Intel just stunned the market. Q1 2026 adjusted EPS came in at $0.29 — 29x above the consensus of $0.01. Revenue hit $13.6B (+7% YoY), beating estimates by $1.2B. Data Center & AI (DCAI) revenue surged 22% YoY to $5.1B. Shares jumped 20% after-hours to an all-time high.
Why it matters for Korean investors: Intel's data center CPU resurgence is directly tied to the agentic AI transition. As AI workloads shift from training (GPU-dominant) to inference and agentic tasks (CPU-intensive), Intel CPUs are regaining critical status. Google has committed to multi-generational Intel CPU contracts for its AI workloads — a key validation.
The HBM connection: Intel's AI accelerators (Gaudi series) use SK Hynix HBM3E. As Intel's data center footprint expands, SK Hynix — which commands ~57% of the global HBM market (TrendForce, Q1 2026) — stands to benefit most. Samsung, at ~17% share, has HBM4 in early ramp and is targeting share recovery in H2 2026. AMD's Q4 2025 data center revenue was $5.4B (+39% YoY), creating a competitive AI CPU market that diversifies HBM demand sources.
Bottom line: The structural link between Intel's AI CPU demand and Korean HBM suppliers is real. Timing is key — agentic AI server adoption is expected to accelerate in H2 2026~2027, meaning HBM orders will materialize 2-3 quarters from now. Position accordingly.
For the full analysis in Korean, visit Snakestock
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