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Intel stock closed at $61.72 on Thursday, a gain of +2.77 (+4.70%) , after touching an intraday high of $62.08. The stock has now climbed 58.9% year-to-date and hit its highest close in nearly five years. Trading volume remained elevated as investors rushed to price in back-to-back partnership wins. Intel Stock Rally 2026: How Elon Musk’s terafab initiative is boosting INTC Intel stock made a huge move on Wednesday, up 11.4%. In yesterday’s trading session, Intel stock closed at $58.95, its highest close in nearly five years, and extended a six-day winning streak. Intel’s shares have climbed an impressive 43.1% in the last six trading sessions. So, what’s behind such outsized gains? Apart from the temporary ceasefire agreement in the Middle East, optimism surrounding the company’s latest partnership with Elon Musk’s Terafab initiative lifted Intel’s stock price. Intel will join Musk’s effort to develop semiconductors for Tesla Inc., SpaceX, and xAI, a move that has significantly bolstered investor sentiment. The two companies aim for a balanced approach to AI system design that improves utilization and reduces complexity. Intel and Google partnership 2026: How Xeon chips are powering the next wave of AI infrastructure On Thursday, the chipmaker announced that Alphabet Inc.'s Google has committed to using future generations of its Xeon processors. As part of the multiyear agreement, Google will customize Intel's infrastructure processing units (IPUs), which handle networking, security, and storage. The deal underscores a broader industry shift: central processing units (CPUs), Intel's hallmark products are increasingly seen as critical to AI computing. While Nvidia's processors remain the workhorses for training AI models, there is growing demand for general-purpose CPUs to orchestrate workloads and handle inference. This collaboration enables a more balanced approach to AI system design, one that improves utilization, reduces complexity and scales more efficiently said Intel and Google in a joint statement. US-Iran ceasefire impact on semiconductor stocks: Why Intel is rising despite oil price volatility Adding to the bullish backdrop, the temporary US-Iran ceasefire has calmed global markets and eased fears of a wider Middle East conflict. While Intel's supply chain is less directly exposed than oil or defense stocks, the broader risk-on rally has amplified gains across the semiconductor sector. However, the truce remains fragile. Oil has already bounced from $91 to $98 per barrel, suggesting markets doubt the ceasefire will hold. Any escalation could reintroduce supply chain jitters, though Intel's domestic manufacturing footprint offers some insulation. Intel stock key technical levels to watch: Support: $50.14 This level, aligning with the 9-period Moving Average , serves as the primary floor for the current parabolic move. Invalidation: $47.36 As long as the price stays above the 21-period Moving Average , the multi-year breakout remains technically valid. Resistance: $61.72 The stock is currently trading at its peak; a sustained hold here suggests the rally has further room to run toward psychological barriers. Next target: $64.00 If momentum continues, the stock has clear air to test these decade-high territories as technical indicators like the MACD remain bullish. Conclusion: A new chapter for Intel Intel is no longer just a comeback story, it is becoming a must-watch name in AI infrastructure. With Google committing to Xeon and Musk betting on Intel's manufacturing muscle, the company has secured two of the most valuable endorsements in tech. The stock's 58.9% year-to-date gain reflects that optimism. But with the ceasefire fragile and execution risks real, investors must decide whether this is the start of a sustained recovery or a sprint that has already gone too far. How are the Google and Musk deals affecting Intel? The Google commitment validates Intel's Xeon roadmap for AI data centers, while the Musk partnership opens a high-profile door into Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI semiconductors, together driving a 43% rally in six sessions. What are the biggest risks to Intel's stock right now? The primary risks include a fragile US-Iran ceasefire that could reintroduce market volatility, execution challenges on both new partnerships, and renewed competition from AMD and in-house chip designs from hyperscalers. What is the current analyst rating for Intel? Intel has transformed from a turnaround story to a momentum play, but investors should watch for sustained execution. The stock's 58.9% year-to-date gain reflects growing confidence in CEO Lip-Bu Tan's strategy.