Why Is Intel Stock Falling?

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Intel (INTC) stock fell 28.6% on Friday, October 30, 2026, while the S&P 500 lost 1.8%. The drop followed Intel’s third-quarter results, reported after the market closed on October 29 alongside a fourth-quarter forecast that news reports said was well below estimates. So how did the quarter itself go, and what exactly did Intel forecast?

What Did Intel Report And Forecast?

Intel’s third-quarter results met revenue expectations and topped profit estimates. Revenue rose 20.9% year over year to $16.50 billion, matching the $16.56 billion consensus. On the bottom line, adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings came in at $0.52 per share, beating Wall Street estimates of $0.39, while GAAP diluted earnings reached $0.63 per share.

The forecast pointed the other way. Intel expects fourth-quarter revenue of $15 billion to $16 billion, below its third-quarter revenue. Intel’s guidance includes a hit of roughly $300 million to revenue from an accident at its Israel factory, the company said. News reports linked the fall in INTC stock to that outlook and to growing questions about the turnaround at Intel. They also said the company is struggling to make enough AI server chips while dealing with a weak PC market, and that Intel highlighted the cost of surging memory prices.

Did Other Chip Stocks Fall With Intel?

They did, but Intel fell more than twice as far as any of its peers. All five of Intel’s peers dropped on October 30, including an 11.1% decline for Qualcomm and a 10.9% drop for Advanced Micro Devices. Broadcom fell 5.5%, Micron Technology 5.3% and NVIDIA 4.2%. The technology sector fund XLK lost 4.9%, a steeper fall than the S&P 500’s. News reports said other chip stocks slid in sympathy with Intel.

Intel Stock After Its Biggest Fall In A Year

Before October 30, Intel’s biggest one-day drop in the prior 365 days was 17.0% on January 23, 2026. The October 30 fall also capped a hard month in which the shares lost 45.2%.

That leaves Intel’s close of $65.76 at less than half its 52-week closing high of $140.94, reached on June 22, 2026, though the close is still nearly twice the 52-week closing low of $33.62 from November 20, 2025. If you had held the shares for the twelve months to October 30, you would still have earned 59.1%, against 11.3% for the S&P 500.

Intel is expected to report its fourth-quarter results in January 2027. Revenue for that quarter, the period its forecast covers, is the number to watch.

Does This Mean You Should Act On INTC?

Our purpose is to inform you with unique data so you make the right investment decisions. That said, betting on a single stock is always risky, no matter which direction you choose.

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