Intel up 178% in 2026 while semiconductor stocks slide

Bloomberg reported July 23 that Intel shares had gained 178% year-to-date as of mid-2026, nearly tripling in under seven months. The rally places Intel among the best-performing large-cap stocks globally, even as the broader semiconductor complex came under pressure from anxiety over AI capital expenditure. The magnitude points to company-specific catalysts rather than sector-wide tailwinds, though the data does not identify a driver.