Is Intel Stock a Buy, Hold or Sell After Earnings?
Intel stock is moving higher Friday after the embattled chipmaker gave upbeat Q4 guidance, but Wall Street is staying on the sidelines for now.

Intel (INTC) stock is one of the best Dow Jones stocks on Friday, second only to Amazon.com (AMZN) which is rallying on its solid earnings report. The positive price action comes after the chipmaker reported mixed results for its third quarter but issued a strong outlook for the fourth quarter.
In the three months ended September 28, Intel's revenue decreased 6.3% year over year to $13.3 billion. It reported a net loss of 46 cents per share compared to net earnings of 41 cents per share in the year-ago period.
"Our Q3 results underscore the solid progress we are making against the plan we outlined last quarter to reduce costs, simplify our portfolio and improve organizational efficiency," said Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger in a statement. "We delivered revenue above the midpoint of our guidance, and are acting with urgency to position the business for sustainable value creation moving forward."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The results were mixed compared with analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $13 billion and a net loss of 2 cents per share, according to MarketWatch.
However, sentiment turned positive toward Intel when the company provided its outlook for the fourth quarter. Intel said it expects to achieve revenue in the range of $13.3 billion to $14.3 billion and earnings of approximately 12 cents per share, which came in ahead of expectations.
Wall Street is forecasting revenue of $13.7 billion and earnings of 8 cents per share for Intel's fourth quarter, according to Yahoo Finance.
"The actions we took this quarter position us for improved profitability and enhanced liquidity as we continue to execute our strategy," Gelsinger said. "We are encouraged by improved underlying trends, reflected in our Q4 guidance."
Is Intel stock a buy, sell or hold?
Intel's troubles have stretched to the price charts, as well. Shares of the large-cap stock are down 53% for the year to date on a total return basis (price change plus dividends), making it the worst Dow stock of 2024 so far.
And Wall Street is on the sidelines when it comes Intel. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for INTC stock is $24.72, representing implied upside of 6% to current levels. Meanwhile, the consensus recommendation is Hold.
Financial services firm Needham is one of those with a Hold rating on INTC stock.
While Intel's third-quarter revenue results were better than expected, accelerated foundry development is weighing on near-term margins, says Needham analyst Quinn Bolton.
"We rate INTC as a Hold due to its elevated valuation, falling revenue estimates, increasing competition (in core and non-core markets), and distant Intel Foundry Services revenue contributions, which we believe are all setting up for a more difficult road ahead," the analyst adds.
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
What You Need to Know About Elon Musk's Access to Medicare
Officials at Musk-led DOGE were given access to the inner workings of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency with a $2 trillion budget.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
Is Indulging Your Vice Putting Your Retirement at Risk?
From alcohol to gambling, adults spend a lot of money pursuing their vices, but are they jeopardizing their retirement nest eggs?
By Donna Fuscaldo Published
-
Stock Market Today: Investors Respond to the Usual Uncertainty
Stocks surged late but the major indexes closed mixed as the search for market leadership continues.
By David Dittman Published
-
Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Is It And How Does It Work?
President Trump signed an executive order that puts in motion plans for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. Here's what a sovereign wealth fund is and how it works.
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA Published
-
Honeywell Stock Is at the Bottom Of the Dow After Split News
Honeywell is the worst Dow Jones stock Thursday as the industrial conglomerate's weak outlook offsets news that it is splitting into three separate companies.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Roblox Stock Plunges After Bookings, Users Fall Short of Expectations
Roblox stock is down Thursday after the gaming company came up short on key metrics for its fourth quarter. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Eli Lilly Stock Rises After Profit, Outlook Top Expectations
Eli Lilly stock is higher Thursday after the pharma giant beat fourth-quarter profit expectations and issued strong 2025 guidance. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Qualcomm Stock Drops After Its Earnings Beat. Here's Why
Qualcomm stock is lower Thursday even after the chipmaker reported strong earnings and gave an encouraging outlook. This is what investors need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
The Best ROI? Investing in Yourself This Year
If personal growth is something you invest in only after taking care of all other priorities, it's time to turn that mindset on its head. Here's how to start.
By Frank J. Legan Published
-
The Four Worst Mistakes to Make When Selling Your Business
From ignoring potential buyers to failing to consider what you'll do once you've stopped working, here are the key mistakes to avoid when selling a business.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published