On CNBC, Jim Cramer highlighted Intel's impressive performance, noting a 7.8% gain that brought its share price above the previous record of $140.95. With a staggering 285% increase year-to-date, Intel ranks as the third-best performer in the S&P 500 for 2026.
Cramer emphasized the growing importance of Intel's CPUs in the AI landscape, particularly as the focus shifts from training large language models, which rely on Nvidia's GPUs, to the inference tasks that require CPUs. He believes that CPUs are becoming increasingly valuable in the era of agentic AI systems.
Cramer also pointed out Intel's competitive edge in chip manufacturing, which is crucial for addressing industry production shortages. CEO Lip-Bu Tan's efforts to revitalize Intel's foundry business are seen as vital, especially in light of the U.S. government's interest in domestic semiconductor production.
Cramer concluded that Intel is currently the top stock in the market, reflecting strong confidence in its future prospects