Intel Stock (NASDAQ:INTC) Slips, Intel Reconsiders 18A

FomoAnxiety · 2026-03-05T20:02:11+00:00

Intel is re-evaluating its 18A process, previously reserved for internal use, for potential external client applications, despite a recent dip in share prices. This indicates a shift in strategy amid chip demand. Additionally, a lawsuit emerged from an investor dissatisfied with the sale of a 10% stake to the federal government, claiming it complicates proxy elections. Wall Street analysts rate Intel as a Hold, reflecting mixed sentiments about its stock prospects.

FomoAnxiety

2026-03-05 20:02:11

Abstract generation in progress

Chip stock Intel INTC -0.68% ▼ is taking a new look at the 18A process, and starting to reconsider its overall role in Intel’s operations. For the most part, the 18A process had been pushed back, out of the picture, and kept mainly for internal use. But now, Intel is starting to reconsider this stance and is looking to put it to work for external clients. This move did little for shareholders, though, and Intel shares slipped fractionally in Thursday afternoon’s trading.

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The word came from Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner, who noted that the 18A process had some room to product material for outside use. This actually represents a substantial sea change for Intel. Word previously emerged that looked for 18A to only produce returns internally.

Zinsner noted, “While Lip-Bu was … thinking that we probably should focus on 14A as a foundry node and make 18A really just an internal node, now that we’ve got seen some real progress there, I think he’s now starting to recognize that this is ‌actually a good node to offer to external customers as well.” Given the soaring demand for chips in general in the face of an ongoing, AI-driven shortage of memory and processors, it is not surprising that Intel might suddenly see that some lesser processes might be profitable now.

New Lawsuit

Last year, Intel made something like history when it sold a 10% stake to the federal government. And this did not sit well with some investors. One such investor, instead of merely selling off his shares in response, filed suit in Delaware’s Chancery Court over the matter, suing not only Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan but also United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The suit specifically targets portions of the stock agreement that offered support for current Intel directors in the event of a board election. With such a bulwark in place, the suit alleges, a successful proxy contest would be largely impossible as the government’s ownership interest would skew votes. How a 10% interest would prevent a proxy election‘s outcome, however, is a bit unclear.

Is Intel a Buy, Hold or Sell?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on INTC stock based on eight Buys, 21 Holds and four Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 119.66% rally in its share price over the past year, the average INTC price target of $48.21 per share implies 6.31% upside potential.

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