$AMD vs $INTC: Intel's +230% Surge in the AI Chip Landscape AMD has become one of the market's strongest AI-chip performers, with shares roughly tripling over the past year and a market capitalization now around $1 trillion. INTC has staged a dramatic turnaround, gaining more than 230% year-to-date in 2026 on resurgent data-center CPU (central processing unit) demand and its foundry strategy. Both stocks are being lifted by the same AI infrastructure cycle, but AMD's story is anchored in high-margin GPU (graphics processing unit) and server CPU growth, while Intel's is a lower-margin manufacturing revival. AMD trades at a much higher earnings multiple, while Intel's valuation has also stretched rapidly, leaving both stocks priced for significant future growth. Relative performance is close in recent weeks, but the two companies carry very different risk profiles and catalysts.