Intel Surges 3.76% on CEO's White House Meeting Amid Trump's Resignation Demand

Summary
• Intel (INTC) surges 3.76% to $20.70, paring 2025 losses after CEO Lip-Bu Tan's reported White House meeting
• Trump's Truth Social post demanding Tan's resignation sparks market volatility
• Options volume spikes 300% on August 15 expiration contracts
• Sector peers like AMD and NVIDIA show muted gains as focus remains on Intel's political entanglements

Intel's dramatic intraday rally defies broader semiconductor sector trends as CEO Lip-Bu Tan navigates Trump administration scrutiny. With the stock trading at its highest level since March, the $20.70 price tag reflects both political theater and strategic positioning ahead of critical manufacturing decisions. The $21.595 intraday high suggests short-term bulls are capitalizing on the geopolitical narrative, while the $20.44 low underscores lingering uncertainty.

White House Meeting Sparks Trump-Driven Volatility
Intel's 3.76% surge stems directly from President Trump's Truth Social demand for CEO Lip-Bu Tan's resignation over alleged Chinese business ties. The stock's 5% intraday rebound follows last week's 5% plunge, as Tan's White House meeting aims to address concerns about his prior role at Cadence Design Systems, which settled $140 million in China-related charges. With Trump's 100% chip tariff threat looming, Tan's ability to secure manufacturing commitments for Intel Foundry Services could determine the stock's near-term trajectory. The $20.70 level now represents a critical psychological threshold for maintaining year-to-date gains.

Semiconductor Sector Mixed as AMD Outperforms
While Intel's 3.76% gain captures headlines, the broader semiconductor sector shows mixed momentum. AMD (AMD) trades 0.23% higher, reflecting its stronger position in U.S.-friendly manufacturing. NVIDIA (NVDA) remains under pressure from Chinese regulatory scrutiny, down 0.11% despite its dominant AI chip market share. The sector's 0.18% gain lags behind the S&P 500's 0.24% performance, highlighting investor caution around geopolitical risks. Intel's leveraged ETF (INTW) surges 7.27%, outpacing the sector's average 2.8% gain.

Options Playbook: Capitalizing on Volatility with INTC20250815C21.5 and INTC20250822C21
• 200-day MA: $21.66 (below current price) • RSI: 24.02 (oversold) • MACD: -0.65 (bearish) • Bollinger Bands: $18.31–$24.54 • Kline pattern: Short-term bearish

Key levels to monitor include the $21.50 resistance (52W high at $27.55) and $20.16 support (200D MA). With the leveraged ETF INTW surging 7.27%, aggressive traders may consider the INTC20250815C21.5 and INTC20250822C21 options for short-term plays. The 5% upside scenario to $21.79 would yield 180% and 94% returns on these contracts, respectively.

• INTC20250815C21.5: Call option with 60.77% IV, 71.43% leverage, delta 0.3159, theta -0.1058, gamma 0.2414, turnover $5.1M
• INTC20250822C21: Call option with 49.15% IV, 33.41% leverage, delta 0.4629, theta -0.0625, gamma 0.2152, turnover $1.68M

INTC20250815C21.5 offers optimal leverage (71.43%) with moderate delta (0.3159) for a 5% price move. The 60.77% IV suggests strong conviction in volatility, while the -0.1058 theta indicates rapid time decay. High gamma (0.2414) ensures sensitivity to price swings. Projected payoff: $0.69 (ST=$21.79) vs. $0.50 (K=$21.50).

INTC20250822C21 provides balanced exposure with 49.15% IV and 0.4629 delta. The -0.0625 theta offers slower decay, while 0.2152 gamma ensures responsiveness. Projected payoff: $0.79 (ST=$21.79) vs. $0.70 (K=$21).

Aggressive bulls should consider INTC20250815C21.5 into a break above $21.50, while conservative traders may target INTC20250822C21 for a measured rally.

Backtest Intel Stock Performance
Intel's stock performance showed a mixed short-term reaction to the 4% intraday surge on August 11, 2025:1. Short-Term Gains Potential: The stock's 3-day win rate was 47.13%, with a maximum return of 0.15%. This suggests that while there was potential for gains in the initial days, the overall performance lacked momentum.2. Lack of Momentum: The 10-day win rate was 48.44%, with the same maximum return, indicating that although there was potential for short-term gains, the stock did not sustain momentum.3. Technical Indicators: The stock traded above its 200-day moving average of $21.66, yet relative strength index (RSI) at 24.02 and moving average convergence divergence (MACD) at -0.65 signaled unresolved bearish pressure.4. Options Activity: The surge was primarily driven by speculative call option buying, with significant price jumps in the options chain, indicating short-term bullish bets.In conclusion, while Intel's stock showed potential for short-term gains following the 4% intraday surge, the lack of sustained momentum and the bearish technical indicators suggest that investors should exercise caution. The stock's performance in the immediate aftermath of the surge was mixed, with a slight increase in the 3-day win rate but a similar 10-day win rate, indicating that while there was potential for gains, the stock did not experience significant momentum.

Watch for $21.50 Breakout or Trump's Next Move
Intel's 3.76% rally hinges on Tan's ability to secure Trump's approval and restart U.S. manufacturing. The $21.50 level represents both technical resistance and psychological significance. With AMD (AMD) leading the sector with 0.23% gains, investors should monitor Trump's tariff timeline and Intel's Foundry Services commitments. A sustained break above $21.50 could trigger a 20% rebound toward the 52W high, while a retest of $20.16 would signal renewed bearishness. Position sizing should reflect the leveraged ETF INTW's 7.27% surge as a volatility proxy. Immediate action: Buy INTC20250815C21.5 if $21.50 holds.