Intel Stock Surges on Reports of Price Hikes and Analyst Upgrade
On September 8, 2026, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) shares surged by over 8% following reports that the company may be raising CPU prices for a third time in 2026. The news came alongside an upgrade from Northland Securities analyst Gus Richard to 'outperform' with a $120 price target, implying potential upside of about 25%. Analysts attributed Intel's recent pricing strategy as part of its effort to improve gross margins rather than compete on market share. The report cited by DigiTimes suggested that the latest price increase could come later in the year. This move is seen as beneficial due to a current CPU shortage, which gives Intel more pricing power. Additionally, Richard highlighted progress in Intel's foundry ambitions and its long-term goal of becoming the world’s second-largest foundry by 2030. Despite positive momentum from price hikes and analyst upgrades, some investors remain cautious given that Intel is trading at a high valuation—68 times forward earnings and 51 times next year’s expected earnings. The Motley Fool's Stock Advisor team did not include Intel in its latest list of top stock picks for long-term growth.
Topics: analyst_upgrade foundry_business intel semiconductors