Published on January 22, 2026
In Global Tech

Why Everything at Intel Now Rides on 18A’s Success

Can advanced nodes such as 18A validate Intel’s manufacturing competitiveness and offset costs?

By Siddharth Jindal

Intel has been through tough times—it lost its dominance in the semiconductor industry, had to go through a painful restructuring and massive layoffs, suffered a $18.8-billion loss in 2024, and watched its stock struggle for years. But now, something exciting is happening. Shares of Intel gained over 11% on Wednesday after HSBC and Seaport Research Partners raised their ratings on the chipmaker, drawing investor attention ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings report due after market close on January 22. The stock has gained about 33.5% since late December, rising from around $36 on December 26 to over $54 apiece on January 21 on NASDAQ. Investor focus is now on CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s turnaround strategy, including cost cuts, progress in the foundry business, and upcoming product launches. Central to that effort is Intel’s 18A, a cutting-edge, 2nm semiconductor process node expected to play a significant role in reviving its manufacturing capabilities and attracting AI PC and

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Siddharth Jindal

Siddharth is a media graduate who loves to explore tech through journalism and putting forward ideas worth pondering about in the era of artificial intelligence.