Intel appears to be closing in on a plan to break up the company, lining up outside investment to split its chip design business from its semiconductor manufacturing arm. The chipmaker’s stock has been rising steadily since analyst and news reports began emerging last week that Intel was talking about selling parts of its business to other chip companies.

INTC stock is racing 9% higher today on the hope of a breakup. Its shares were up over 23% last week, and had been even higher before closing lower on Friday. Yet shares remain 45% below their 52-week high and its valuation lags far behind Nvidia.