Intel Q4 earnings guidance 2026: Shares slide 6% on weak outlook
Intel shares dropped 6% after hours as the company issued weak Q1 2026 guidance despite beating Q4 estimates. Revenue hit $13.7B while Nvidia's $5B stake was finalized.
Intel's numbers tell a story of two futures. While the chipmaker beat Wall Street's expectations for the fourth quarter, its lackluster forecast for early 2026 has sent investors scrambling. According to Reuters, Intel's shares plummeted as much as 6% in after-hours trading following the announcement of a soft first-quarter guidance that missed analyst targets.
Intel Q4 earnings guidance 2026: The Data Breakdown
| Metric | Actual (Q4) | Expected (LSEG) |
|---|---|---|
| Adj. EPS | 15 cents | 8 cents |
| Revenue | $13.7 billion | $13.4 billion |
| Q1 2026 Revenue Guide | $11.7B - $12.7B | $12.51 billion |
| Q1 2026 EPS Guide | Breakeven | 5 cents |
The company reported a net loss of $600 million, widening from a $100 million loss in the year-ago period. CFO David Zinsner noted that the soft guidance for the current quarter stems partly from a lack of supply needed to meet seasonal demand. Despite this, Intel's Data Center and AI sales rose 9% to $4.7 billion, fueled by the ongoing infrastructure boom.
Foundry Ambitions and Nvidia's $5 Billion Stake
Intel's foundry business recorded $4.5 billion in revenue, as the company aggressively moves toward volume production of its 18A technology. CEO Lip-Bu Tan confirmed that the 18A node is mature enough for large-scale products like the Core Ultra Series 3. Furthermore, Nvidia's $5 billion investment in Intel was completed this quarter, joining the U.S. government and SoftBank as major shareholders.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
Related Articles
Intel shares have soared 145% in a year. Ahead of its Q4 2025 earnings, Wall Street eyes a 29% jump in AI sales and the progress of its 18A foundry node.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has pushed oil past $100 a barrel and shut the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in recorded history. Airline stocks are tanking. Your ticket prices are next.
Anthropic filed two federal lawsuits against the Trump administration after being labeled a 'supply chain risk' for refusing to greenlight autonomous weapons use. What this fight means for AI ethics, defense contracts, and the future of the industry.
G7 nations signal readiness to release emergency oil reserves. Is this a stabilizing move—or a sign that something bigger is brewing in global energy markets?
Thoughts
Share your thoughts on this article
Sign in to join the conversation