Why Intel Stock Jumped 80%?
Intel (INTC)’s stock soared 75%, not on revenue growth alone, but fueled by a sharp leap in its valuation multiple. Behind this surge lies a rollercoaster of surprises—from a Q2 miss and strategic AI bets to fresh funding, cost cuts, and a strong Q3 rebound. Let’s unpack the story driving this rally.
Below is an analytical breakdown of stock movement into key contributing metrics.
| 5232025 | 11192025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 20.1 | 35.1 | 75.1% |
| Change Contribution By | LTM | LTM | |
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 53,044.0 | 53,439.0 | 0.7% |
| P/S Multiple | 1.6 | 3.0 | 80.7% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 4,343.0 | 4,514.0 | -3.9% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 74.8% |
So what is happening here? The stock surged 75%, driven by a modest 0.7% rise in revenue and a hefty 81% boost in the valuation multiple. Let’s dive into the events behind these shifts.
Here Is Why Intel Stock Moved
- Q2 2025 Earnings Miss: Intel reported Q2 2025 revenue beat but significant EPS miss, increased operating losses, and a forecast of steeper quarterly losses.
- AI Strategy & Products: Intel focused on AI, with new Core Ultra processors (Panther Lake on 18A) for AI PCs launching late 2025.
- Govt & Investor Funding: Major investments from Nvidia ($5B), SoftBank ($2B), and US Govt ($8.9B CHIPS Act).
- Q3 2025 Earnings Beat: Intel exceeded Q3 2025 revenue and EPS expectations, with adjusted profit of $0.23/share.
- Cost Cuts & Restructure: Ongoing cost reduction efforts and organizational restructuring under CEO Lip-Bu Tan improved financial discipline.
Our Current Assesment Of INTC Stock
Opinion: We currently find INTC stock unattractive. Why so? Have a look at the full story. Read Buy or Sell INTC Stock to see what drives our current opinion.
Risk: A solid way to gauge Intel’s risk is by checking its drops during major market sell-offs. It lost around 74% in the Dot-Com crash, 55% in the Global Financial Crisis, and 62% during the inflation shock. Even in less severe turmoil, like the 2018 correction and the Covid pandemic, it still fell 25% and 35%, respectively. Good fundamentals matter, but when the market turns, Intel isn’t immune to sharp declines.
INTC stock may have seen strong gains recently, but investing in a single stock without detailed, thorough analysis can be risky. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 — the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.