Intel (INTC) Gains as Cost-Cutting Measures Offset Q3 Losses

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) posted a significant 7% gain in the equities market despite underperforming on net income in its Q3 report. The chip giant’s challenges have been exacerbated by fierce competition from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and NVIDIA, especially in the AI and high-performance computing spaces. Intel’s struggles with an ailing PC market, stagnant foundry growth, and escalating costs were reflected in its Q3 net loss of $0.46 per share, far below the projected $(0.03).

Over the last quarter, Intel made strategic moves to curb its financial losses. This included suspending its dividend and initiating a 15% headcount reduction. These aggressive cost-cutting measures have helped the company trim excess expenses, notably reducing capital expenditures (CapEx) by over 20% from earlier forecasts. Intel has also restructured its portfolio, incorporating edge business into its Client Computing Group and focusing its Network and Edge segment on telecommunications.

Intel’s Q3 results also featured a 9% revenue boost for its Data Center and AI (DCAI) division, bringing in $3.3 billion—a stark contrast to AMD’s triple-digit growth in the same space. While Intel’s foundry business encountered an 8% drop in revenue due to impairment charges, the tech giant reiterated its long-term forecast for a $10 billion reduction in annual costs by 2025. Intel is also progressing with its transition to Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) processing, a critical step for advanced chip manufacturing.

Although Intel’s Q4 projections anticipate ongoing operating losses, the cost-saving measures and tech improvements are laying the groundwork for a return to profitability. If the company can capture momentum in the AI sector and effectively navigate its restructuring efforts, it may have a clearer path to reclaim its leadership in the semiconductor industry.