Intel's Google Foundry Deal Could Reignite Stock Growth
💡 Key Takeaway
Intel's reported multi-million chip order from Google for 2028 is a significant validation of its foundry turnaround, potentially justifying its premium valuation through future earnings growth.
What Happened: Intel's Foundry Lands a Potential Mega-Order
Intel's stock has been on a wild ride, soaring over 427% in the past year before pulling back more than 16% from its May high. The recent dip was fueled by concerns over its expensive valuation, potential competition from Nvidia, and a broader semiconductor sector slowdown.
A new report from The Information, via Reuters, suggests a major catalyst could reverse this trend. Alphabet's Google has reportedly placed an order with Intel's foundry unit to manufacture over three million of its custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in 2028.
Google's TPUs are in high demand from AI companies like Anthropic and Meta for data center inference workloads, creating a supply crunch. With leading foundry TSMC warning of prolonged capacity shortages, Google is looking to Intel as an alternative manufacturer.
The momentum doesn't stop with Google. The report also notes that Nvidia is evaluating Intel's advanced 18A manufacturing process for a potential future processor. This follows existing Intel foundry deals with Tesla for its Terafab project and reported talks with Apple.
Why It Matters: Validating the Turnaround Story
This news matters because it directly addresses a core investor concern: whether Intel's costly foundry expansion can attract major clients. Securing a giant like Google is a powerful endorsement of Intel's manufacturing technology and competitive positioning.
Intel's foundry business is already a substantial part of the company, generating $5.4 billion (40% of total revenue) in Q1 2026 and growing 16% year-over-year. Adding Google, and potentially others, provides a visible, long-term revenue stream that can supercharge this growth engine.
For the stock, this deal offers a narrative to support its high valuation (141x forward earnings). If Intel can consistently land such flagship customers, it can grow into its premium multiple through faster-than-expected earnings growth beyond 2028.
The broader implication is a shift in the semiconductor landscape. Intel is positioning itself as a viable alternative to TSMC for advanced AI chip manufacturing, which could reduce supply chain concentration and create new competitive dynamics in the years ahead.
Source: The Motley Fool
Analysis generated by Bobby AI quantitative model, reviewed and edited by our research team. This is not financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
Bobby Insight
Hold Intel for the long-term; the foundry momentum is real and justifies patience.
The Google deal is a tangible sign that Intel's $100-billion-plus foundry bet is starting to pay off, directly addressing growth concerns. While the stock is expensive, securing flagship customers provides a credible path for it to grow into its valuation through sustained earnings expansion beyond 2028.
What This Means for Me
