Intel stock jumped 490% in a year as its turnaround remains uncertain

In short: Intel’s stock price is up about 490% over the past year, even though its business recovery still looks unfinished.

What's going on

A new report highlighted the unusual gap between Intel’s rising stock price and its day to day progress as a company. Intel makes computer chips, which are the small parts that power phones, laptops, cars, and many AI systems.

TechCrunch points to a Bloomberg deep dive on CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who took over in March 2025. Instead of focusing first on big internal changes, the report says Tan has spent much of his first year building relationships and lining up deals.

Those moves include a deal with the U.S. government that made the government Intel’s third-largest shareholder (a shareholder is a part owner). The report also mentions Tan “cozying up” to Elon Musk on a factory partnership, and Intel reportedly landing early manufacturing agreements with Apple and Tesla.

At the same time, the company’s core challenges are still there. Bloomberg reports that Intel’s chip “yields” lag behind TSMC, the industry leader. Yield is the share of usable chips that come out of a factory run, like how many cookies in a batch are good enough to sell.

Employees also told Bloomberg that Tan has not shared many specifics internally. Some teams reportedly adjusted missed deadlines instead of fully catching up.

What to watch

Investors are clearly betting that Intel will execute on its plans, but the report suggests the stock market may be ahead of the real progress. Watch for clear milestones, like improved chip yields and firm, public manufacturing commitments from big customers.

Source: TechCrunch AI