** Shares in Intel INTC.O down 1.4% on Thursday ahead of Q2 report, due after market close with investors anxious to see if the company's progress in AI and its turnaround efforts will justify its blistering share price rally for the year-to-date

** Wall Street analysts see the chipmaker reporting adj EPS of $0.21 vs $0.10 year-ago on rev of $14.42 bln vs $12.86 bln year-ago, which at 12% would be its fastest growth rate in six years, according to LSEG data

** In the last eight quarters INTC's EPS and revenue beat seven times with both missing in Q2 2024

** Behind estimates are expectations for a demand rebound for Intel's central processors that are increasingly used to help power AI agents. Their focus will also be on potential new customers for the company's contract manufacturing business

** INTC shares last traded at $101.13 vs median PT of $100, up from $90 a month ago, as per LSEG, which shows 48 analyst ratings: 3 "strong buy," 10 "buy," 32 "hold," and 3 "sell"

** YTD, the stock is up ~174% vs a ~15% gain for the S&P 500 technology index .SPLRCT and a ~74% advance for the Philadelphia semiconductor index .SOX