Bank of America Downgrades Intel (INTC) to Underperform After $80B Market Cap Surge

Core Viewpoint - Intel Corporation has been downgraded by Bank of America from "Neutral" to "Underperform," citing that the stock has appreciated too quickly and its market cap increase of $80 billion reflects its improved balance sheet and potential growth from external foundry services [1]. Group 1: Market Position and Challenges - Intel lacks a clear artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio or strategy and has an uncompetitive server CPU, which has hindered its ability to regain market share from competitors like AMD and ARM [2][3]. - The company has lost its leadership in both the personal-computer and server CPU markets due to inferior chip performance compared to its rivals [2]. - Efforts to develop or acquire AI accelerator products appear to be stalled or deprioritized, as the company struggles with its existing CPU business [4]. Group 2: Financial Outlook - The firm anticipates that Intel will be unprofitable by the end of calendar 2027, indicating significant financial challenges ahead [4]. - While there is potential for Intel as an investment, other AI stocks are viewed as having greater upside potential and less downside risk [5].