Quick verdict: ADI vs INTC in 2026

In a head-to-head comparison for 2026, Analog Devices (ADI) emerges with a significant lead over Intel Corporation (INTC), demonstrating superior financial health and growth momentum. ADI stands out as the clear growth leader and the preferred choice among analysts, showcasing much stronger margins and a more favorable outlook in terms of potential upside. While INTC may present a lower price-to-book valuation, its struggles with profitability and revenue contraction make ADI the more robust contender across most key metrics. Not investment advice.

ADI vs INTC: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of ADI and INTC across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-04-30.

ADI vs INTC valuation comparison

When conducting an ADI vs INTC valuation comparison, both companies present complex pictures. Analog Devices (ADI) trades at a significant premium with a P/E ratio of 70.31x, reflecting market confidence in its earnings power and growth prospects. Its price-to-book (P/B) ratio stands at 5.63x, indicating investors are willing to pay a premium over its book value. In contrast, Intel (INTC) currently sports a negative P/E ratio of -151.74x, a stark indicator of its recent unprofitability. However, its P/B ratio is lower at 4.32x, which might initially suggest a more attractive valuation from a book value perspective.

Delving deeper into discounted cash flow (DCF) models reveals further insights into the ADI vs INTC fundamentals and valuation. According to our DCF analysis, ADI is estimated to be overvalued by approximately 39.4% with a fair value of $235.79 compared to its current price of $389.31. Intel’s DCF analysis paints an even more concerning picture, indicating a substantial overvaluation of 92.1% with a fair value of $7.5 against its current price of $94.75. While INTC’s P/B ratio is nominally lower, its negative earnings and extremely poor DCF suggest a far more challenged valuation profile, making ADI appear relatively less overvalued, despite its high P/E.

ADI vs INTC growth comparison

In the critical area of growth, Analog Devices (ADI) demonstrates significantly stronger momentum compared to Intel Corporation (INTC) in this adi vs intc stock comparison 2026. ADI reported a robust year-over-year revenue growth of +16.9%, highlighting its ability to expand its top line effectively within its market segments. This indicates healthy demand for its analog, mixed-signal, and DSP technologies across industrial, automotive, communications, and consumer applications. Such consistent expansion is a key driver for investor interest and future performance.

Conversely, Intel has faced challenges, with its revenue growth showing a contraction of -0.5% year-over-year. This stagnation reflects the ongoing difficulties in its core PC and data center markets, alongside intense competition and significant investments in foundry operations that are yet to bear full fruit. While INTC’s larger revenue base of $52.85B overshadows ADI’s $11.02B, ADI’s superior growth rate suggests a company better positioned for future expansion and market share gains. ADI’s impressive gross margin of 62.84% and EBITDA margin of 46.99% further underscore its efficient operational performance and strong pricing power, contrasting sharply with INTC’s 35.43% gross margin and 21.21% EBITDA margin.

ADI vs INTC profitability

Examining ADI vs INTC profitability reveals a stark difference in their financial health. Analog Devices (ADI) demonstrates strong profitability with a healthy net margin of 23.02%, indicating its efficient management of costs relative to revenue and its ability to convert sales into substantial earnings. This strong performance is a hallmark of a well-managed technology company operating in specialized, high-value segments. The ability to generate significant profit per dollar of sales is a key indicator for long-term shareholder value creation.

Intel, on the other hand, reports a concerning net margin of -5.9%, signifying that the company is currently operating at a loss. This negative profitability is a major red flag for investors and reflects the substantial restructuring and capital expenditure required to regain its technological edge. Furthermore, ADI’s free cash flow (FCF) yield of 2.4% shows it effectively generates cash from its operations, providing flexibility for investments, debt reduction, or shareholder returns. In contrast, INTC’s FCF yield of -0.66% indicates that it is burning cash, a financially unsustainable position in the long run without significant operational improvements. Both companies report N/A for Return on Equity (ROE), preventing a direct comparison on that specific metric.

Analyst ratings: ADI vs INTC

When assessing analyst sentiment for adi vs intc stock comparison 2026, there is a clear preference among professional analysts. Of the 54 analysts covering Analog Devices (ADI), an impressive 79.6% have issued a ‘Buy’ rating, leading to a strong consensus of ‘Buy’. This widespread positive outlook suggests confidence in ADI’s business model, market position, and future earnings potential. Their collective price target for ADI is $374.42, which, while indicating a slight downside of -3.8% from its current price of $389.31, reflects a relatively stable and highly regarded stock.

Intel (INTC) receives a less enthusiastic reception from the analyst community. Out of 83 analysts, only 34.9% recommend a ‘Buy’ for INTC, resulting in a ‘Hold’ consensus. This cautious stance highlights ongoing concerns about Intel’s turnaround strategy and its ability to compete effectively in the evolving semiconductor landscape. The consensus price target for INTC is $74.82, implying a significant potential downside of -21.0% from its current price of $94.75. This indicates that analysts believe INTC is currently overvalued given its operational challenges, making ADI the clear favorite among financial professionals based on current recommendations and target price outlooks.

Should I buy ADI or INTC stock in 2026?

For investors prioritizing growth in their portfolio, the question of should I buy ADI or INTC stock in 2026 leans heavily towards Analog Devices. ADI’s robust revenue growth of 16.9% year-over-year, combined with its exceptional net margin of 23.02% and EBITDA margin of 46.99%, clearly positions it as a growth leader. The company demonstrates strong market capture and operational efficiency, making it attractive for those seeking expanding top and bottom lines. Its strong analyst support and relatively stable price target further solidify its appeal for growth-oriented strategies.

The landscape for value investors, however, presents a more nuanced challenge. While Intel (INTC) boasts a lower price-to-book ratio of 4.32x compared to ADI’s 5.63x, suggesting it might be ‘cheaper’ on that metric, its negative P/E ratio of -151.74x and negative net margin of -5.9% raise significant concerns about its underlying value and future earnings power. Our DCF analysis also suggests a severe overvaluation for INTC, even more so than ADI, which also shows a significant negative upside. Therefore, despite a lower P/B, INTC’s current fundamentals make it a high-risk proposition for traditional value plays, whereas ADI’s high P/E signifies it is priced for growth, not value.

For income-focused investors, neither stock offers a compelling dividend yield. ADI provides a token dividend yield of 0.01%, while INTC currently offers 0%. Therefore, neither company is a suitable choice if your primary goal is generating substantial dividend income. In conclusion, for most investors looking at the adi vs intc fundamentals and valuation in 2026, ADI appears to be the more financially sound and growth-oriented investment, offering better profitability and stronger analyst confidence. This is not investment advice; always conduct your own thorough research.

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