Intel forecasts weak Q4 revenue, citing PC slump and Israel fab blast
Intel shares fell sharply after-hours following fourth-quarter guidance that badly missed Wall Street expectations. The company pointed to persistent weakness in PC demand and a fab explosion in Israel that CFO David Zinsner said will cost roughly $600 million in lost revenue over two quarters. Third-quarter results beat estimates, with data center and AI revenue up 78%, even as client computing revenue declined 5%.
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The guidance suggests Intel's turnaround remains uneven, with AI and data center strength not yet offsetting a prolonged PC downturn that Zinsner says could persist through mid-2026. The fab incident adds a one-time supply disruption on top of structural demand concerns, which may explain why investors reacted so sharply despite the stock's strong year-to-date gains.
- Intel's Q4 revenue guidance of $15-16 billion fell well short of the $17.1 billion analysts expected.
- A fatal explosion at an Israeli fab is expected to cost Intel about $600 million in lost revenue over two quarters.
- Data center and AI revenue grew 78% while client computing revenue fell 5%, highlighting Intel's uneven recovery.
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Published there as: “Intel stock plunges 16% as chipmaker blames PC slowdown for weak guidance”
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