Intel stock jumps on Nvidia’s $5B stake, what it means

TL;DR:
- Nvidia said it will invest $5 billion in Intel on Sep 18, 2025. Intel shares jumped over 20 percent on the news.
- The firms plan to co-develop PC and data center chips.
- Markets hit records as Intel rallied.
- Watch foundry execution and Q3 guidance next
On September 18, 2025, Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in Intel, paired with a collaboration to develop multiple generations of AI infrastructure and personal computing products. The news sent Intel’s stock sharply higher into September 19 trading in Asia. Major U.S. indexes also closed at or near records as the chip rally lifted markets.
Intel Corp. (INTC)
$30.57
+$5.66(+22.71%)September 18
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The key details
Deal size and price. Nvidia plans to buy Intel common stock worth $5 billion at $23.28 per share.
Strategic scope. The two companies will co-develop custom data center silicon and next-gen PC platforms. Intel said the work spans AI infrastructure and consumer chips, including integrating Nvidia technologies into future x86 SoCs.
Market reaction. Intel’s stock jumped more than 20 percent after the announcement, while Nvidia gained a few percent. U.S. markets notched fresh highs the same day.
Why it moved
Investors read the deal as near-term funding support and long-term product validation for Intel, which has struggled with losses and heavy foundry investments. The collaboration may also help Intel’s client PC roadmap by adding Nvidia graphics IP to upcoming chips, improving competitiveness against AMD.
What this means for Intel
Balance sheet and confidence. A strategic buyer paying billions signals confidence during a capital intensive transition. That can lower perceived risk and cost of capital.
Foundry implications. While the partnership highlights product co-development, Nvidia still relies on TSMC for leading-edge manufacturing. Intel must prove it can win external wafer volume at competitive yields and cost.
Ohio build and policy backdrop. Intel’s large Ohio fab project remains costly and politically important. The company has said construction continues, with more than $1 billion planned in 2025 spending. Delays could risk incentive clawbacks, raising pressure to execute.
What this means for Nvidia
Nvidia secures optionality in CPU and PC platforms while reinforcing its AI systems stack. A minority stake gives visibility into a major supplier-partner without changing TSMC dependence in the near term.
What to watch next
Earnings and guidance. Intel reported Q2 2025 revenue of about $12.9 billion with a net loss and compressed margins on July 24, 2025. The next catalyst is Q3 commentary and any early signs of collaboration milestones.
Foundry customers. Any external customer wins, wafer starts, or node updates would be material to the thesis.
PC roadmap. Look for concrete timelines on x86 SoCs with Nvidia RTX features, plus OEM design wins.
Background, fast
Intel is pivoting under its IDM strategy while investing in U.S. fabs. The Ohio project underscores national policy aims around domestic chipmaking, but cost and timing remain headwinds.
Why it matters
This is a rare tie-up between the AI leader and a legacy CPU giant. It could reshape the PC experience and parts of data center silicon, while buying Intel time to fix manufacturing. For investors, it shifts near-term sentiment and raises the bar on delivery.
Sources:
- Reuters, Wall Street indexes notch record-high closes as Intel soars on Nvidia stake, https://www.reuters.com/business/sp-500-nasdaq-futures-hit-record-highs-after-fed-cuts-rates-intel-soars-2025-09-18/, 2025-09-18
- Intel Newsroom, Intel and NVIDIA to Jointly Develop AI Infrastructure and Personal Computing Products, https://newsroom.intel.com/artificial-intelligence/intel-and-nvidia-to-jointly-develop-ai-infrastructure-and-personal-computing-products, 2025-09-18
- Barron’s, Intel Stock Soars 24% After Nvidia Invests in Chip Maker, https://www.barrons.com/articles/intel-stock-nvidia-investment-6d48eb61, 2025-09-18
- Intel IR, Intel Reports Second-Quarter 2025 Financial Results, https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1745/intel-reports-second-quarter-2025-financial-results, 2025-07-24
- The Columbus Dispatch, ‘On life support’: Intel’s Ohio project update, https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2025/09/05/intel-ohio-semiconductor-manufacturing-plant/85936972007/, 2025-09-05
- Morningstar (Dow Jones), Nvidia’s Intel Deal Boosts Sentiment, https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/2025091970/emea-morning-briefing-nvidias-intel-deal-boosts-sentiment, 2025-09-19