Finance

Intel Set to Move Higher: No-Cost Options Play Outlined

CNBC Pro outlines a no-cost options strategy betting on Intel's upside after an earnings beat but softer forward guidance. The plan combines a bull put spread with a long call to target gains beyond about $52.50 while defining downside near $45.

📅 January 23, 2026
⏱️ 2 min read
Intel Set to Move Higher: No-Cost Options Play Outlined

Key Takeaways

  • Intel beat revenue and EPS but guided lower for the year, creating a mix of a rally potential and near-term headwinds.
  • A no-cost trade combines a short 3/20/2026 $45 put, a long 3/20/2026 $40 put, and a long 3/20/2026 $52.50 call with net zero cost.
  • Intel has surged roughly 150% since January 2025, underpinning the trade’s upside thesis.
  • Government subsidies and policy backdrop are cited—CHIPS Act funding and a government stake—but exact figures remain contested and require independent verification.

People Involved

  • Jeff KilburgCNBC Pro Author

Entities Involved

  • Intel Corporation (INTC)Semiconductor company
  • CNBC ProPublication/Analysis arm of CNBC

MarketMoodz Analysis

The no-cost structure offers investors a defined-risk, defined-upside way to express a bullish view on Intel in a volatile name. With the stock hovering around the mid-40s, the combination of a short 45 put, a long 40 put, and a long 52.50 call creates a pathway to profits if Intel can push through the 52.50 level by the 3/20/2026 expiry, while the maximum loss remains capped near the 45/40 spread.

The backdrop includes AI demand tailwinds and policy support for domestic chipmaking, but several figures cited in the piece require independent verification. Government funding figures for CHIPS Act subsidies and stakes around 8.9 billion and 9.9% are contested and should be checked against DoD/DOE and Intel disclosures. Investors should view this as a policy-backed, but not risk-free, upside lever.

Historically, semis trades have shown that policy incentives can amplify rallies but profitability concerns—such as Intel Foundry Services not being profitable in Q4 2025—can snap gains. Watch for Q4 results, foundry profitability updates, and any new government funding milestones, as these will shape luck and risk on the name ahead of the 2026 expiry.

Source: Original Article

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