Intel Corporation

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Bullish +75

Intel Stock Is Up 124% This Year and AMD Is Up 100%: Is the NASDAQ Correction a Take-Profit Signal?

📈 Intel stock has surged 124% year-to-date, driven by its best revenue growth in 15 years and renewed AI positioning.

💻 AMD shares have climbed 100% YTD, fueled by a 57% jump in data center revenue to $5.775 billion.

📉 In contrast, NVIDIA and Broadcom have lagged significantly with only 3% and 8% gains respectively despite their dominant market roles.

🔄 The sector performance has flipped conventional wisdom, as former laggards now outperform the established AI leaders.

⚠️ Intel currently lacks a trailing twelve-month P/E ratio due to unprofitability, while AMD trades at an elevated 142x multiple.

💰 NVIDIA and Broadcom offer more grounded valuations with P/E multiples of 29x and 62x respectively.

📊 The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has gained 55% YTD but carries concentration risk within the semiconductor sector.

📅 Intel reported Q2 FY2026 revenue of $16.128 billion, marking a 25.4% year-over-year increase.

🔮 Intel has guided for Q3 2026 revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion ahead of upcoming earnings.

📉 Analyst target prices are set at $115.27 for Intel and $575.49 for AMD, which may not yet reflect current share prices.

📈 Both Intel and AMD exhibit high volatility with betas of 2.187 and 2.469 respectively, well above the market average.

⚖️ Investors face a potential valuation reset where profit-taking in high-flyers could persist even if the AI story remains intact.

🔄 Market watchers are monitoring whether capital will rotate back toward NVIDIA and Broadcom or stay with the recovery trade.

📉 The NASDAQ 100 has slipped into correction mode, prompting questions about whether this is a signal to lock in gains on semiconductor runners.

🏢 Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan described the recent revenue growth as the company's strongest performance in over a decade.

Bullish Signals
  • Intel stock surged 124% year-to-date on its best revenue growth in 15 years.
  • Intel's Q2 FY2026 results showed revenue of $16.128 billion, representing a 25.4% increase year over year.
  • Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock climbed 100% year-to-date driven by strong data center performance.
  • AMD's Q1 FY2026 revenue reached $10.253 billion, up 37.9% year over year, with Data Center revenue growing 57% to $5.775 billion.
  • Intel provided forward guidance for Q3 2026 revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion.
  • The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) gained 55% year-to-date, reflecting the strong performance of Intel and AMD.
Risk Factors
  • Intel does not have a trailing twelve-month (TTM) P/E ratio because it was not profitable over the last year.
  • Advanced Micro Devices trades at an elevated TTM P/E of 142.45x, while competitors NVIDIA and Broadcom trade at more grounded multiples of 29.29x and 62.07x respectively.
  • The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) carries concentration risk with no diversification into software, industrials, or defensive names, amplifying downside on rotation days.
  • Intel stock exhibits high volatility with a beta of 2.187, suggesting investors should carefully consider position sizing as leadership shifts occur.
  • If the valuation reset thesis holds, profit-taking in Intel could persist even if the broader AI narrative remains intact for NVIDIA and Broadcom.
  • Analysts are questioning whether the current rally in Intel is sustainable or if the pullback signals a rotation back toward AI incumbents.
Full Analysis
Intel stock has surged 124% year to date, driven by its best revenue growth in 15 years, while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares have climbed 100%. This performance marks a significant shift from the AI era where NVIDIA and Broadcom were the primary leaders; currently, NVIDIA is up only 3% and Broadcom has gained just 8% year to date. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX), which holds all four companies, has risen 55% YTD, reflecting the strong momentum of Intel and AMD despite the broader NASDAQ 100 slipping into correction mode. The divergence in performance is largely attributed to valuation disparities among the semiconductor giants. Intel does not have a trailing twelve-month (TTM) P/E ratio as it was not profitable over the last year, while AMD trades at an elevated TTM P/E of 142.45x. In contrast, NVIDIA and Broadcom trade at more grounded multiples of 29.29x and 62.07x, respectively. Intel's Q2 FY2026 results, filed on July 23, 2026, reported revenue of $16.128 billion, a 25.4% increase year over year. AMD's Q1 FY2026 revenue reached $10.253 billion, with data center revenue jumping 57% to $5.775 billion. Analysts are questioning whether the current pullback in semiconductor stocks signals a rotation back toward AI incumbents or if the rally in Intel and AMD is sustainable. Intel has provided guidance for Q3 2026 revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion, with an analyst target price of $115.27. AMD's analyst target price stands at $575.49. Both stocks exhibit high volatility, with Intel carrying a beta of 2.187 and AMD a beta of 2.469, suggesting investors should carefully consider position sizing as leadership shifts occur through August. The market is now watching to see if the valuation reset thesis holds, potentially leading to profit-taking in Intel and AMD even if the broader AI narrative remains intact for NVIDIA and Broadcom.