Q2 revenue and earnings top Wall Street estimates
Intel reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of more than $16 billion, up roughly 25% from a year earlier and the company's strongest quarterly growth since late 2011. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 42 cents, double the 21-cent consensus estimate on Wall Street, with management's release also landing above its own prior guidance for the period.
AI data centre segment leads the acceleration
A major contributor to the quarter was Intel's data centre and AI-related business, where revenue rose about 59% year-over-year. The growth underscored demand for the company's AI-oriented silicon and helped push overall results past expectations even as other segments faced a more uneven environment.
Shares slide as investors take profits
Despite the earnings beat, Intel's stock fell nearly 8% on the day as traders locked in gains after a strong run-up into the print. The pullback came after an initial move higher following the release, and reporting from European market coverage highlighted the decline as a notable move in US chip names despite what one outlet called Intel's strongest revenue growth in 15 years. Wall Street reaction was described as muted, with most investment banks sitting on the fence on the durability of the rebound.
14A node confirmed for 2028 high-volume ramp
Alongside the financial results, Intel reaffirmed that its 14A process technology remains on track to begin high-volume manufacturing in 2028. The roadmap confirmation is a central element of the company's foundry and process-leadership push and was highlighted in coverage of the earnings release.
HyperThreading set to return with Coral Rapids in 2028
Separately, Intel confirmed that HyperThreading, its implementation of simultaneous multi-threading, will return to its CPU lineup starting with the Coral Rapids generation in 2028. The move restores a feature that had been absent from recent client and server families and lines up with the company's broader 2028 product cadence.
US government retains ownership interest
Recent reporting has noted that the US government has taken ownership interests in Intel as part of a broader policy approach to critical semiconductor suppliers. The stake remains part of the backdrop for the company as it executes its manufacturing and product plans through the remainder of the decade.
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