Confidence Returns to Intel After Micron’s Earnings, INTC Stock Reclaims $33

Following a steep drop after last week's massive surge, Intel's stock has bounced back well today, hitting $32 after hours.

Government and Private Investment Propel Intel, but Volatility Persists

Quick overview

  • Intel's stock rebounded strongly, surpassing $31 after a previous dip, driven by significant investments from the U.S. government and private backers.
  • Despite recent gains, the stock has faced volatility, slipping below $29 before recovering, highlighting ongoing challenges in the semiconductor sector.
  • Government backing and strategic investments, including a notable purchase by SoftBank, have bolstered investor confidence in Intel's long-term value.
  • While optimism surrounds Intel's strategic role in U.S. technology policy, technical resistance and market pressures continue to pose risks to sustained growth.

Following a steep drop after last week’s massive surge, Intel’s stock has bounced back well today, hitting $32 after hours.

Intel Stock Rebounds Amid Strategic Support

Intel’s shares (NASDAQ: INTC) surged on Wednesday, at one point climbing 6% and outperforming peers across the computer industry. The rally comes after a series of high-profile investments by the U.S. government, SoftBank, and Nvidia, which collectively provided a much-needed boost of confidence as Intel pushes forward with its advanced 18A node technology.

Investor Confidence Grows Despite Setbacks

Over the past month, funding commitments from Washington and private backers fueled sharp gains in Intel’s stock, with prices briefly exceeding $33. However, the rally proved unstable, and the share price slipped below $29 for three consecutive sessions. That weakness highlighted the tension between optimism over Intel’s strategic importance and lingering structural challenges across the semiconductor sector.

Still, buyers re-emerged this week. After testing support levels, Intel shares jumped back above $31, lifted further by external validation from Micron’s latest earnings release. Micron raised its outlook for PCs and servers—two end markets critical to Intel’s performance—helping sentiment toward the chipmaker improve.

INTC Chart Monthly – Resistance Continues to Reject the PriceChart INTC, MN1, 2025.09.22 18:02 UTC, MetaQuotes Ltd., MetaTrader 5, Demo

Portfolio Moves and Market Performance

Intel also benefited from operational changes, including the sale of its Altera stake, which sparked a 26% rebound to $32.38 in early trading last week. The divestment formed part of Intel’s broader strategy to streamline its operations and strengthen its core manufacturing business. Yet, as half of those gains faded soon after, the rally underscored the fragility of investor conviction.

Technically, the stock’s breakout from a long sideways range signaled renewed strength, but resistance at long-term moving averages on the weekly chart continues to cap upside momentum. Without a decisive push beyond $32.50, Intel risks slipping back into its previous trading band.

Strategic Value of Government Backing

Much of the optimism surrounding Intel is tied to its strategic role in U.S. technology policy. Backed by the Secure Enclave program and the CHIPS Act, Washington acquired a 9.9% stake worth $8.9 billion, with an option to expand ownership if Intel’s foundry share drops below 51%. The move underscores the U.S. government’s determination to protect domestic chip capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan emphasized that the company remains the only American firm with cutting-edge logic R&D and advanced manufacturing capacity, making it indispensable to both national security and the technology supply chain for small and mid-sized enterprises.

Private Capital Adds Momentum

Beyond government support, SoftBank bolstered confidence with a $2 billion share purchase at $23, which triggered a 23% rally—Intel’s largest weekly gain since spring. While this injection of private capital highlights Intel’s long-term value, technical resistance once again capped further gains, leaving investors cautious.

Conclusion: Promise With Persistent Volatility

Intel’s stock is riding a wave of strategic investment and renewed confidence in its core business. Yet the company continues to face industry-wide pressures, technical hurdles, and doubts about sustaining long-term growth. Until Intel breaks through key resistance levels and the semiconductor market stabilizes, volatility is likely to remain a defining feature of its share price performance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

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