Melius Research Upgrades Intel (INTC) to Buy with $50 PT on Long-Term 14A Node Prospects for Nvidia, Apple

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is one of the most buzzing stocks to invest in according to hedge funds. On January 5, Melius Research upgraded Intel to Buy from Hold with a $50 price target. The firm dismissed recent reports regarding Nvidia’s dissatisfaction with the Intel 18A process node as stale information. Instead, the firm sees a good chance that both Nvidia and Apple will seriously evaluate the Intel 14A node for production by the 2028–2029 timeframe.

The potential shift could be a significant tailwind for the stock throughout 2026, supporting book value. Furthermore, Melius Research highlighted the strong industry and political standing of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and noted his high regard among key figures, including President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, Jensen Huang, and Lisa Su.

On the same day, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) unveiled its Core Ultra Series 3 processors (codenamed “Panther Lake”) at CES in Las Vegas. This launch marks a historic milestone as the first compute platform built on the Intel 18A process node, the most advanced semiconductor technology currently manufactured in the US. Designed to power the next generation of AI PCs, the Series 3 lineup will be featured in over 200 vehicle and laptop designs from global partners, representing Intel’s most broadly adopted AI platform to date.

Consumer availability begins with pre-orders on January 6, with the first laptops scheduled for global release on January 27. Additional laptop designs will continue to roll out through the first half of the year, while edge and industrial systems powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 are expected to hit the market starting in Q2 2026.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells computing and related products and services worldwide. It operates through Intel Products, Intel Foundry, and All Other segments.

While we acknowledge the potential of INTC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you’re looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.