Intel Corp. surged in late trading after predicting a return to sales growth in the fourth quarter, fueled by an improving personal computer market and a more competitive product line.

Sales in the period will be $14.6 billion to $15.6 billion, Intel said in a statement Thursday, compared with an average analyst estimate of $14.4 billion. Excluding certain items, profit will be 44 cents a share. Analysts had projected 31 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.