Chipmaker Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) has had a 2025 to remember with gains that outpaced the likes of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average it was kicked out of.
The company could show that more growth is on the way when it reports fourth-quarter financial results Thursday after market close.
Here are the earnings estimates, what analysts are saying and key items to watch.
Intel Q4 Earnings Estimates
Analysts expect Intel to report Q4 revenue of $13.39 billion, down from $14.26 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to Benzinga Pro.
The company has beaten analyst revenue estimates in five straight quarters and in eight of the last 10 quarters overall.
Analysts expect Intel to report Q4 earnings per share of 4 cents, down from 13 cents per share in last year's fourth quarter.
The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in seven of the last 10 quarters, including in the most recently reported third quarter.
Intel’s guidance calls for Q4 revenue of $12.8 billion to $13.8 billion. The company expects earnings per share to hit 8 cents.
What Intel Analysts Are Saying
The outlook for Intel Foundry Services could be improving, Seaport Research Partners analyst Jay Goldberg wrote in a recent investor note.
The analyst upgraded Intel from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $65.
Goldberg said there are "strong signals" for Intel's PC products.
The analyst also said that new products could drive improvement for the company in the near term.
Thanks to the strength of existing products and, potentially, new products, the analyst sees Intel regaining market share in both enterprise and consumer markets in 2026.
"While Intel is not out of the woods in terms of competitiveness, the strong showing for Panther Lake shows the company is at least back on the right path," Goldberg said.
Here are other analyst ratings on Intel stock and their price targets:
- Susquehanna: Maintained Neutral rating, raised price target from $40 to $45
- Wedbush: Reiterated Neutral rating, with price target of $30
- HSBC: Upgraded rating from Reduce to Hold, raised price target from $26 to $50
- Jefferies: Maintained Hold rating, raised price target from $40 to $45
Key Items to Watch for Intel's Q4 Earnings Report
Intel stock rocketed higher in 2025, helped by several factors, including stakes taken in the company by Nvidia and the U.S. Government. The company could be asked about those stakes and potential partnerships during the conference call.
With demand remaining high for chips, Intel could benefit as Taiwan Semiconductor faces supply constraints for customers like Nvidia and Broadcom. While Intel won't take over Taiwan Semiconductor’s market leadership, It could benefit from the growing demand and companies needing to source chips elsewhere.
In the third quarter, Intel posted a double beat, with revenue and earnings per share both coming in above analyst estimates. The company reported 3% year-over-year revenue growth, with the client computing group showing strength, while other segments saw setbacks.
The company highlighted strong demand thanks to AI and analysts and investors will be looking for key commentary on demand and partnerships once again.
Intel shares were up over 80% in 2025, outperforming Nvidia and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:DIA), which tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Intel left the Dow Jones after 25 years in November 2024. Nvidia replaced it.
While Intel stock went down during the 25 years in the Dow Jones, shares have outperformed the market index since being kicked out.
The strong momentum could continue for Intel in 2026 and this could be an example of a company having revenge on being removed from one of the biggest stock market indexes.
Intel Stock Price Action
Intel stock is up 9.4% to $53.13 on Wednesday, hitting new 52-week highs. Intel shares have gained 144% over the last 52 weeks.
