Intel stock doubled after a lawmaker responsible for AI policy bought in
Intel (INTC), the once-dominant chipmaker whose processors helped define the personal-computer era, emerged as one of Wall Street’s strongest performers in 2025.
The rally has drawn attention not only for its speed, but also for its timing, coinciding with stock purchases by a U.S. lawmaker involved in shaping artificial intelligence policy.
After bottoming near $19 a share in early August, Intel’s stock has surged more than 100%, placing it among the top performers in the technology sector over the past year.
However, Intel’s rally also overlaps with a stock purchase by Representative Tim Moore, who acquired shares on Aug. 1, according to data compiled by Quiver Quantitative.
Moore sits on the U.S. House Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence, which oversees policy issues related to AI development, regulation, and national competitiveness.
“INTC has now risen 103% since his Aug. 1 purchase,” Quiver wrote in a Jan. 2 note. The stock now has a market cap of about $187 billion.
While Moore’s purchase came amid early signs of an operational turnaround at Intel, it has also raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, given his role in shaping policy for strategically sensitive industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
As InvestorsObserver reported in December, well-timed congressional trades are increasingly drawing scrutiny, as patterns appear less coincidental and more deliberate.
The trend has fueled broader public distrust in U.S. politicians, driven by concerns over transparency and the perception that lawmakers may benefit financially from the policies they help shape.
Intel trading activity puts spotlight on Congressional disclosures
According to data compiled by Quiver Quantitative, Moore reports a net worth of approximately $6.9 million and has completed roughly 200 trades, with his most recent transaction disclosed on Dec. 16.
The Charlotte Observer, a major regional newspaper covering North Carolina politics and government, reported that Moore has actively traded Intel shares around key corporate and policy developments.
The outlet noted that during the Trump administration’s controversial move last year to acquire a stake in Intel, Moore’s public disclosures showed that he bought shares in the company and later sold significant portions shortly before the deal became public.
A spokesperson for Moore disputed any suggestion of impropriety. “He has never traded on any inside information and never will,” Moore’s representative, Grace Davis, told the Observer.
While Moore’s knowledge of the matter may be debated, it’s clear that the Trump administration has prioritized Intel as a strategic asset in its push to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
This comes at a time when the administration is attempting to reduce reliance on foreign chipmakers and secure U.S. leadership in advanced computing.