I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.Intel shares surged over 9.5% following reports of potential 10% price hikes in October, signaling a strategic shift from low-price market share growth to higher margins. Additionally, Intel may cut 5-10% of staff and discontinue its Small Core product line. On the technology front, Intel successfully processed its one millionth 300 mm silicon wafer using High NA EUV lithography for its 14A and 18A process nodes. Wall Street maintains a 'Hold' consensus with an average price target of $116.31.
The idea that chip stock Intel (INTC) may be planning to raise prices is nothing new, and new reports from The Verge suggest such price hikes may be coming soon. But the idea was abundantly welcome as far as shareholders were concerned, and Intel shares shot up over 9.5% in Tuesday afternoon's trading. Intel has seen a 291.98% rally in its share price over the past year.
Decent Hike to Come
The report suggested that a 10% price hike may be coming this October, and this after Intel previously hiked prices on its processors just a few months ago. Intel is moving away from its previous market strategy of keeping prices low to get the best market share, and instead is moving toward getting more out of the customers who will pay for Intel product.
There are also some stirrings that Intel may make some more layoffs as well, with between 5% and 10% of the staff potentially up for cuts. Finally, Intel may also move Small Core to end-of-life, a move that will more heavily impact Internet of Things (IoT) operations as well as industrial PCs, rather than the standard desktop boxes that most households use.
Milestone Hit
Intel had much better news on hand, though, as it revealed that it recently processed its one millionth 300 mm silicon wafer with the High Numerical Aperture (High NA) Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system. This platform can mean a lot of challenges, noted a Tech PowerUp report, including additional complexity in manufacture. But Intel has managed to bring High NA systems to more than just the 14A line. It is also putting them to use in the 18A line, which allowed Intel to bring out a lot more silicon using High NA EUV systems.
Is Intel a Buy, Hold or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on INTC stock based on six Buys, 23 Holds and two Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. The average INTC price target of $116.31 per share implies 10.74% upside potential.