Intel Rallies 4.67% as Analysts Flag AI and Foundry as Twin Growth Drivers

Intel (INTC) is trading higher today. As of 9:30 a.m. ET intraday on Aug. 4, 2026 (21:30 Beijing time), shares were at $95.25, up 4.67% (+$4.25) from the prior close of $91. The stock opened at $95.25, with an intraday high of $95.35 and a low of $94.82. Meanwhile, several financial media outlets and data platforms have named Intel a stock to watch in their latest AI screens, highlighting progress across its two key business lines: data center AI chips and foundry manufacturing.

AI Stock Screens Flag Intel

Simply Wall St's "profitable AI stocks" screen, published in early August, lists Intel as a pick. The platform notes Intel sits at the center of the AI buildout, with its data center and AI business and growing foundry operations directly tied to the chips and manufacturing capacity large customers need^{[Simply Wall St]}. According to the platform's data, most of Intel's revenue comes from its Intel Products segment: client computing and physical AI around $33.3B, data center and AI around $20.2B, foundry around $19.9B, and roughly $2.9B from other businesses^{[Simply Wall St]}.

The platform also notes Intel's recent results beat expectations, with strong market interest in its 18A and 14A process nodes — supporting a more optimistic outlook for AI server and external foundry demand. Government support under the CHIPS Act adds another layer of backing for its massive capex plans^{[Simply Wall St]}.

That said, Simply Wall St also flags Intel's risks: the company remains unprofitable, with annual spending above $20B, and it needs to simplify its complex organizational structure and improve foundry returns^{[Simply Wall St]}. The platform's take: Intel's AI and foundry story is accelerating, but the real question is how it balances more than $20B in heavy spending against execution risk.

Supply Chain Partners Confirm AI Hardware Demand

In an Aug. 1 article, Motley Fool named Celestica (CLS) a top AI stock — and Intel is one of its key customers. According to Motley Fool, Celestica provides electronics manufacturing services (EMS) across data centers, aerospace, medical, industrial, and semiconductor manufacturing, among other industries. Its connectivity and cloud solutions business has grown strongly recently, driven by demand for network switches deployed by leading chip designers^{[Motley Fool]}.

Celestica's Q2 revenue rose 62% YoY to $4.7B, with EPS up 83% to $2.54. The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $20.5B, up from a prior $19B, and lifted its non-GAAP EPS guidance from $10.15 to $11.30^{[Motley Fool]}. Motley Fool notes the updated guidance implies 65% revenue growth and 87% EPS growth over last year. Celestica management said in its earnings release that revenue growth will accelerate next year, with adjusted EPS growth continuing to outpace revenue in 2027^{[Motley Fool]}.

Motley Fool also notes Celestica's customers include Broadcom (AVGO), Intel, and AMD. Broadcom's AI semiconductor revenue grew 143% YoY to $10.8B last quarter, and the company expects AI revenue to grow 200% YoY to $16B this quarter^{[Motley Fool]}.

Different Voices Amid the AI Pullback

Notably, Intel's gain today comes against a backdrop of recent pressure across the AI sector. Motley Fool writes that AI stocks have been sold off recently, with investors rotating out of the space over concerns about circular financing, competition from China, and the viability of massive AI data center infrastructure spending^{[Motley Fool]}. According to the outlet, the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — a fund investing in companies benefiting from AI adoption — is down 8% over the past month^{[Motley Fool]}.

Still, Motley Fool points out that AI hardware specialists continue to post impressive growth, suggesting the recent selloff may not last. The article notes Celestica is the latest company to report solid results and raise full-year guidance, following strong July reports from ASML and TSMC^{[Motley Fool]}. Celestica's shares are down 12% over the past three months, a pullback Motley Fool describes as "an opportunity to buy a top AI stock at an attractive valuation"^{[Motley Fool]}.

Balancing Foundry Strategy and Capex

Across the AI stock discussions, Intel's core thesis comes down to two things: growth in data center and AI, and foundry progress. Simply Wall St's data shows Intel's data center and AI business at roughly $20.2B in revenue and foundry at about $19.9B — together making up a significant portion of the company's top line^{[Simply Wall St]}. The platform believes Intel designs and manufactures hardware supporting AI and cloud data centers for hyperscalers and other large customers, with recent earnings growing at triple-digit rates, rising margins, strong ROE, and raised 2026 revenue and profit guidance^{[Simply Wall St]}.

At the same time, Intel's challenges are widely noted. Simply Wall St points out Intel remains unprofitable, with annual spending above $20B, foundry returns needing improvement, and a corporate structure that needs simplifying^{[Simply Wall St]}. The platform also notes Intel's recent earnings beat, strong interest in its 18A and 14A process nodes, and CHIPS Act government support providing additional backing for its capex plans^{[Simply Wall St]}.

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