Intel shares rose more than 5% after hours; CEO: Achieved the strongest revenue growth in over 15 years

Intel (INTC) shares rose more than 5% in after-hours trading on July 23, after the company’s previously released Q2 earnings sharply beat analysts’ expectations: adjusted EPS of 42 cents. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel achieved “the strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years,” driven by strong demand for AI hardware.

Intel Q2 earnings data vs. analysts’ expectations

According to Intel’s Q2 2026 earnings and Visible Alpha’s analyst survey, the key financial metrics compared with expectations are as follows:

Adjusted EPS: 42 cents (vs. analysts’ expectation of 22 cents)

Q2 revenue: $16.1 billion (vs. analysts’ expectation of $14.43 billion), up 15% year over year

AI business growth rate: more than 70%, accounting for about 70% of total revenue (CFO David Zinsner disclosed)

Q3 guidance (revenue): $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion (well above analysts’ consensus expectations)

Q3 guidance (EPS): 38 cents (well above analysts’ consensus expectations)

Capital expenditures: expected to exceed $20 billion this year (above the prior expectation of $18 billion)

Lip-Bu Tan: the strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years, driven by AI and unprecedented compute demand

In comments from Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan in an official statement: “AI is driving unprecedented compute demand. As we continue to advance, Intel is fully prepared to achieve sustainable growth across our CPU product line, ASICs, advanced packaging, and a vast foundry network.”

Lip-Bu Tan took over as Intel CEO in March 2025, positioning this Q2 performance as the strongest revenue growth in more than 15 years. CFO David Zinsner also revealed that the company is “significantly increasing” investment in equipment and capacity to meet demand that has continued to outpace supply; earlier this year, he warned that some components face supply pressure due to industry-wide shortages.

FAQ

How did Intel’s Q2 2026 EPS and revenue perform?

Based on Intel’s earnings report, Q2 adjusted EPS was 42 cents (Visible Alpha analysts expected 22 cents). Q2 revenue was $16.1 billion (analysts expected $14.43 billion), up 15% year over year; both metrics significantly beat expectations.

What is Intel’s Q3 2026 financial guidance?

According to Intel’s official guidance, Q3 revenue is expected to be $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion, and EPS is expected to be 38 cents—both well above analysts’ consensus expectations.

How did Intel stock perform in 2026?

Based on market data as of Thursday, July 23, 2026, Intel shares are up about 170% year-to-date in 2026—one of the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 this year; after the Q2 earnings release, the stock rose again by more than 5% in after-hours trading.