Intel Stock Gains Momentum with Regulatory Approval and Tech Milestone

Intel US4581401001

Intel shares opened the week on a strong note, buoyed by two significant developments. The company received U.S. antitrust clearance for a major strategic investment from Nvidia and simultaneously confirmed a critical achievement in its next-generation chip manufacturing technology. The stock traded near its daily high in response.

The recent positive developments appear to be influencing major investors. Filings show Flputnam Investment Management dramatically increased its stake in Intel during the third quarter of 2025, boosting its position by 709.7% to 166,134 shares. Another firm, Brighton Jones LLC, expanded its holdings by 25.9%.

This growing institutional interest follows a substantial recovery for Intel's equity, which has appreciated approximately 86% year-to-date. Analysts attribute this performance to several factors: the leadership of CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who assumed the role in March 2025; substantial capital inflows from the CHIPS Act, totaling $9 billion; and the newly approved strategic investment from Nvidia.

FTC Clears Path for Strategic Chip Alliance

In a key regulatory decision, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) granted unconditional approval for Nvidia's planned $5 billion investment in Intel. This move eliminates a primary source of uncertainty that had surrounded the deal since its announcement on December 19.

The partnership is designed to integrate Nvidia's RTX graphics technology into future generations of Intel processors for PCs and data centers. Both companies have framed the collaboration as a "U.S.-centric" semiconductor alliance, signaling a push toward greater technological independence.

ASML Equipment Validation Marks Technical Progress

Alongside the regulatory news, Intel announced on Sunday the successful completion of acceptance testing for ASML's next-generation High-NA EUV lithography scanner, a project conducted in partnership with Imec. The advanced tool achieved a throughput of 175 wafers per hour with an overlay accuracy of 0.7 nanometers.

This cutting-edge lithography system is a cornerstone for Intel's future manufacturing nodes, beginning with the 14A process. The successful test provides confirmation that the company remains on track with its ambitious technology roadmap.

Analyst Caution Persists Amid Progress

Despite the week's encouraging news, market experts maintain a measured outlook on the stock. The average analyst price target currently stands at $34.84, which sits below the present trading level.

The prevailing caution stems from a pivotal challenge Intel must address by 2026: demonstrating that its foundry business can secure major external clients. To justify the massive capital investments, the company needs to announce a flagship customer for its advanced 18A or 14A manufacturing nodes—a benchmark reference that has yet to materialize.