INTC vs SOXX Stock Comparison
SOXX currently leads INTC in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 36 vs 30. The clearest difference is quality, while INTC has the stronger momentum profile.
What is the main difference between INTC and SOXX?
SOXX leads the current stock comparison as iShares Semiconductor ETF, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Intel Corp. vs iShares Semiconductor ETF
SOXX leads
SOXX leads by 6 AIQ points, primarily on Quality, but the lead has narrowed from 10 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 2 of 4 evidence groups support SOXX, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Intel Corp.
iShares Semiconductor ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors SOXX over INTC, 36 versus 30 as of Oct 21, 2026. SOXX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality, while INTC holds the stronger momentum profile. SOXX also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor SOXX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. SOXX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 10 to 6 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Intel Corp. and iShares Semiconductor ETF across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare INTC and SOXX against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality39 vs 70SOXX +31
- Momentum21 vs 15INTC +6
- Risk Resilience29 vs 23INTC +6
- Value30 vs 25INTC +5
2 of 4 evidence groups favor SOXX. SOXX’s edge is concentrated in quality; INTC keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Risk Resilience +1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
SOXX's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — INTC and SOXX both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality.
INTC (Intel Corp.): the counter-case, on momentum, risk resilience, value — but at materially higher volatility, 46.6% against 30%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
SOXXSOXX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
INTCINTC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points.
Momentum
INTCINTC on the Momentum factor, by 6 points.
Lower downside
INTCINTC on Risk Resilience, by 6 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | INTC | SOXX | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +18.2% | — | Level |
| Target dispersion | +122.9% | — | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | — | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 27 | — | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor SOXX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | SOXX | 30 vs 36 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | INTC | Value 30 vs 25 |
| Technicals | SOXX | Price vs 50-day -9.6% vs -4.8%; vs 200-day 7.8% vs 6.5% |
| Risk Resilience | INTC | Risk Resilience 29 vs 23 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of INTC and SOXX and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 6 points.
- Only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on SOXX.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20SOXX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 10 to 6 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- SOXX +6
- 30 vs 36
- 7 sessions ago
- SOXX +5
- 30 vs 35
- 30 sessions ago
- SOXX +10
- 43 vs 53
- 90 sessions ago
- SOXX +8
- 42 vs 50
The lead changed hands 3 times in this window, most recently on Sep 18 when SOXX moved ahead of INTC.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
INTC and SOXX carry the same 5 signals, so the signals do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode, Keltner Channel Breakdown, RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce, MACD Bearish Crossover.
SOXX leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +1.39%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +2.07%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1INTC closes the Quality gap — currently 31 points behind, the largest single contributor to SOXX's edge.
- 2INTC's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it.
- 3SOXX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 4 points over 30 sessions, and a further 6-point move would eliminate SOXX's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
Split| Metric | INTC | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 18.8% | — |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -195.9% | — |
| Gross margin | 38.9% | — |
| Operating margin | 0.1% | — |
| Return on equity (TTM) | -10.8% | — |
| Debt to equity | 0.58 | — |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | INTC | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -10.8% | -8.1% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -26% | -12.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -10.7% | -10% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 38.4% | 18.9% |
| Year to date | 148.5% | 66% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 148.9% | 73.9% |
Technicals
SOXX has the stronger structure| Metric | INTC | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 16.4 | 24.2 |
| ADX (14) | 23.3 | 22 |
| Price vs 50-day | -9.6% | -4.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | 7.8% | 6.5% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 46.6% | 30% |
Risk
INTC is the more resilient| Metric | INTC | SOXX |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 3.08 | 2.62 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.5 | 1.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.73 | 1.97 |
| Max drawdown | -41.9% | -29% |
| Current drawdown | -34.9% | -23.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 77.8% | 46% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -6.2% | -4.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, INTC or SOXX?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, SOXX is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 36 against INTC's 30. The edge comes from quality. INTC is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is INTC or SOXX the better buy right now?
SOXX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor SOXX over INTC?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. SOXX leads Quality by 31 points; INTC leads Momentum by 6 points; INTC leads Risk Resilience by 6 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, INTC or SOXX?
Analyst price targets imply +18.2% upside for INTC and not covered for SOXX. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, INTC or SOXX?
INTC is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. INTC on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, INTC or SOXX?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, INTC or SOXX?
INTC on the Momentum factor, by 6 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, INTC or SOXX?
INTC is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. INTC on Risk Resilience, by 6 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is INTC more profitable than SOXX?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is SOXX's lead over INTC getting stronger or weaker?
SOXX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 10 to 6 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 3 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-18, when SOXX moved ahead of INTC.
What would change the INTC vs SOXX verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: INTC closes the Quality gap — currently 31 points behind, the largest single contributor to SOXX's edge; INTC's Keltner Channel Breakdown resolves — a bearish volatility rule currently active against it; SOXX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 4 points over 30 sessions, and a further 6-point move would eliminate SOXX's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about INTC and SOXX?
INTC: 2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. SOXX: 2 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on INTC is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On SOXX it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.