Stock Markets May 18, 2026 05:31 AM

Citi Forecasts Server CPU Market to Reach $132 Billion by 2030

Agentic CPUs expected to lead expansion as Citi lifts price targets on Intel and AMD

By Marcus Reed INTC AMD

Citi has released a new total addressable market model for server CPUs, forecasting the sector will swell to $132 billion by 2030 from $29.3 billion in 2025, a 35% compound annual growth rate. The firm expects agentic CPU applications to expand fastest, and has raised price targets on Intel and AMD based on the updated model and related industry developments.

Citi Forecasts Server CPU Market to Reach $132 Billion by 2030
INTC AMD

Key Points

  • Citi predicts the server CPU total addressable market will reach $132 billion by 2030, up from $29.3 billion in 2025, a 35% CAGR.
  • Agentic CPU applications are expected to grow fastest at a 185% CAGR to $59.4 billion by 2030, while general purpose CPUs and AI head nodes are forecast to reach $50.9 billion and $21.1 billion respectively.
  • Citi raised price targets on Intel and AMD - to $130 and $460 respectively - reflecting higher data center sales estimates and product-specific opportunities; Intel's Mount Evans IPU and AMD's MI450 accelerator tied to Anthropic are cited.

Citi has rolled out an updated server CPU total addressable market model that projects the market will grow to $132 billion by 2030, up from $29.3 billion in 2025 and implying a 35% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the period.

The analysis divides the market into three segments: general purpose CPUs, AI head nodes, and agentic CPU applications. According to the model, agentic CPUs are the fastest-growing segment, forecast to expand at a 185% CAGR and to reach $59.4 billion by 2030, accounting for 45% of the overall market at that time. General purpose CPUs are projected to grow at a 20% CAGR to $50.9 billion, while AI head nodes are expected to increase at a 21% CAGR to $21.1 billion.

Looking at vendor share, Citi projects that by 2030 Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) will command 47% of the server CPU market, with Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) holding 34%, and ARM and other competitors together making up the remaining 19%.

Drawing on the updated TAM model and related industry developments, Citi raised its price target on Intel to $130. The firm cited higher data center sales estimates and potential upside from Intel’s ASIC business, pointing in particular to Intel’s Mount Evans IPU, which the research note says is being used by Google and Anthropic.

Citi also increased its price target for AMD to $460, raising its data center sales projections consistent with the revised CPU market outlook. The analysts stated that, based on industry discussions, they believe AMD has secured Anthropic as a customer for its MI450 AI accelerator and that an announcement is expected at AMD’s Advancing AI day in July.

The research team characterizes AMD as a potential primary beneficiary of what it calls a CPU renaissance, highlighting the company’s performance leadership and its capacity allocation at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).


These projections and corporate outlook adjustments are grounded in Citi’s new TAM model and conversations within the industry. The research note links expanded data center sales forecasts and specific product deployments to the revised view of the server CPU opportunity.

Risks

  • The forecasts rely on Citi’s TAM model and assumptions underpinning the projected CAGRs and segment growth rates - actual outcomes may differ if model inputs change. This affects semiconductor and data center equipment markets.
  • The expectation that AMD has secured Anthropic as a customer for the MI450 is based on industry discussions and an anticipated announcement at AMD’s Advancing AI day in July, making this outcome uncertain. This impacts AI accelerator demand and cloud/AI service suppliers.
  • Market share estimates for 2030 (Intel 47%, AMD 34%, others 19%) are projections and subject to competitive shifts and technology adoption patterns, which could influence vendor revenue and data center procurement strategies.

More from Stock Markets

India's global capability centres temper hiring amid AI disruption and geopolitical caution May 18, 2026 HSBC Elevates Shell and Repsol to Buy as Cash Flow and Price Assumptions Improve May 18, 2026 Rupiah Sinks to Record Low as Stocks and Yields Slump on Post-Holiday Selloff May 18, 2026 NextEra Shares Slip as Reported Dominion Talks Spotlight Deal Mechanics and Market Headwinds May 18, 2026 Baidu Shares Lifted by Q1 Beat and AI Revenue Milestone May 18, 2026