Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan addressed traders with a candid admission on Thursday, saying he is “disenchanted that we’re not capable of absolutely meet the demand in our markets.” The chip big reported a fourth-quarter lack of $333 million and warned of additional losses forward because it grapples with provide shortages and heavy spending to ramp up manufacturing.The Santa Clara-based firm’s income fell 3.9% year-over-year to $13.7 billion, lacking analyst expectations. Intel shares plunged greater than 12% in after-hours buying and selling as traders absorbed the disappointing outcomes and a dark first-quarter forecast calling for income between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion.
Provide chain errors and foundry struggles proceed to plague Intel
CFO David Zinsner pointed to “industrywide provide shortages” weighing on outcomes, but additionally acknowledged Intel’s personal missteps. The corporate underestimated demand for CPUs from AI information facilities, and is now scrambling to buy gear to supply extra wafers. The availability crunch will worsen within the first quarter earlier than enhancing later in spring, Zinsner mentioned.Intel’s foundry division stays a big drag, posting billions in losses. CEO Tan known as out disappointing fabrication yields—the proportion of usable chips from every wafer—saying enhancements are a key objective for 2026. The corporate additionally disenchanted analysts by offering no updates on prospects for its next-generation 14A manufacturing know-how, stating it will not spend money on manufacturing unit capability till securing a buyer dedication.
Intel’s turnaround wager faces execution headwinds regardless of authorities help
Regardless of current momentum—Intel shares had surged greater than 150% over 5 months following authorities funding and a brand new partnership with Nvidia—the corporate continues making what analysts name “unforced errors.” The primary laptops carrying Intel’s new 18A chips went on sale in January, and traders are watching adoption of those “Panther Lake” processors as a crucial indicator of whether or not the turnaround is working.“We’re on a multiyear journey. It would take time and resolve,” Tan instructed analysts on the earnings name. With a market cap above $200 billion regardless of flat income development and ongoing losses, Intel’s valuation suggests traders have already priced in success—making execution stumbles all of the extra pricey.









