Relative Intelligence · Semiconductors
How Intel (INTC) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on INTC alone. It places INTC (Intel Corp.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where INTC stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: INTC's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 22, 2026.
Data as of October 22, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
This page answers the following questions about INTC
Key findings
Not AI-generatedThese key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.
- Right nowINTC has run far ahead of the market, rising 31.0% over the past 6 months against 8.0% for the S&P 500 and 7.8% for the Nasdaq 100. Even so, the slide is INTC's own: it is 39.3% below its high, against 1.9% for the S&P 500. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?Not a move of its own: the semiconductors ETF SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) fell 10.8% over the past 3 months, with AVGO (Broadcom, down 18.4%) and MU (Micron Technology, down 10.7%), while the S&P 500 rose 2.5%. Its semiconductor peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: NVDA (NVIDIA) rose 0.2%, while ARM fell 25.9%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsOver the past year, INTC rose 132% against 15.6% for the S&P 500 and 16.9% for the Nasdaq 100. The same gap shows up over 3 years (157% against 88.4%). It took 12 months for INTC to win back the 70.8% it lost from April 2021 to April 2025. the S&P 500 fell 27.7% over those same dates. By year ↓
- Long termINTC turned $10,000 into $29,900 over the past decade, against $41,600 in the S&P 500. That said, the past 5 years have been the better stretch: INTC rose 87.6% against 80.3% for the S&P 500, after trailing over the decade. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashAcross seven sell-offs, INTC has typically fallen 1.3 times as far as the S&P 500. In the 2022 bear market, INTC fell 54.1%, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. That was more than AVGO (Broadcom, 34.3%) but less than NVDA (NVIDIA, 60.7%). Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, INTC has a correlation of 0.48 over 5 years, more closely than 70% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is some diversification, but not a hedge. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- UMC (United Microelectronics), AVGO (Broadcom) and TSM (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing) earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. UMC returned 18.8% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- ASX (ASE Technology Holding, semiconductors) and HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise, computer hardware) earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. ASX returned 47.3% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%.
How much would $10,000 in INTC have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in INTC over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of INTC over the same span and INTC's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
- $10,000 invested in INTC at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $91,990 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- All eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of INTC, and LRCX finished highest, at $2,488,626.
Choose a period
From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 561 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of INTC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- LRCX$2M+24,786% total · +21.0% a year
- ASML$984,088+9,741% total · +17.1% a year
- MU$629,766+6,198% total · +15.4% a year
- AMAT$594,575+5,846% total · +15.1% a year
- MSFT$508,386+4,984% total · +14.5% a year
- ADI$385,909+3,759% total · +13.4% a year
- AMD$375,764+3,658% total · +13.3% a year
- TXN$277,580+2,676% total · +12.1% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
- INTC$91,990+820% total · +8.0% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 530 of the 3,630 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of INTC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- MU$153,675+1,437% total · +72.7% a year
- DELL$112,363+1,024% total · +62.2% a year
- NVDA$110,811+1,008% total · +61.8% a year
- AVGO$79,117+691% total · +51.2% a year
- AMD$59,452+495% total · +42.8% a year
- MRVL$44,627+346% total · +34.9% a year
- UMC$28,085+181% total · +22.9% a year
- ASML$25,473+155% total · +20.6% a year
- INTC$24,502+145% total · +19.6% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
INTC at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
- INTC is still 39.3% below its all-time high.
- INTC's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 82.2%, from August 2000 to October 2002. It took about 15 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, INTC's best was 2003, when it returned 107%, and its worst was 2024, when it lost 59.6%. It lost money in ten of those years.
The company
- Market value
- $452B
- Industry
- Semiconductors
- Price history from
- October 1986
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +132%total return
- Past 3 years
- +157%+36.9% a year
- Past 5 years
- +87.6%+13.4% a year
- Past 10 years
- +199%+11.6% a year
- Best calendar year
- +107%2003
- Worst calendar year
- −59.6%2024
- Losing years
- 10 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 55.5%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.50return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −82.3%Aug 2000 to Oct 2002
- From its all-time high
- −39.3%below the peak
INTC against the whole market
Where INTC ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does INTC rank among all stocks?
This section ranks INTC on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how INTC stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- INTC's 1-year return ranks in the top 3% of the 3,282 stocks worth at least $300 million with 1 year of history.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | INTC | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +132% | 96 of 3,282 | top 3% |
| 3-year return | +157% | 558 of 3,016 | top 19% |
| 5-year return | +87.6% | 782 of 2,897 | top 27% |
| 10-year return | +199% | 872 of 2,201 | top 40% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 55.5% | 2,136 of 2,897 | bottom 27% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.50 | 932 of 2,897 | top 32% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −70.8% | 1,317 of 2,184 | bottom 41% |
What has beaten INTC on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). INTC sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than INTC with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- 514 stocks and 100 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than INTC over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 17% of the 3,641 screened.
- Among those with at least half INTC's swings, FIX has the best return for its risk: 73.0% a year at 46.9% volatility, 15% less than INTC's 55.5%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.41 against 0.50 for INTC. BELFB earned the most, 75.9% a year, while still swinging less than INTC (52.3% against 55.5%).
- Among INTC's popular alternatives, NVDA, AVGO and TSM are in the region. NVDA earned 56.5% a year against 13.4% a year for INTC, at 51.9% volatility, 6% less than INTC's 55.5%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to INTC; faint dots are 89 more of the 614 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than INTC?
Investments that beat INTC over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among INTC's popular alternatives, UMC, AVGO and TSM earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. UMC returned 18.8% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, ASX (semiconductors) and HPE (computer hardware) earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. ASX returned 47.3% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%.
- Across the whole market, 614 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them NVDA, AAPL and GOOG.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat INTC over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks INTC's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than INTC follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than INTC's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× INTC's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than INTC's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with INTC?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| INTCIntel Corp. · this page | +13.4% | 55.5% | 0.50 | −70.8% | +199% | 1.00 | — | ||
 SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500 | +12.5% | 17.2% | 0.78 | −33.7% | +316% | 0.48 | 0.09% | ||
| Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against INTC. 13 of 20 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 UMCUnited Microelectronics Corporation · Semiconductors | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +18.8% | 43.3% | 0.61 | −54.3% | +1,470% | 0.66 | — | |
 MUMicron Technology, Inc. · Semiconductors | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +67.0% | 57.1% | 1.19 | −57.6% | +5,050% | 0.65 | — | |
 DELLDell Technologies Inc. · Computer Hardware | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +53.8% | 54.5% | 1.06 | −59.6% | +3,613% | 0.33 | — | |
 AMDAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. · Semiconductors | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +33.5% | 57.7% | 0.79 | −65.5% | +7,146% | 0.62 | — | |
 AVGOBroadcom Inc. · Semiconductors | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +46.9% | 44.6% | 1.09 | −48.3% | +2,254% | 0.29 | — | |
 TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited · Semiconductors | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +31.0% | 38.6% | 0.90 | −56.6% | +1,440% | 0.39 | — | |
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Semiconductors and the categories next to it (Semiconductor Equipment, Communications Equipment, Computer Hardware, Electronic Components), plus INTC's specific themes. 44 of 122 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 ASXASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. · Semiconductors | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +47.3% | 43.3% | 1.11 | −52.5% | +883% | 0.68 | — | |
 HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Company · Computer Hardware | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +32.8% | 42.3% | 0.89 | −56.9% | +481% | 0.42 | — | |
 NTAPNetApp, Inc. · Computer Hardware | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +20.6% | 35.3% | 0.71 | −58.1% | +696% | 0.25 | — | |
 AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +19.1% | 28.0% | 0.77 | −38.5% | +1,194% | 0.33 | — | |
 PEverpure, Inc. · Computer Hardware | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +35.6% | 55.1% | 0.83 | −69.4% | +874% | 0.30 | — | |
ATENA10 Networks, Inc. · Communications Equipment | Similar return, lower volatility | +14.2% | 42.8% | 0.53 | −64.0% | +178% | 0.31 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 908 of 3,514 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
 MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +16.1% | 24.8% | 0.73 | −43.4% | +245% | -0.09 | — | |
 LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +41.2% | 32.8% | 1.22 | −34.5% | +1,870% | 0.09 | — | |
NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Health Care Facilities | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes | +31.2% | 28.6% | 1.10 | −35.3% | +385% | 0.30 | — | |
 ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Specialty Pharmaceuticals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +25.5% | 23.4% | 1.09 | −45.1% | +600% | 0.15 | — | |
INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +58.7% | 40.6% | 1.35 | −57.4% | — | 0.00 | — | |
 GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes | +17.1% | 19.0% | 0.93 | −26.4% | +206% | 0.05 | 0.40% | |
 VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +12.6% | 16.9% | 0.79 | −34.0% | +319% | 0.48 | 0.03% | |
 CRWDCrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. · Cybersecurity | Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +27.4% | 52.7% | 0.72 | −67.7% | — | 0.22 | — | |
What these numbers mean for INTC
- Annual return
- INTC returned 13.4% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.5% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $18,800. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- INTC's volatility over the past 5 years was 55.5%, 3.2 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, INTC's return lands within 55.5% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- INTC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.50, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so INTC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- INTC's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 70.8%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 70.8% fall takes a 242% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, INTC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.48 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against INTC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a INTC holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 614 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than INTC with less volatility
Out of 3,641 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with INTC | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +16.1% | 24.8% | 0.73 | −43.4% | +245% | -0.09 | — |
| 2 | LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +41.2% | 32.8% | 1.22 | −34.5% | +1,870% | 0.09 | — |
| 3 | NHCNational HealthCare Corporation · Health Care Facilities | Whole market | +31.2% | 28.6% | 1.10 | −35.3% | +385% | 0.30 | — |
| 4 | ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Specialty Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +25.5% | 23.4% | 1.09 | −45.1% | +600% | 0.15 | — |
| 5 | INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas | Whole market | +58.7% | 40.6% | 1.35 | −57.4% | — | 0.00 | — |
| 6 |  PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc. · Cybersecurity | Whole market | +33.4% | 43.4% | 0.89 | −48.0% | +1,306% | 0.28 | — |
| 7 |  PSXPhillips 66 · Oil Refining | Whole market | +32.7% | 32.9% | 1.03 | −64.2% | +413% | 0.11 | — |
| 8 |  TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +22.4% | 22.3% | 1.02 | −46.3% | +360% | 0.10 | — |
| 9 |  FTNTFortinet, Inc. · Cybersecurity | Whole market | +20.9% | 44.8% | 0.65 | −38.3% | +2,668% | 0.12 | — |
| 10 |  URIUnited Rentals, Inc. · Equipment Rental | Whole market | +25.7% | 39.1% | 0.78 | −63.3% | +1,407% | 0.33 | — |
| 11 | WSMWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. · Specialty Retail | Whole market | +24.8% | 44.4% | 0.72 | −59.7% | +1,298% | 0.22 | — |
| 12 | FFIVF5, Inc. · Cybersecurity | Whole market | +16.7% | 30.8% | 0.66 | −54.6% | +279% | 0.35 | — |
| 13 | FROFrontline Plc · Oil & Gas | Whole market | +53.9% | 49.7% | 1.12 | −52.0% | +1,270% | 0.05 | — |
| 14 | RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated · Insurance | Whole market | +20.5% | 27.3% | 0.82 | −65.8% | +206% | -0.01 | — |
| 15 | EXELExelixis, Inc. · Oncology | Whole market | +25.0% | 35.8% | 0.81 | −57.2% | +478% | 0.23 | — |
| 16 | ASXASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. · Semiconductors | Same or nearby category | +47.3% | 43.3% | 1.11 | −52.5% | +883% | 0.68 | — |
| 17 | HALOHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. · Biotechnology | Whole market | +26.2% | 40.4% | 0.78 | −49.1% | +1,255% | 0.06 | — |
| 18 | CIBRFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF · Cybersecurity | Whole market | +14.5% | 26.2% | 0.65 | −33.9% | +461% | 0.29 | 0.58% |
| 19 |  MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil Refining | Whole market | +50.0% | 33.4% | 1.39 | −79.7% | +1,314% | 0.10 | — |
| 20 | PAGPenske Automotive Group, Inc. · Auto Dealerships | Whole market | +16.5% | 31.8% | 0.64 | −60.0% | +510% | 0.18 | — |
| 21 | HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Company · Computer Hardware | Same or nearby category | +32.8% | 42.3% | 0.89 | −56.9% | +481% | 0.42 | — |
| 22 | VCTRVictory Capital Holdings, Inc. · Asset Management | Whole market | +27.7% | 35.0% | 0.88 | −45.2% | — | 0.11 | — |
| 23 | THGThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +15.2% | 22.9% | 0.73 | −40.1% | +309% | 0.17 | — |
| 24 | LTHLife Time Group Holdings, Inc. · Leisure Facilities | Whole market | +19.6% | 46.6% | 0.62 | −58.4% | — | — | — |
| 25 | GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold | Whole market | +17.1% | 19.0% | 0.93 | −26.4% | +206% | 0.05 | 0.40% |
| 26 | MATXMatson, Inc. · Marine Shipping | Whole market | +23.5% | 39.5% | 0.73 | −53.6% | +554% | 0.19 | — |
| 27 | DHTDHT Holdings, Inc. · Oil & Gas | Whole market | +40.3% | 39.0% | 1.07 | −39.7% | +1,094% | -0.04 | — |
| 28 | TNKTeekay Tankers Ltd. · Marine Shipping | Whole market | +52.2% | 45.1% | 1.16 | −63.4% | +511% | -0.02 | — |
| 29 | NTAPNetApp, Inc. · Computer Hardware | Same or nearby category | +20.6% | 35.3% | 0.71 | −58.1% | +696% | 0.25 | — |
| 30 | HRBH&R Block, Inc. · Tax Preparation | Whole market | +19.2% | 35.0% | 0.67 | −57.7% | +214% | -0.07 | — |
| 31 | CMBTCmb.Tech N.V. · Marine Shipping | Whole market | +25.9% | 42.9% | 0.75 | −57.2% | +448% | 0.09 | — |
| 32 | LPGDorian LPG Ltd. · Marine Shipping | Whole market | +55.8% | 43.6% | 1.24 | −62.9% | +1,827% | 0.06 | — |
| 33 | HURNHuron Consulting Group Inc. · Consulting Services | Whole market | +31.3% | 40.8% | 0.87 | −51.4% | +238% | -0.12 | — |
| 34 | UMCUnited Microelectronics Corporation · Semiconductors | Popular alternative | +18.8% | 43.3% | 0.61 | −54.3% | +1,470% | 0.66 | — |
| 35 | UFPTUFP Technologies, Inc. · Medical Devices | Whole market | +36.5% | 46.0% | 0.91 | −48.3% | +1,009% | 0.13 | — |
| 36 |  RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks | Whole market | +17.5% | 18.2% | 0.98 | −40.0% | +361% | 0.30 | — |
| 37 |  WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs | Whole market | +27.0% | 23.8% | 1.13 | −63.3% | +378% | 0.26 | — |
| 38 | CNXNPC Connection, Inc. · Technology Distribution | Whole market | +16.6% | 29.2% | 0.67 | −41.8% | +286% | 0.27 | — |
| 39 | CASYCasey's General Stores, Inc. · Convenience Stores | Whole market | +30.8% | 29.4% | 1.06 | −36.1% | +560% | 0.20 | — |
| 40 |  CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution | Whole market | +41.7% | 24.7% | 1.54 | −46.1% | +345% | 0.05 | — |
| 41 | UFCSUnited Fire Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +24.6% | 39.1% | 0.76 | −64.5% | +91.7% | 0.25 | — |
| 42 | ATOAtmos Energy Corporation · Gas Utilities | Whole market | +15.9% | 18.5% | 0.90 | −32.9% | +207% | 0.18 | — |
| 43 | CRAKVanEck Oil Refiners ETF · Oil Refining | Whole market | +19.5% | 20.9% | 0.96 | −58.8% | +325% | 0.16 | 0.61% |
| 44 | KRTKarat Packaging Inc. · Packaging | Whole market | +24.4% | 44.1% | 0.72 | −48.4% | — | 0.07 | — |
| 45 |  FIXComfort Systems USA, Inc. · Engineering & Construction | Whole market | +73.0% | 46.9% | 1.41 | −49.7% | +4,888% | 0.34 | — |
| 46 |  GOOGAlphabet Inc. · Internet Services | Whole market | +18.5% | 32.0% | 0.69 | −44.6% | +696% | 0.50 | — |
| 47 | CLMBClimb Global Solutions, Inc. · Technology Distribution | Whole market | +38.4% | 45.5% | 0.94 | −53.4% | +886% | 0.06 | — |
| 48 | RCBCRiver City Bank · Regional Banks | Whole market | +15.3% | 27.2% | 0.66 | −45.5% | +354% | -0.11 | — |
| 49 | ACNBACNB Corporation · Regional Banks | Whole market | +23.0% | 34.4% | 0.77 | −49.7% | +247% | 0.27 | — |
| 50 |  PBRPetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas | Whole market | +52.4% | 37.4% | 1.32 | −75.3% | +647% | -0.01 | — |
| 51 | BWFGBankwell Financial Group, Inc. · Regional Banks | Whole market | +20.3% | 28.5% | 0.79 | −64.7% | +241% | 0.15 | — |
| 52 | IBEXIBEX Limited · Business Services | Whole market | +22.2% | 47.3% | 0.66 | −56.0% | — | 0.18 | — |
| 53 |  WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail | Whole market | +21.1% | 22.6% | 0.97 | −25.7% | +521% | 0.08 | — |
| 54 |  VLOValero Energy Corporation · Oil Refining | Whole market | +43.8% | 36.9% | 1.18 | −71.9% | +1,014% | 0.17 | — |
| 55 |  XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas | Whole market | +27.5% | 26.5% | 1.05 | −61.0% | +216% | -0.11 | — |
| 56 |  JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. · Banks | Whole market | +17.3% | 24.3% | 0.78 | −43.6% | +534% | 0.15 | — |
| 57 |  HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks | Whole market | +32.8% | 25.9% | 1.23 | −62.3% | +314% | 0.17 | — |
| 58 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · Japan Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +415% | 0.19 | 0.48% |
| 59 |  KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages | Whole market | +15.2% | 16.8% | 0.93 | −37.0% | +205% | 0.13 | — |
| 60 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity | Whole market | +16.9% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.14 | 0.40% |
| 61 |  CVXChevron Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas | Whole market | +19.7% | 25.2% | 0.84 | −55.8% | +243% | -0.01 | — |
| 62 |  COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail | Whole market | +17.4% | 22.9% | 0.82 | −31.4% | +692% | 0.12 | — |
| 63 |  CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery | Whole market | +30.7% | 32.0% | 1.00 | −43.4% | +913% | 0.52 | — |
| 64 |  MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks | Whole market | +33.5% | 29.4% | 1.14 | −54.9% | +485% | 0.17 | — |
| 65 |  PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco | Whole market | +21.3% | 23.4% | 0.94 | −42.9% | +240% | 0.09 | — |
| 66 |  NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals | Whole market | +17.4% | 20.7% | 0.89 | −26.8% | +234% | 0.11 | — |
| 67 |  MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution | Whole market | +37.8% | 25.1% | 1.41 | −38.1% | +582% | -0.01 | — |
| 68 |  RTXRTX Corporation · Aerospace & Defense | Whole market | +18.7% | 24.4% | 0.83 | −52.0% | +319% | -0.15 | — |
| 69 |  AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology | Whole market | +20.1% | 24.9% | 0.86 | −24.9% | +280% | 0.09 | — |
| 70 |  GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology | Whole market | +22.8% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | +202% | 0.11 | — |
| 71 |  GSThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. · Capital Markets | Whole market | +19.4% | 28.6% | 0.77 | −48.8% | +524% | 0.25 | — |
| 72 |  TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks | Whole market | +16.5% | 20.0% | 0.87 | −42.0% | +319% | 0.40 | — |
| 73 |  MSMorgan Stanley · Capital Markets | Whole market | +16.2% | 28.9% | 0.67 | −51.3% | +630% | 0.31 | — |
| 74 |  IBMInternational Business Machines Corporation · IT Services | Whole market | +20.1% | 30.2% | 0.76 | −41.1% | +163% | 0.25 | — |
| 75 |  IBKRInteractive Brokers Group, Inc. · Investment Banking & Brokerage | Whole market | +35.3% | 35.5% | 1.03 | −55.1% | +929% | 0.17 | — |
| 76 |  TTETotalEnergies SE · Integrated Oil & Gas | Whole market | +18.8% | 25.8% | 0.80 | −59.6% | +237% | -0.01 | — |
| 77 |  TJXThe TJX Companies, Inc. · Apparel Retail | Whole market | +19.8% | 22.3% | 0.93 | −42.5% | +357% | 0.08 | — |
| 78 |  MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks | Whole market | +33.9% | 30.6% | 1.11 | −45.7% | +343% | 0.25 | — |
| 79 | CIBGrupo Cibest S.A. · Banks | Whole market | +33.5% | 32.9% | 1.04 | −70.4% | +351% | 0.15 | — |
| 80 |  VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF · Technology Equity | Whole market | +18.1% | 26.1% | 0.77 | −35.1% | +753% | 0.56 | 0.09% |
| 81 |  SCCOSouthern Copper Corporation · Copper Mining | Whole market | +30.1% | 40.8% | 0.85 | −55.3% | +915% | 0.23 | — |
| 82 |  SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks | Whole market | +34.0% | 29.4% | 1.15 | −47.6% | +470% | 0.19 | — |
| 83 |  UBSUBS Group AG · Banks | Whole market | +24.9% | 30.4% | 0.89 | −59.8% | +363% | 0.24 | — |
| 84 |  BTIBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. · Tobacco | Whole market | +19.4% | 22.0% | 0.92 | −56.1% | +110% | 0.01 | — |
| 85 |  PGRThe Progressive Corporation · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +21.8% | 25.7% | 0.90 | −30.3% | +849% | 0.01 | — |
| 86 |  VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Rare Disease Therapeutics | Whole market | +23.9% | 29.1% | 0.89 | −41.6% | +580% | 0.03 | — |
| 87 |  CCitigroup Inc. · Banks | Whole market | +15.3% | 29.4% | 0.63 | −56.5% | +234% | 0.32 | — |
| 88 |  MOAltria Group, Inc. · Tobacco | Whole market | +18.3% | 21.4% | 0.90 | −53.7% | +133% | 0.20 | — |
| 89 |  BHPBHP Group Limited · Metals & Mining | Whole market | +15.8% | 31.4% | 0.63 | −44.3% | +373% | 0.28 | — |
| 90 |  CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +256% | 0.06 | — |
| 91 |  PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery | Whole market | +26.0% | 28.9% | 0.95 | −54.7% | +755% | 0.14 | — |
| 92 | DINOHF Sinclair Corporation · Oil Refining | Whole market | +31.8% | 38.8% | 0.91 | −77.3% | +596% | 0.15 | — |
| 93 |  CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks | Whole market | +19.5% | 21.6% | 0.94 | −47.3% | +409% | 0.35 | — |
| 94 |  BNYBank of New York Mellon Corp · Banks | Whole market | +22.8% | 24.4% | 0.97 | −50.5% | +332% | 0.20 | — |
| 95 |  DEDeere & Company · Industrial Machinery | Whole market | +15.1% | 29.9% | 0.62 | −37.9% | +764% | 0.20 | — |
| 96 |  ETNEaton Corporation plc · Electrical Equipment | Whole market | +19.7% | 32.2% | 0.72 | −44.5% | +636% | 0.37 | — |
| 97 |  ITUBItaú Unibanco Holding S.A. · Banks | Whole market | +27.7% | 33.7% | 0.90 | −62.1% | +187% | 0.22 | — |
| 98 |  PWRQuanta Services, Inc. · Engineering & Construction | Whole market | +36.4% | 37.4% | 1.02 | −45.5% | +1,878% | 0.44 | — |
| 99 | THCTenet Healthcare Corporation · Health Care Facilities | Whole market | +30.8% | 45.0% | 0.83 | −71.7% | +1,036% | -0.08 | — |
| 100 |  EEni S.p.A. · Integrated Oil & Gas | Whole market | +23.7% | 25.6% | 0.96 | −61.4% | +283% | 0.03 | — |
INTC against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against INTC, compared period by period and year by year.
How do INTC's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at INTC, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- Nine of the 20 popular alternatives, led by NVDA, DELL and AVGO, were both more rewarding and calmer than INTC over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, INTC returned 13.4% a year, more than the S&P 500's 12.5%, with higher volatility (55.5% against 17.2%).
Green points earned more than INTC with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| MU Micron Technology, Inc. | +67.0% | 57.1% |
| NVDA NVIDIA Corporation | +56.5% | 51.9% |
| DELL Dell Technologies Inc. | +53.8% | 54.5% |
| AVGO Broadcom Inc. | +46.9% | 44.6% |
| LRCX Lam Research Corporation | +34.2% | 50.1% |
| AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | +33.5% | 57.7% |
| TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited | +31.0% | 38.6% |
| MRVL Marvell Technology, Inc. | +28.0% | 65.3% |
| AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. | +23.6% | 47.6% |
| MPWR Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | +18.9% | 55.5% |
| UMC United Microelectronics Corporation | +18.8% | 43.3% |
| ADI Analog Devices, Inc. | +18.6% | 34.2% |
| ASML ASML Holding N.V. | +15.3% | 43.5% |
| INTC This pageIntel Corp. | +13.4% | 55.5% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.5% | 17.2% |
| MSFT Microsoft Corporation | +11.9% | 28.2% |
| TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated | +10.1% | 33.8% |
| ON ON Semiconductor Corporation | +9.8% | 55.9% |
| QCOM QUALCOMM Incorporated | +7.9% | 42.8% |
| NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V. | +5.5% | 42.3% |
| MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated | +2.0% | 45.9% |
| GFS GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. | −1.3% | 51.9% |
Has INTC consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares INTC with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than INTC helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Five of the 21 popular alternatives, led by MU, DELL and MRVL, outperformed INTC in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- MU, DELL and MRVL outperformed INTC in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- MU, NVDA and AVGO earned more for the risk they took than INTC (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than INTC over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| INTC Intel Corp. (this page) | — | −31.0% | −16.7% | +31.0% | +117% | +132% | +157% | +87.6% | +199% | 55.5% | 0.50 | −70.8% | — | $452B | — |
| MU QualifiedMicron Technology, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −21.9% | −10.7% | +75.8% | +172% | +332% | +1,193% | +1,199% | +5,050% | 57.1% | 1.19 | −57.6% | — | $969B | — |
| DELL QualifiedDell Technologies Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −17.4% | +2.7% | +112% | +258% | +205% | +622% | +761% | +3,613% | 54.5% | 1.06 | −59.6% | — | $288B | — |
| MRVL QualifiedMarvell Technology, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −14.8% | +5.9% | +42.1% | +150% | +176% | +360% | +243% | +1,732% | 65.3% | 0.70 | −61.9% | — | $196B | — |
| UMC QualifiedUnited Microelectronics Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −28.1% | −13.0% | +48.4% | +140% | +156% | +185% | +137% | +1,470% | 43.3% | 0.61 | −54.3% | — | $46B | — |
| AMD QualifiedAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −18.6% | −8.0% | +67.4% | +127% | +121% | +408% | +324% | +7,146% | 57.7% | 0.79 | −65.5% | — | $829B | — |
| NVDA SemiconductorsNVIDIA Corporation | 2/5 short3/3 long | −7.3% | +0.2% | +5.0% | +12.6% | +18.0% | +395% | +839% | +12,166% | 51.9% | 1.12 | −66.3% | — | $5.1T | — |
| ASML SemiconductorsASML Holding N.V. | 2/5 short3/3 long | −10.7% | −13.3% | +8.5% | +34.7% | +55.3% | +172% | +104% | +1,527% | 43.5% | 0.55 | −56.9% | — | $601B | — |
| TSM SemiconductorsTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited | 2/5 short3/3 long | −8.8% | −1.8% | +7.0% | +30.0% | +44.2% | +368% | +285% | +1,440% | 38.6% | 0.90 | −56.6% | — | $2.1T | — |
| LRCX SemiconductorsLam Research Corporation | 1/5 short3/3 long | −25.9% | −27.8% | −13.2% | +24.7% | +63.7% | +294% | +335% | +2,542% | 50.1% | 0.84 | −56.4% | — | $288B | — |
| AVGO SemiconductorsBroadcom Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −11.3% | −18.4% | −23.3% | −6.5% | −4.3% | +287% | +585% | +2,254% | 44.6% | 1.09 | −48.3% | — | $1.5T | — |
| MPWR SemiconductorsMonolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −15.3% | −16.4% | −23.0% | +25.4% | +17.4% | +189% | +137% | +1,495% | 55.5% | 0.59 | −51.6% | — | $57B | — |
| AMAT SemiconductorsApplied Materials, Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −20.5% | −32.1% | −6.7% | +40.2% | +71.2% | +186% | +188% | +1,334% | 47.6% | 0.69 | −55.1% | — | $298B | — |
| ADI SemiconductorsAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2/5 short2/3 long | −1.2% | +0.1% | +1.7% | +42.2% | +62.5% | +147% | +135% | +625% | 34.2% | 0.67 | −33.6% | — | $187B | — |
| MSFT Software - InfrastructureMicrosoft Corporation | 2/5 short1/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2% | 0.54 | −37.1% | — | $3.9T | — |
| TXN SemiconductorsTexas Instruments Incorporated | 2/5 short1/3 long | +3.0% | −4.5% | +19.5% | +60.1% | +68.0% | +108% | +61.8% | +413% | 33.8% | 0.45 | −33.4% | — | $255B | — |
| QCOM SemiconductorsQUALCOMM Incorporated | 2/5 short1/3 long | −12.8% | −1.1% | +28.2% | +1.5% | +4.2% | +69.5% | +46.5% | +230% | 42.8% | 0.39 | −44.3% | — | $185B | — |
| ON SemiconductorsON Semiconductor Corporation | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.5% | −20.7% | −17.7% | +29.2% | +41.0% | −12.4% | +59.3% | +506% | 55.9% | 0.45 | −70.4% | — | $29B | — |
| ARM SemiconductorsArm Holdings plc American Depositary Shares | 0/5 short1/3 long | −36.9% | −25.9% | +6.9% | +83.1% | +26.8% | +318% | — | — | — | — | −54.0% | — | $224B | — |
| MCHP SemiconductorsMicrochip Technology Incorporated | 2/5 short0/3 long | −1.7% | −11.8% | −8.7% | +16.5% | +18.5% | +8.0% | +10.5% | +197% | 45.9% | 0.27 | −63.8% | — | $40B | — |
| NXPI SemiconductorsNXP Semiconductors N.V. | 2/5 short0/3 long | +0.1% | −14.3% | +6.2% | +8.9% | +11.4% | +37.5% | +30.4% | +166% | 42.3% | 0.33 | −53.3% | — | $60B | — |
| GFS SemiconductorsGLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. | 1/5 short0/3 long | −9.3% | −25.7% | −27.9% | +18.1% | +26.3% | −19.3% | −6.2% | — | 51.9% | 0.23 | −61.5% | — | $24B | — |
How did INTC do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where INTC ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with INTC and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, INTC finished in the top quarter in five of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in 12. In 2025, it ranked 3 of 22.
- INTC finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 13 of its 29 full calendar years.
- Among its popular alternatives, AVGO came out ahead of INTC most often, in 12 of the 16 years both traded.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of INTC; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places INTC among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of INTC | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC This pageIntel Corp. | — | +84.0% | −59.6% | +94.5% | −46.6% | +6.0% | −14.7% | +30.7% | +4.2% | +30.9% | +8.7% | −2.2% | +44.3% | +30.9% | −12.0% | +19.4% | +6.3% | +43.9% | −43.5% | +34.2% | −17.2% | +8.1% | −26.6% | +107% | −50.3% | +4.9% | −26.9% | +39.1% | +69.0% | +7.4% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 5 of 29 | 3 of 22 | 22 of 22 | 5 of 21 | 18 of 21 | 20 of 20 | 20 of 20 | 18 of 20 | 5 of 20 | 16 of 20 | 18 of 19 | 12 of 19 | 6 of 19 | 14 of 19 | 17 of 19 | 1 of 19 | 10 of 18 | 15 of 17 | 9 of 17 | 3 of 17 | 14 of 17 | 11 of 17 | 15 of 16 | 5 of 16 | 9 of 16 | 10 of 16 | 6 of 13 | 11 of 12 | 4 of 12 | 7 of 11 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 15 of 29 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% | +26.4% | −36.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +28.2% | −21.6% | −11.7% | −9.8% | +20.4% | +28.7% | +33.5% |
| MU Micron Technology, Inc. | 16 of 29 | +240% | −1.0% | +71.9% | −45.9% | +24.2% | +39.8% | +69.5% | −22.8% | +87.6% | +54.7% | −59.5% | +60.9% | +243% | +0.8% | −21.6% | −24.1% | +301% | −63.6% | −48.0% | +4.9% | +7.8% | −8.3% | +38.2% | −68.6% | −12.7% | −8.7% | +53.8% | +94.9% | −10.9% |
| DELL Dell Technologies Inc. | 6 of 9 | +11.2% | +53.0% | +95.9% | −26.6% | +51.3% | +42.6% | +5.1% | +8.6% | +47.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MRVL Marvell Technology, Inc. | 12 of 25 | −22.8% | +83.8% | +63.7% | −57.5% | +84.6% | +80.3% | +65.7% | −23.6% | +56.9% | +60.5% | −37.8% | +2.5% | +102% | −46.7% | −25.3% | −10.6% | +211% | −52.3% | −27.1% | −31.6% | +58.1% | +87.1% | +101% | −47.2% | +63.5% | — | — | — | — |
| UMC United Microelectronics Corporation | 12 of 25 | +28.7% | −19.0% | +39.0% | −40.3% | +43.1% | +232% | +55.4% | −21.9% | +42.2% | −2.7% | −13.2% | +15.2% | +5.7% | −2.8% | −26.9% | −16.8% | +98.2% | −37.7% | −28.9% | +15.3% | −2.2% | −23.6% | +52.9% | −58.0% | +33.7% | — | — | — | — |
| AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +77.3% | −18.1% | +128% | −55.0% | +56.9% | +100.0% | +148% | +79.6% | −9.3% | +295% | +7.5% | −31.0% | +61.3% | −55.6% | −34.0% | −15.5% | +348% | −71.2% | −63.1% | −33.5% | +39.0% | +47.8% | +131% | −59.3% | +14.8% | −4.6% | −0.2% | +63.3% | −31.1% |
| NVDA NVIDIA Corporation | 17 of 26 | +38.9% | +171% | +239% | −50.2% | +125% | +122% | +76.4% | −30.8% | +82.5% | +228% | +67.1% | +27.4% | +33.5% | −11.0% | −10.0% | −17.6% | +131% | −76.3% | +37.9% | +102% | +55.2% | +1.6% | +102% | −82.8% | +308% | +39.6% | — | — | — |
| ASML ASML Holding N.V. | 18 of 29 | +55.8% | −7.7% | +39.9% | −30.5% | +64.1% | +66.3% | +93.2% | −9.7% | +56.5% | +27.9% | −17.1% | +16.2% | +46.9% | +19.7% | +10.4% | +13.2% | +90.9% | −41.4% | +22.3% | +22.7% | +26.1% | −20.6% | +140% | −51.0% | −24.4% | −40.5% | +273% | −9.7% | +171% |
| TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited | 17 of 28 | +55.7% | +92.0% | +41.8% | −37.0% | +11.7% | +91.6% | +63.3% | −4.3% | +37.9% | +31.2% | +4.9% | +31.1% | +4.5% | +37.7% | +7.3% | +14.9% | +52.9% | −16.1% | −4.3% | +18.9% | +27.1% | −4.2% | +56.7% | −54.8% | +39.5% | −51.0% | +290% | +13.4% | — |
| LRCX Lam Research Corporation | 20 of 29 | +139% | −6.9% | +88.6% | −40.7% | +53.7% | +64.2% | +119% | −24.4% | +75.1% | +35.3% | +1.5% | +46.5% | +51.0% | −2.5% | −28.5% | +31.9% | +84.1% | −50.7% | −14.6% | +41.6% | +23.5% | −10.5% | +199% | −53.4% | +59.7% | −61.0% | +527% | −39.1% | +4.0% |
| AVGO Broadcom Inc. | 12 of 16 | +50.6% | +110% | +104% | −13.3% | +56.5% | +45.0% | +29.0% | +2.2% | +48.2% | +23.6% | +46.1% | +93.4% | +70.0% | +12.0% | +3.0% | +55.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MPWR Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 14 of 21 | +54.4% | −5.5% | +79.8% | −27.8% | +35.5% | +107% | +54.8% | +4.5% | +38.2% | +30.1% | +30.0% | +44.9% | +55.6% | +54.9% | −8.8% | −31.1% | +90.1% | −41.3% | +93.3% | −25.9% | +61.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +59.6% | +1.1% | +68.0% | −37.5% | +83.6% | +43.3% | +89.9% | −34.9% | +59.8% | +75.7% | −23.5% | +43.7% | +58.6% | +10.2% | −21.9% | +3.0% | +40.4% | −42.1% | −2.6% | +3.8% | +5.4% | −23.8% | +72.3% | −35.0% | +5.0% | −39.7% | +197% | +41.7% | +67.9% |
| ADI Analog Devices, Inc. | 17 of 29 | +29.8% | +8.8% | +23.4% | −4.9% | +21.0% | +26.9% | +41.3% | −1.6% | +25.3% | +35.0% | +2.4% | +12.2% | +24.7% | +21.2% | −2.4% | +22.7% | +71.5% | −38.0% | −1.5% | −6.7% | −1.9% | −18.7% | +91.4% | −46.2% | −13.3% | +10.1% | +197% | +13.3% | +8.9% |
| MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 19 of 29 | +15.6% | +12.9% | +58.2% | −28.0% | +52.5% | +42.5% | +57.6% | +20.8% | +40.8% | +15.1% | +22.7% | +27.5% | +44.3% | +5.8% | −4.5% | −6.5% | +60.5% | −44.4% | +20.8% | +15.8% | −1.0% | +9.2% | +6.2% | −22.0% | +52.8% | −62.9% | +68.4% | +115% | +56.5% |
| TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated | 20 of 29 | −4.5% | +13.1% | +6.4% | −9.9% | +17.5% | +31.7% | +39.6% | −7.2% | +46.8% | +36.7% | +5.1% | +25.1% | +46.3% | +7.9% | −8.8% | +27.0% | +72.0% | −52.8% | +17.0% | −9.8% | +30.7% | −15.9% | +96.6% | −46.2% | −40.8% | −1.8% | +126% | +90.7% | +42.3% |
| QCOM QUALCOMM Incorporated | 14 of 29 | +13.8% | +8.3% | +35.1% | −38.6% | +22.3% | +77.1% | +60.8% | −7.6% | +1.1% | +35.1% | −30.6% | +2.3% | +22.4% | +14.9% | +12.3% | +9.0% | +31.1% | −7.6% | +5.5% | −11.3% | +2.5% | +58.3% | +49.1% | −28.0% | −38.5% | −53.3% | +2,621% | +6.4% | +27.2% |
| ON ON Semiconductor Corporation | 14 of 25 | −14.1% | −24.5% | +33.9% | −8.2% | +108% | +34.3% | +47.7% | −21.1% | +64.1% | +30.2% | −3.3% | +22.9% | +16.9% | −8.7% | −21.9% | +12.0% | +159% | −61.7% | +17.3% | +36.9% | +21.8% | −29.9% | +373% | −33.8% | −60.6% | — | — | — | — |
| ARM Arm Holdings plc American Depositary Shares | 1 of 2 | −11.4% | +64.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated | 19 of 29 | +14.6% | −34.9% | +30.9% | −18.0% | +27.5% | +33.7% | +48.1% | −16.7% | +39.5% | +41.6% | +6.3% | +4.0% | +42.4% | −7.1% | +10.3% | +24.6% | +57.8% | −34.8% | −0.7% | +4.4% | +22.6% | −19.9% | +36.8% | −5.1% | +76.5% | −27.9% | +85.0% | +23.6% | −11.6% |
| NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V. | 10 of 15 | +6.4% | −8.0% | +48.4% | −29.2% | +44.8% | +26.6% | +75.7% | −37.0% | +19.5% | +16.3% | +10.3% | +66.3% | +74.5% | +71.2% | −26.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| GFS GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. | 2 of 4 | −18.6% | −29.2% | +12.4% | −17.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How INTC has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were INTC's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents INTC's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
- In all three of INTC's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: INTC fell 70.8% from April 2021 to April 2025, while the S&P 500 rose 27.7%.
- The slowest recovery came after INTC fell 82.2% from August 2000 to October 2002; it did not regain that peak until March 2018, 15 years later.
Green means INTC fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | INTC fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dot-com bust | −82.3% | −45.7% | Aug 2000 | Oct 2002 | 2.2 years | Mar 2018 | 15.4 years |
| 2022 bear market | −70.8% | +27.7% | Apr 2021 | Apr 2025 | 4 years | Apr 2026 | 12 months |
| No named crash | −57.0% | — | Oct 1987 | Oct 1987 | Under a month | Mar 1990 | 2.4 years |
| No named crash | −43.2% | — | Jul 1990 | Oct 1990 | 3 months | Mar 1991 | 5 months |
| No named crash | −41.9% | −2.0% | Jun 2026 | Jul 2026 | 1 month | Not yet | — |
How did INTC do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far INTC, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
- Among its popular alternatives, UMC held up best, falling less than INTC in five of the nine crashes they both traded through.
- INTC fell less than the S&P 500 in four of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the late-2018 sell-off, when INTC fell 13.0% and the S&P 500 fell 19.3%.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than INTC.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC This pageIntel Corp. | — | −1.0% | −54.1% | −33.5% | −13.0% | −6.7% | −19.7% | −16.2% | −0.9% | −55.2% | −82.3% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 3 of 10 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| MU Micron Technology, Inc. | 1 of 10 | −5.3% | −49.6% | −42.5% | −36.6% | −8.8% | −49.4% | −46.5% | −2.0% | −84.2% | −87.8% |
| DELL Dell Technologies Inc. | 1 of 5 | −5.7% | −43.6% | −45.9% | −28.6% | −7.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| MRVL Marvell Technology, Inc. | 2 of 9 | −12.0% | −56.8% | −31.6% | −26.1% | −7.5% | −37.6% | −23.1% | 0.0% | −74.3% | — |
| UMC United Microelectronics Corporation | 5 of 9 | −2.0% | −51.0% | −17.1% | −36.2% | −4.4% | −16.6% | −24.9% | 0.0% | −63.0% | — |
| AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 1 of 10 | −3.9% | −60.1% | −34.3% | −48.9% | −9.9% | −40.0% | −41.5% | 0.0% | −87.6% | −93.3% |
| NVDA NVIDIA Corporation | 0 of 10 | −5.0% | −60.7% | −37.5% | −55.9% | −8.5% | −25.3% | −23.8% | −1.7% | −85.1% | −89.7% |
| ASML ASML Holding N.V. | 1 of 10 | −2.9% | −48.4% | −37.9% | −24.4% | −7.5% | −22.1% | −17.7% | −2.7% | −64.1% | −90.0% |
| TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited | 4 of 10 | −3.9% | −54.3% | −23.3% | −21.4% | −9.3% | −13.2% | −15.7% | 0.0% | −48.0% | −82.4% |
| LRCX Lam Research Corporation | 0 of 10 | −3.3% | −55.1% | −43.7% | −22.9% | −9.5% | −20.5% | −20.1% | −2.2% | −73.3% | −87.9% |
| AVGO Broadcom Inc. | 3 of 8 | −2.8% | −34.3% | −46.8% | −15.2% | −4.5% | −21.6% | −26.7% | 0.0% | — | — |
| MPWR Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 3 of 9 | −5.1% | −39.7% | −27.9% | −21.4% | −9.8% | −18.1% | −32.0% | −5.4% | −72.3% | — |
| AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. | 1 of 10 | −3.6% | −54.2% | −43.6% | −26.4% | −9.7% | −18.8% | −24.5% | −1.6% | −61.7% | −82.0% |
| ADI Analog Devices, Inc. | 1 of 10 | −2.6% | −22.6% | −33.6% | −18.1% | −7.2% | −22.7% | −18.6% | −1.2% | −55.0% | −82.0% |
| MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 5 of 10 | −2.0% | −31.0% | −27.7% | −18.2% | −7.4% | −14.4% | −14.1% | −2.6% | −57.9% | −62.9% |
| TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated | 3 of 10 | −2.6% | −21.7% | −29.8% | −19.5% | −9.3% | −18.4% | −21.6% | −1.3% | −61.4% | −85.4% |
| QCOM QUALCOMM Incorporated | 3 of 10 | −5.6% | −41.5% | −32.2% | −26.8% | −6.6% | −30.7% | −19.2% | −0.5% | −48.0% | −84.9% |
| ON ON Semiconductor Corporation | 2 of 9 | −6.4% | −34.0% | −59.6% | −23.7% | −12.2% | −39.2% | −28.5% | 0.0% | −80.0% | — |
| MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated | 4 of 10 | −3.8% | −35.3% | −49.0% | −25.9% | −14.4% | −18.6% | −12.7% | −0.4% | −55.2% | −58.7% |
| NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V. | 2 of 7 | −4.2% | −38.8% | −52.0% | −27.4% | −4.0% | −35.5% | −39.8% | — | — | — |
| GFS GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. | 1 of 2 | −5.1% | −50.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does INTC move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares INTC with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- 15 of the 19 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than INTC's 0.98, led by DELL, UMC and AVGO.
- DELL took just 43% of the S&P 500's losses, against 100% for INTC, while still keeping 154% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, INTC captured 98% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 100% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.43. Its share of the market's losses was slightly larger than its share of the gains.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than INTC's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC This pageIntel Corp. | 98% | 100% | 0.98 | 1.43 |
| DELL Dell Technologies Inc. | 154% | 43% | 3.59 | 1.13 |
| UMC United Microelectronics Corporation | 133% | 52% | 2.56 | 1.33 |
| AVGO Broadcom Inc. | 158% | 86% | 1.85 | 1.19 |
| TSM Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited | 138% | 75% | 1.84 | 1.15 |
| MU Micron Technology, Inc. | 204% | 114% | 1.79 | 1.75 |
| NVDA NVIDIA Corporation | 248% | 140% | 1.77 | 1.83 |
| LRCX Lam Research Corporation | 183% | 104% | 1.75 | 1.56 |
| AMAT Applied Materials, Inc. | 152% | 97% | 1.58 | 1.51 |
| MPWR Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. | 156% | 107% | 1.46 | 1.31 |
| MRVL Marvell Technology, Inc. | 167% | 116% | 1.44 | 1.68 |
| AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | 254% | 179% | 1.42 | 2.25 |
| MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 127% | 91% | 1.39 | 0.96 |
| ASML ASML Holding N.V. | 170% | 132% | 1.29 | 1.44 |
| ADI Analog Devices, Inc. | 117% | 92% | 1.26 | 1.20 |
| TXN Texas Instruments Incorporated | 113% | 108% | 1.04 | 1.18 |
| ON ON Semiconductor Corporation | 161% | 185% | 0.87 | 1.95 |
| QCOM QUALCOMM Incorporated | 115% | 139% | 0.83 | 1.51 |
| MCHP Microchip Technology Incorporated | 127% | 170% | 0.75 | 1.72 |
| NXPI NXP Semiconductors N.V. | 115% | 157% | 0.73 | 1.63 |
What diversifies INTC?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with INTC's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing INTC with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in INTC into MCK would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 20% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+19.6% for INTC alone, +26.6% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of INTC over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.19 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- FIX made money in seven of the ten calendar years in which INTC lost money.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which INTC lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% INTC and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2024 | 2022 | 2020 | 2015 | 2012 | 2008 | 2006 | 2004 | 2002 | 2000 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC Intel Corp. (this page) | 1.00 | +87.6% | 0.50 | −59.6% | −46.6% | −14.7% | −2.2% | −12.0% | −43.5% | −17.2% | −26.6% | −50.3% | −26.9% | 72.2% | +19.6% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.14 | +119% | 1.48 | +15.9% | +3.8% | −9.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58.0% | +22.5% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.19 | +225% | 1.34 | +29.8% | +6.0% | +3.9% | +7.7% | +19.6% | −20.8% | — | — | — | — | 58.3% | +24.5% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.17 | +103% | 1.06 | +33.4% | +10.4% | −13.4% | −25.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58.3% | +22.1% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.20 | +86.8% | 1.03 | +14.2% | +7.0% | −6.5% | −0.3% | +9.6% | — | — | — | — | — | 58.4% | +21.4% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.34 | +83.6% | 0.95 | +13.4% | −5.1% | +2.1% | +4.1% | +20.9% | — | — | — | — | — | 58.5% | +21.6% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.03 | +178% | 0.94 | +5.6% | +64.4% | −32.7% | −21.5% | +5.2% | −39.0% | +18.0% | +33.8% | −14.8% | +24.4% | 58.1% | +24.3% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.05 | +120% | 0.93 | +26.7% | −0.8% | +24.8% | −10.7% | +6.6% | +4.9% | +22.6% | — | — | — | 58.0% | +23.0% |
| DFIV InternationalDimensional - International Value ETF | 0.25 | +99.4% | 0.93 | +7.2% | −3.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58.6% | +22.1% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2024 | 2022 | 2020 | 2015 | 2012 | 2008 | 2006 | 2004 | 2002 | 2000 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC Intel Corp. (this page) | 1.00 | +87.6% | 0.50 | −59.6% | −46.6% | −14.7% | −2.2% | −12.0% | −43.5% | −17.2% | −26.6% | −50.3% | −26.9% | 72.2% | +19.6% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.05 | +471% | 1.54 | +19.0% | +54.1% | +10.1% | +12.6% | +3.8% | −39.6% | −5.8% | −4.7% | −8.3% | +108% | 58.2% | +27.0% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.38 | +2,780% | 1.43 | +215% | +1.3% | −2.4% | −6.0% | +11.2% | −20.5% | −26.0% | −6.4% | −65.1% | −2.3% | 63.1% | +38.9% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | -0.01 | +397% | 1.41 | +23.7% | +51.8% | +27.1% | −4.5% | +25.6% | −40.4% | −1.2% | −1.4% | −27.2% | +61.2% | 57.9% | +26.6% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.34 | +1,452% | 1.41 | +107% | +17.0% | +6.7% | +67.7% | +15.7% | −15.2% | +38.9% | +40.0% | −9.4% | −71.1% | 61.3% | +35.3% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.10 | +660% | 1.39 | −4.0% | +86.6% | −27.4% | +17.4% | +94.3% | — | — | — | — | — | 58.7% | +29.2% |
Common questions
What was INTC's worst drawdown?
INTC's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 82.2%, from August 2000 to October 2002. It took about 15 years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were INTC's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, INTC's best year was 2003, when it returned 107%. Its worst was 2024, with a return of -59.6%.
Is there a better investment than INTC?
Among INTC's popular alternatives, UMC, AVGO and TSM earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. UMC returned 18.8% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, ASX (semiconductors) and HPE (computer hardware) earned more than INTC with less volatility over the past 5 years. ASX returned 47.3% a year at 43.3% volatility, against 13.4% a year at 55.5%.
Is INTC more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. INTC's volatility over the past 5 years was 55.5%, 3.2 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, INTC's return lands within 55.5% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is INTC's Sharpe ratio?
INTC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.50, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so INTC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is INTC with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, INTC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.48 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against INTC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a INTC holding.
What are the best alternatives to INTC?
Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, five outperformed INTC in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: MU, DELL and MRVL.
Did INTC outperform the S&P 500?
INTC finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 13 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +84.0%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did INTC do in stock market crashes?
INTC fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in four of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in three. The clearest case was the late-2018 sell-off, when INTC fell 13.0% and the S&P 500 fell 19.3%.
What diversifies INTC?
These had a low correlation with INTC over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.14), DXJ (correlation 0.19) and EMLP (correlation 0.17); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.05), CLS (correlation 0.38) and MCK (correlation -0.01). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than INTC's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of INTC's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
MRVL
NVDA
ASML
LRCX
MPWR
AMAT