Intel’s $0.25 adjusted earnings-per-share forecast for the fourth quarter fell below both the $0.43 analyst consensus and the third-quarter result of $0.52, with Goldman Sachs citing PC demand as a constraint on recovery.
For the quarter, Intel projected revenue of $15 billion to $16 billion, putting the midpoint at $15.5 billion against a $17.018 billion consensus. Its adjusted gross margin forecast was 38%, compared with the 42.5% analysts expected.
Third-quarter revenue increased 20.9% from a year earlier to $16.513 billion. That topped the $16.419 billion consensus but came in below Goldman Sachs’ $17.027 billion estimate. Adjusted earnings were $0.52 per share, beating the $0.39 consensus, while adjusted gross margin reached 44.1%, above the 41.9% expected.
Client Computing produced $8.097 billion in revenue, down from a year earlier and 8.9% below consensus. The Data Center and AI unit generated $7.318 billion, 11.1% above consensus; Foundry posted $6.697 billion, also above expectations.
Goldman identified a slower advanced-process ramp and declining server-processor share as risks, and flagged capital spending for monitoring. Potential supports included broader Foundry adoption, stronger server demand and a better margin recovery.