Intel Analyst Upgrades Pile Up After 2,800% EPS Beat: HSBC Sets Street-High $95 Target

# Intel Analyst Upgrades Pile Up After 2,800% EPS Beat: HSBC Sets Street-High $95 Target

> **Quick answer:** Intel (INTC) reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $0.29 — a 2,800% beat versus the Street's $0.01 estimate — on revenue of $13.58 billion (+7% YoY). HSBC immediately upgraded INTC to Buy with a street-high $95 price target, while BNP Paribas moved to Neutral from Underperform ($60 PT) and Stifel raised its target to $65. The stock surged roughly 15% in after-hours trading to ~$76.78, putting HSBC's target within striking distance at roughly 24% additional upside.

Intel's Q1 2026 results — reported April 23 after the bell — triggered an analyst upgrade wave that Wall Street had not seen for the chipmaker in years. The Intel analyst upgrades centered on a single, underappreciated thesis: the server CPU is not a commodity anymore, and Intel is positioned to capture outsized pricing power as agentic AI workloads explode data center demand.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making personal investment decisions.*

## Intel Q1 2026 Earnings: The Numbers That Forced the Upgrade Wave

The EPS beat alone was enough to stop Wall Street in its tracks. Intel reported adjusted EPS of $0.29 against a Street estimate of $0.01 — mathematically a 2,800% surprise, marking the sixth consecutive quarter that Intel has beaten its own financial guidance.