Intel Gets Fresh Upgrades as Wall Street Warms to Panther Lake and Server CPU Momentum

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) picked up a pair of analyst upgrades this week as firms pointed to improving signals in the PC market and a potential re-acceleration in server CPU demand tied to new AI workloads.

Seaport Research moved Intel to Buy from Neutral and issued a $65 price target, arguing the company’s next major PC processor cycle could provide a near-term catalyst. The firm highlighted Panther Lake, Intel’s upcoming client platform, as a key driver for Intel Products, citing constructive feedback from PC manufacturers following CES.

Seaport also flagged Panther Lake as an important manufacturing milestone, since it is expected to be the first commercial product built on Intel’s 18A process node. The firm said early indications suggest 18A is competitive, which could help rebuild investor confidence in Intel’s advanced manufacturing roadmap after several years of execution setbacks.

While Intel Foundry remains a longer-term question, Seaport said the company may see earlier traction through advanced packaging work, particularly as constraints at major third-party manufacturers create openings for alternative capacity.

Separately, HSBC upgraded Intel to Hold from Reduce and lifted its price target to $50 from $26, citing stronger expectations for server CPU demand. The bank said investor focus has been heavily skewed toward AI accelerators, but traditional CPUs may benefit as “agentic AI” use cases scale and require more general-purpose compute.

HSBC expects Intel’s server CPU shipments to grow 15% to 20% in 2026, above broader market forecasts that imply mid-single-digit expansion. The firm also raised its 2026 data center revenue estimate by 18% to $19.8 billion, reflecting higher projected volumes and better pricing from product mix.

HSBC said foundry visibility is still limited, but noted signs of increasing customer engagement and incremental opportunity in packaging, supporting a less negative stance on the stock.

About Intel

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) is a global semiconductor company that designs and manufactures processors and related technologies used in personal computers, servers, and data center systems. The company also operates Intel Foundry, which provides chip manufacturing and advanced packaging services. Intel is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

At the time of publishing, Stocks.News does hold positions in Intel as mentioned in the article.