Intel’s Apple Deal Jolts Stock as Analysts Raise Targets

Intel ( (INTC) ) has been popular among investors this week. Here is a recap of the key news on this stock.

Intel shares came under pressure after fresh reports suggested its much-hyped partnership with Apple will initially center on low-end, legacy chips for iPhones, iPads and Macs, rather than cutting-edge processors. The clarification from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo triggered a near 5.5% drop in Intel’s stock, even though Apple’s roadmap envisions test production in 2026, a sharp ramp through 2028 and then a taper in 2029.

Despite the lukewarm reaction, the deal positions Intel as a long-term foundry partner for Apple, potentially validating its 18A-P process and Foveros packaging for future, higher-value work. At the same time, Intel’s upcoming Razor Lake-AX chips, rumored to pack up to 32 Xe3 cores and integrated Arc-class graphics, could challenge AMD’s Strix Halo and Gorgon Halo, with a 16-core variant aimed at the midrange market.

Wall Street’s view on Intel remains cautious, with a consensus Hold rating based on 11 Buys, 24 Holds and three Sells over the past three months. After a spectacular 435% share price surge in the last year, the average analyst target of $82.70 implies roughly 25% downside from current levels, signaling worries that expectations may have run ahead of fundamentals.

Even so, several major firms have been lifting their price targets as confidence in Intel’s foundry strategy builds. Deutsche Bank raised its target to $100, Mizuho to $124, Benchmark to $105 and Bank of America to $96, while RBC Capital stuck with $80, underscoring how divided the Street is on the stock’s upside and valuation.

Top-rated analysts covering Intel also paint a nuanced picture: some, like Benchmark’s Cody Acree and Northland’s Gus Richard, have strong track records yet still see potential downside from today’s lofty levels. Intel’s stock slipped 2.45% in recent trading but remains up more than 200% year-to-date and over 260% in the past 12 months, a run that leaves investors weighing powerful growth narratives against increasingly stretched expectations.