Intel has been on a parabolic rise, and its third-quarter earnings report confirmed the return of the bruised former chip champion. With this stock under the beloved technology name up nearly 100% annually, you’ll want to increase your current long position in Intel using a risk-defining options strategy. The battered chipmaker brought in a new CEO, Lip Vu Tan, earlier this year to help it regain ground in a market currently dominated by Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Taiwan Semi (TSM). President Trump did hint at the CEO’s resignation, but quickly made a 180-degree turn after the CEO visited the White House. This proved to be a strategic and prudent meeting, as the stock has nearly doubled since then. I have a long-term view that Intel is an essential name to the US economy and have owned Intel in the Essential 40 Stock ETF (ESN). After enduring several years of name slump and uncertainty, the reason for continuing to own Intel was its ability to manufacture chips on U.S. soil. With additional injections and influence (external investments from SoFi, Nvidia, and the US government), Intel’s stock price has risen in recent months, and I believe the lagging chipmaker is well on its way to recovery. Intel, which has about 5% of Nvidia’s market capitalization, is likely to grow beyond 2026 as it plans to increase reshoring and chip manufacturing. INTC 1D Mountain Intel, 1-day CPI falls lower than expected, paving the way for the Fed to cut rates two more times before the ball drops in Times Square The use of options has never been more important, as all major US indexes – Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 – hit new all-time highs this morning. Trade (Purchase Call Spread) INTC 11/21/25 Buy $40 Call for $2.35 INTC 11/21/25 Sell $45 Call for $1.10 This debit spread costs the investor $1.25 per lot, or $125 This trade will not close if Intel trades above $41.25. It was executed when INTC was trading around $40. Disclosure: Kilberg is long INTC and is also long this call spread. All opinions expressed by CNBC Pro contributors are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, its parent or affiliate companies, and may have been previously disseminated on television, radio, the Internet, or another medium. The above is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice or a recommendation to purchase any securities or other financial assets. The Content is general in nature and does not reflect any individual’s unique personal circumstances. The above may not be appropriate for your particular situation. Before making any financial decisions, you should strongly consider seeking the advice of your own financial or investment advisor. Click here for full disclaimer.
