Why Intel Stock Popped on Tuesday

Why Intel Stock Popped on Tuesday Rich Smith, The Motley Fool Tue, July 21, 2026 at 8:51 PM GMT+2 2 min read INTC NVDA Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) stock soared 8. 4% through 2:10 p. m.

ET Tuesday on a raft of positive news headlines -- or at least headlines investors viewed as positive. Image source: Intel. Missed Nvidia in 2009?

This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again.  In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia.  For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia.

  Continue » Layoffs at Intel Intel employees are probably less thrilled with the first item on this list, a report from Business Insider that Intel will lay off an unspecified number of employees in its data center division. If true, the layoffs would come on top of a 15% reduction in force last year -- 5,000 souls -- with thousands more laid off in 2024. The good news: Intel hopes all these layoffs will translate into annual savings in excess of $10 billion.

Alliance with Fortinet Separately, Intel announced today it will collaborate with cybersecurity company Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) to develop a secure "Fortinet Security Processor 6" semiconductor chip that will integrate well with Intel processors. Few details were revealed, but this sounds like a contract manufacturing agreement that will make use of Intel's foundry business to manufacture chips for its partner. Good news from TSMC And speaking of foundries...

Intel rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM) just announced plans to raise the price of its own contract manufacturing services by either up to 10% (as Nikkei Asia reports) or up to 20 % (as Nikkei goes on to explain) for certain advanced chips it manufactures for customers including Nvidia and AMD . As a competing foundry business, TSMC's decision to raise prices gives Intel implicit permission to raise its own prices without fear of losing customers -- or else hold its own prices steady and take market share from its rival. More than that, TSMC's decision implies that the market for AI semiconductor chips remains so strong that Intel might be able to do a little bit of both!

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See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2026. Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Fortinet, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

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