INTC
A beat, but not a victory lap
Intel came out swinging in Q2, posting $16.13 billion in revenue versus the $14.42 billion analysts were bracing for and adjusted EPS of 42 cents, nearly double expectations. The stock popped 1.7% premarket, because yes, investors do still like it when a chip giant actually clears the bar instead of tripping over it.
The real story: analysts are still arguing in the margins
The bigger tell here isn’t just the beat — it’s the tone from Wall Street afterward. Mizuho kept its Neutral call but cut its price target from $135 to $109, while Wells Fargo stuck with Equal-Weight and nudged its target up from $110 to $120. Translation: nobody’s ready to crown Intel king of the hill, but some folks are warming up to the turnaround.
Why investors should care
Intel also told investors to expect third-quarter revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, ahead of the $15.01 billion consensus, and adjusted EPS of 38 cents versus 24 cents expected. That’s the kind of guidance that keeps the comeback narrative alive — especially with CEO Lip-Bu Tan pitching AI, CPUs, ASICs, advanced packaging, and foundry as the company’s next growth engine.
Big picture
This is still a prove-it story, not a victory parade. Intel is showing signs of life, but the analyst split says the market wants a few more clean quarters before it starts handing out confetti.