Intel Rumored Acquisition Sparks 9.5% Stock Surge

Recently, a tech news website reported that the embattled chipmaker Intel has become a potential acquisition target, causing its stock price to surge by 9.5%. SemiAccurate, a technology-focused communications platform founded by Charlie Demerjian, claimed to have "read an email about a company's attempt to acquire Intel" and noted that "this mysterious company has the resources to complete the acquisition." However, the report did not disclose the name of the potential buyer.

Once a dominant force in the global semiconductor market, Intel has faced significant challenges in keeping pace with the highly competitive and rapidly evolving industry. In December 2024, Intel's CEO Pat Gelsinger stepped down after the board lost confidence in his turnaround strategy for the iconic company. Over the course of 2024, Intel's stock price plummeted by 60%, with its current valuation just returning to levels seen in early December last year. Intel's market capitalization is approximately $90 billion.

Even before Gelsinger's departure, rumors of potential buyers circling Intel had been swirling. Speculation about an acquisition has intensified since then. Reports from last year suggested that Qualcomm had held discussions with Intel regarding a potential acquisition but ultimately abandoned the idea. Similarly, in September of last year, Arm reportedly explored the possibility of acquiring one of Intel's product divisions but was informed that the business was not for sale.