Intel Soars to All-Time High on Apple Chip Partnership Report
CNBC reported Tuesday that Intel shares rocketed 14% to a new all-time high after Bloomberg disclosed Apple is in active discussions with Intel and Samsung over producing main processors for its U.S. devices.
The move extends a stunning momentum run for the chipmaker. Intel Apple chip talks now sit at the center of Wall Street’s attention as investors weigh a potential shift in Apple’s long-standing reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
A Historic Stretch for Intel
Tuesday’s gain capped a remarkable run that began in April. Intel shares surged 114% last month alone, the best single month in the company’s 55-year history on the Nasdaq. That rally pushed its market capitalization above $470 billion. Neither Intel nor Samsung responded to Bloomberg’s inquiries on the report, and Apple declined to comment.
Several catalysts drove the April acceleration. The company announced an expanded collaboration with Google and confirmed plans to participate in Elon Musk’s Terafab initiative. Intel also agreed to buy back the 49% stake it did not already hold in its Fab 34 facility in Ireland for $14.2 billion.
Background: From Struggling Chipmaker to Market Darling
Intel’s resurgence marks a dramatic reversal from a period of serious difficulty. The company had been losing ground in the AI race, weighed down by manufacturing setbacks and competitive pressure. The turnaround gained momentum last August when the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake, committing $8.9 billion to the chipmaker. Since that investment, Intel shares have climbed more than 330%.
Nvidia added further validation in September with a $5 billion investment. President Donald Trump also referenced the stock publicly last week, claiming credit for the company’s performance in a Truth Social post.
AI Demand Reshapes the CPU Story
Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan told analysts on Intel’s first-quarter earnings call that central processing units remain an essential building block of the AI era. That framing has resonated with investors searching for AI infrastructure plays beyond graphics chips. Renewed enterprise appetite for CPUs has repositioned Intel as a core beneficiary of the broader AI buildout rather than a company left behind by it.
Apple’s potential shift away from exclusive TSMC dependence adds another layer of strategic significance. A deal of that scale would represent one of the most consequential supply chain moves in consumer electronics in years.
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