Prediction: This Stock is Going to Plummet in The Second Half of 2026

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By Vandita Jadeja Published

Quick Read

  • Intel (INTC) has surged over 260% year-to-date to $134, but our model rates it a SELL with a $103 price target.

  • Apple's (AAPL) U.S. chip partnership and NVIDIA's (NVDA) $5 billion equity stake form the bull case that could push Intel to $150.

  • Intel trades at 133x forward earnings with nearly $4 billion in negative free cash flow, placing the bear-case target at $77.

  • Don't wait: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just revealed his top 10 AI stocks. See the full list FREE now.

Prediction: This Stock is Going to Plummet in The Second Half of 2026

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Intel (NASDAQ:INTC | INTC Price Prediction) has been one of the most explosive turnaround stories of 2026, with shares up 263.12% year to date through June 18. After a 12% single-day surge on news of an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) manufacturing partnership, the chipmaker trades at $133.99.

Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Intel is $102.57, implying a 12-month return of -23.45%. The model rates the stock a sell at current levels with 90% confidence.

An infographic titled 'INTEL (INTC) • NASDAQ: 12-Month Price Prediction' on a dark gray background. The top section, 'THE CALL,' shows a Current Price of $133.99 and a Price Target of $102.57, indicating a -23.45% change, alongside a 'SELL' badge with 90% Confidence. Below, 'HOW WE GOT THERE' displays a Trailing P/E-Based Price of $133.99, a Forward P/E-Based Price of $79.80, and an Analyst Target of $93.97 (30% Weight), contributing to a Weighted Base Price of $94.89. The 'OUR ADJUSTMENTS (247Factor: 1.081)' section shows the Base Price of $94.89, adjusted by Sector Momentum (TECH) +0.15, Social Sentiment +0.007, Earnings Growth (-71.7% YoY) -0.03, and Volatility (Beta 2.23) -0.025, leading to a Final Target of $102.57. 'BULL CASE: WHAT COULD GO RIGHT' lists three points: Apple Partnership & Google Collab, NVIDIA $5.0B Investment & $8.9B CHIPS Act, and Intel 18A High-Volume & Panther Lake AI PC. 'BEAR CASE: WHAT COULD GO WRONG' also lists three points: Valuation: 133x Forward P/E, Foundry Op Losses ($2.51B) & Negative FCF, and Execution Risks & 14A Pause. The 'THE BOTTOM LINE' section reiterates a 'SELL RECOMMENDATION' at $102.57, noting a -23.45% Downside, and credits 24/7WALL ST.
24/7 Wall St.
Metric Value
Current Price $133.99
24/7 Wall St. Price Target $102.57
Upside/Downside -23.45%
Model Rating SELL
Confidence 90%

Why We Could Be Wrong

Our 24/7 Wall St. price target sits well below current levels. The Apple foundry deal, the 10% U.S. government stake, and a confirmed role producing host CPUs for NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s DGX Rubin NVL8 systems carry potential to push earnings well above our model. A full bull case appears below.

INTC price scenario

A 523% Rally Reset the Setup

Intel gained 523.5% over the past year and 20.93% in the past month. Trump’s June 18 announcement that Apple would partner with Intel on U.S. chip production sent shares up 10.64% in one session.

Q1 2026 non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.29 against $0.0127 consensus, revenue grew 7.18% to $13.577 billion, and Data Center and AI revenue jumped 22%. CEO Lip-Bu Tan flagged a “sixth consecutive quarter of revenue above our expectations.”

The Case for $150+

If the bull case plays out, Intel’s foundry strategy resembles a second TSMC. The Apple partnership, the multiyear Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) collaboration on custom ASIC IPUs, and the $5 billion NVIDIA equity investment represent the external customer flywheel Tan has promised.

Combined with $8.9 billion in CHIPS Act funding, Intel 18A entering high-volume manufacturing, and a Panther Lake AI PC platform spanning 200-plus OEM designs, the foundry segment could swing from a $2.51 billion quarterly operating loss to breakeven faster than consensus. Forward EPS could reset toward $1.50, and a 100x multiple gets Intel to $150.

Where the Math Breaks

The bear case rests on valuation. Intel trades at a forward P/E of 133x against TTM EPS of -$0.60. The Q1 GAAP net loss of $3.728 billion reflected a $4.07 billion Mobileye goodwill impairment, so the underlying business is operationally profitable, with non-GAAP gross margin reaching 41.0%. F

ree cash flow remains weak at -$3.867 billion on $4.963 billion in capex. If foundry losses persist or Intel 14A pauses on weak customer commitments, shares could fall to $76.56.

Intel Price Prediction 2026-2030

The 24/7 Wall St. price target stays at $102.57 with 90% model confidence. Forward earnings of $0.60 cannot support a $134 share price under any reasonable multiple.

Revisit the bull case if Intel signs a second flagship foundry customer and forward EPS estimates rise above $1.20. The setup weakens if foundry losses widen or 2026 free cash flow remains negative through year-end.

Our model projects Intel could trade at these levels, assuming current growth trajectories and foundry ramp progress on schedule.

Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target
2026 (year-end) $119.17
2027 $102.57
2028 $96.00
2029 $90.00
2030 $87.00

These projections assume Intel executes on its foundry strategy. Significant upside could come from sustained external customer wins, while a 14A pause or prolonged free cash flow burn would skew toward our $62.81 five-year bear case.

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About the Author Vandita Jadeja →

Vandita Jadeja is a financial copywriter who loves to read and write about stocks. She believes in buying and holding for long term gains. Her knowledge of words and numbers helps her write clear stock analysis. She has contributed to several publications, including the Joy Wallet, Benzinga, The Motley Fool and InvestorPlace.

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