Here’s what traders expect Intel stock to do after earnings this week

Intel (INTC) is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings after markets close on Thursday, and traders expect the stock to be unusually volatile following the results.

Intel shares are expected to move about 10% in either direction the day after this week’s earnings report, according to recent options prices. A jump of that size, based on Monday’s closing price, would put shares at around $42, their highest price since April 2024. Alternatively, shares could fall 10% to end the week at just over $32.

Intel shares have moved an average of 6.5% after its last four earnings reports. In July, the stock fell more than 8% after it reported an unexpected loss and issued a disappointing forecast for the third quarter. The last time Intel shares rose on an earnings report was this time last year, when the company touted “strong progress” on its turnaround plan.

Thursday’s report will be Intel’s first since the federal government took nearly 10% of the company’s shares. That deal with the Trump administration may have been a turning point for the embattled chipmaker, which has since received additional investments from Japanese venture capital firm SoftBank and artificial intelligence chip giant Nvidia (NVDA), with which Intel will partner on custom hardware.

During Thursday’s post-earnings conference call, investors hoped to get updates from executives on those investments and whether they turn around the outlook for Intel’s struggling foundry business.

At the very least, these deals were a lifeline for Intel stock, which was treading water until rumors of White House negotiations began circulating in early August. Intel shares are up 90% since the beginning of the year, and all of those gains have come in the past three months.

However, analysts remain generally skeptical about the stock’s ability to maintain its recent momentum. Five of the seven analysts with current ratings tracked by Visible Alpha have given Intel stock a “Hold” rating, while two suggest a Sell. The average price target of about $30.60 represents a roughly 20% downside from Monday’s closing level.