Intel Shares Gain on Rumors of Major Apple Partnership and Institutional Backing

A potential strategic shift appears to be underway at Intel, fueled by growing speculation of a landmark supply agreement with Apple and significant institutional investment. Market sentiment is turning increasingly positive as concrete analyst reports and substantial capital flows converge.

Capital movements underscore the building confidence in Intel's trajectory. Notably, Norges Bank initiated a new position valued at approximately $1.58 billion. In a separate move, Jump Financial LLC increased its stake by 26.2% during the second quarter of 2025, bringing its holdings to 1.82 million shares worth over $40 million. Institutional investors now control 64.53% of the company's outstanding shares, a clear signal of accumulating belief in CEO Pat Gelsinger's turnaround plan, particularly the substantial investments in its foundry operations.

Analyst Reports Point to Apple Deal

The most significant catalysts stem from detailed analyst commentary. According to industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to utilize Intel as a manufacturer for chips in its Mac product line, starting with entry-level models in the M-series. Another analyst, Jeff Pu, suggests an even broader scope, with Intel potentially supplying components for base-model iPhones starting in 2028, manufactured using its 14A process technology. These reports indicate Apple's desire to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on its current exclusive partner, TSMC. While official confirmations from the involved companies are pending, the market is increasingly pricing in a high probability for this collaboration.

Upcoming "Battlemage" GPU Generation Emerges

Separate from its foundry ambitions, Intel is generating attention in the graphics sector. On December 6, the Arc "Battlemage" BMG-G31 GPU appeared in an update to the VTune Profiler software—a typical precursor to an imminent product announcement, likely targeting CES 2026. Leaked specifications for the presumed B770 variant include:
* Architecture: Approximately 32 Xe2 cores
* Memory: 16 GB of GDDR6
* Memory Interface: 256-bit bus
* Interface: PCIe 5.0 x16

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Intel?

The launch is expected to coincide with the "Panther Lake" processors (Core Ultra 3), representing a coordinated product push for the upcoming fiscal year.

Financial Foundation Shows Strength

Recent quarterly results have provided fundamental support. Against expectations of losses, Intel reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.23. Revenue reached $13.65 billion. Furthermore, the company secured around $7 billion in fresh capital, partly from strategic partners including SoftBank and Nvidia, to finance its factory expansions in Arizona and Ohio.

Analyst ratings remain mixed, with 70.2% recommending "Hold," 19.1% advising "Sell," and only 10.6% advocating "Buy." However, recent developments suggest the market is evaluating Intel's strategic prospects more optimistically than the analyst consensus. A confirmed partnership with Apple could reposition Intel as a serious contender in the contract manufacturing arena—a field long dominated by Asian competitors—for the first time in years.