Bank of America resets Intel stock forecast after earnings

Core Insights - Intel's Q3 earnings report indicates a revenue of $13.7 billion, reflecting a 3% year-over-year increase, with a diluted EPS of $0.90 and a gross margin of 38.2% [6] - The company anticipates that yields for its 18A manufacturing process will improve to industry-acceptable levels by the end of next year, with better performance and yield expected from the next-generation 14A node [1][4] - Analysts have noted that demand for Intel's CPUs is exceeding supply, a trend that may persist into 2026, leading to a raised Q4 outlook by 3% [4] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 was $13.7 billion, up 3% YoY, with a net income of $4.1 billion compared to a net loss of $16.6 billion in Q3 2024 [6] - The guidance for Q4 revenue is projected between $12.8 billion and $13.8 billion, with a gross margin expected at 34.5% [6] - The company’s Q4 guidance includes a gross margin target of 36.5%, but analysts suggest that a full EPS recovery requires a gross margin above 45% [9] Analyst Insights - Bank of America has lowered its pro forma EPS estimates for 2026 by 4% to $0.51, citing slow internal adoption of the 18A node and competitive pressures in the foundry market [7] - The stock is considered overvalued, trading at a 50 multiple price-to-earnings estimate for 2027, with a reiterated underperform rating and a price target of $34 [8] - Key challenges identified include gross margin pressure, tough competition in both products and foundry, and a lack of large external customer wafer orders [9]