Intel, one of the world’s most storied chipmakers, is making headlines again—but this time, the news is a whirlwind of progress, challenge, and global ambition. As the company pushes hard into advanced chip packaging, eyes new investments in India, and teases a powerful new graphics card, its investors seem less than thrilled. The stock price has dipped on back-to-back days, even as the company’s technological and strategic moves draw industry-wide attention.
Let’s start with the big technical leap: advanced packaging. According to TipRanks, Intel’s advanced packaging options are now seen as a true alternative to those offered by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC). For years, TSMC has been the undisputed giant in this space, but Intel’s recent innovations—allowing multiple chips to be combined into a single, more powerful package—have started to turn heads. This technology isn’t just a fancy upgrade; it’s a fundamental shift in how computing power is delivered, stacking capabilities for more robust systems. No wonder companies like Qualcomm and Apple are hiring engineers who specialize in Intel’s packaging techniques, as TipRanks reports.
But even as Intel’s technology gets noticed, the company is facing tough choices at home. On December 9, 2025, Intel announced another round of layoffs—this time, 669 workers in Oregon lost their jobs. That’s on top of the 2,400 jobs cut in July, all part of CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s previously announced plan to eliminate 15,000 positions worldwide. The latest cuts hit manufacturing sites especially hard, with nearly half of those dismissed—over 300 people—being factory technicians. These moves will shrink Intel’s Oregon workforce to 16,000, the smallest it’s been since 2012, according to TipRanks. Intel hasn’t said if more cuts are coming elsewhere, leaving employees and local communities bracing for further uncertainty.
The juxtaposition is striking: a company advancing technologically but retrenching on the employment front. And investors? They’re not celebrating. Intel’s share price dropped nearly 3% in trading on Monday afternoon, December 8, 2025, and slipped fractionally again on Tuesday. The market’s reaction suggests that, for now, Wall Street is more focused on the potential risks and near-term costs than the promise of future gains.
Analyst sentiment reflects this cautious mood. Over the past three months, Wall Street has maintained a Hold consensus rating on Intel stock. The numbers tell the story: three Buys, 24 Holds, and six Sells in one recent survey, and five Buys, 24 Holds, and six Sells in another, as reported by TipRanks. Despite a remarkable 43% rally in Intel’s share price over the past year (with some reports even noting a 99.9% surge), the average price targets hover at $35.44 and $37.04 per share. This implies a modest 2.81% upside in one estimate, but even a 7.58% downside risk in another. It’s a classic case of “wait and see,” as investors weigh the company’s bold bets against its current headwinds.
Speaking of bold bets, Intel’s ambitions aren’t confined to the United States. The company is looking east—to India, specifically. Just yesterday, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the future of technology, computing, and India’s burgeoning semiconductor design and manufacturing sector. The meeting wasn’t just a photo op; it was part of Intel’s plan to invest in India, notably through a partnership with Tata Electronics. Microsoft and Cognizant’s CEOs were also present, underscoring the global tech community’s interest in India’s chipmaking aspirations.
After the meeting, Tan was effusive in his praise for Modi’s efforts to drive artificial intelligence and semiconductor policy in India. "Honored to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this afternoon. We had a wide-ranging discussion on a variety of topics related to technology, computing and the tremendous potential for India. I applaud the Prime Minister for putting in place a comprehensive semiconductor design and manufacturing policy and Intel is committed to support the India Semiconductor Mission," Tan said, as quoted by TipRanks. Intel’s commitment to supporting India’s Semiconductor Mission could mark a turning point for the country’s high-tech ambitions—and for Intel’s own global strategy.
But that’s not all that’s new in Intel’s world. The company is reportedly developing a new graphics card, tentatively called the B770, which could shake up the competitive landscape. According to industry reports compiled by TipRanks, the B770 will feature a thermal design power of around 300 watts—33% more than Intel’s current best, the B580 card. The specs are impressive: 32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory. If the rumors hold, this new card would put Intel in direct competition with Nvidia’s RX 6000 and RTX 4000 models. For gamers and professionals alike, that’s big news. And if Intel can price the B770 attractively, it might reclaim some market share it’s lost in recent years.
Still, the excitement over new products and global partnerships hasn’t translated into investor confidence—at least not yet. Intel’s shares have been on a roller coaster. Despite the recent sell-off, the stock’s longer-term rally is nothing to sneeze at—nearly doubling in value over the past year in some accounts. But with layoffs, restructuring, and fierce competition from both established players and upstarts, the company’s future remains a matter of debate among analysts and investors alike.
Intel’s story right now is one of contrasts: technological innovation versus workforce reduction, global expansion versus local contraction, and bullish product development against a backdrop of market skepticism. The company is betting that its investments—in advanced packaging, in India, and in next-generation graphics cards—will pay off over time. For now, though, the stock market is reserving judgment, waiting to see if Intel’s bold moves will translate into lasting gains.
In the end, Intel’s journey is a reminder that even giants must adapt, sometimes painfully, to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry. The next chapter—whether triumphant or turbulent—will be written in the coming months as the company’s ambitious plans are put to the test, both on the factory floor and in boardrooms around the world.
