance was attributed to a reduction in manufacturing capacity, which left Intel unprepared for a surge in demand for processors, particularly for AI data centers [3][11] - CEO Lip-Bu Tan acknowledged the challenges in meeting customer demand, indicating a hand-to-mouth production approach [12] Manufacturing Challenges - Intel's manufacturing quality yields were estimated between 65% to 75%, below profitability levels, and the company had cut capacity on older production lines, impacting its ability to fulfill orders [8][10] - The company missed a significant opportunity to supply CPUs for AI applications, which became apparent to major clients like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services [11][12] Growth Strategy - Intel's growth strategy focuses on surpassing TSMC through a new manufacturing process called 18A and introducing new AI PC chips, with the Panther Lake consumer processors starting to ship in January 2026 [13] - However, Intel's Foundry unit reported $10.3 billion in operating losses in 2025, and meaningful revenue contributions from external customers may not materialize until late 2028 [14] Analyst Sentiment - Intel stock is considered about 7% undervalued based on an average price target of $48.11 from 29 Wall Street analysts, with significant variations in sentiment [15] - Some analysts express skepticism about Intel's ability to compete with TSMC, citing lower transistor density in Intel's 18A compared to TSMC's N2 chip [16] Partnerships and Contracts - Intel has secured a $15 billion contract with Microsoft for custom chips using 18A, a multi-billion dollar agreement with AWS for custom Xeon 6 chips, and a $3 billion Secure Enclave contract from the U.S. government [18]